Teal/Air New Zealand DC-8 Domestic Routes

[Aharon]

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

As all of you can see in screenshots subforum my screenshot featuring new Teal DC-8-50 plane, I want take this plane on test spin within New Zealand!

Can anyone tell me what domestic routes did Air New Zealand use DC-8 for? I know NZWN is one of them as I saw videos. I am wondering if there are any other routes within New Zealand apart from NZWN, NZCH, and NZAA? Do you think Air New Zealand used DC-8 for YSNF Norfolk?

I remember that Queen Elizabeth II used Air New Zealand DC-8 for flights in New Zealand. Do any of you know what airports?

Regards,

Aharon

[Radar88]

Shalom Aharon

The Teal/Air New Zealand DC-8 Jets were introduce in New Zealand in the 1960's for it's time the DC-8 was considered a long haul aircraft that was used on International Routes only.

The first DC-8 arrived at Auckland on 20 July 1965, coinciding with the opening of Air New Zealand's jet base at the airport. The remaining two DC-8s arrived on 12 August and 22 September of that year and the inaugural jet service was a flight from Christchurch to Sydney on 3 October. The range of the jets enabled Air New Zealand to commence services to the United States and Asia for the first time — on 14 December the first Auckland to Los Angeles service took off, via Nadi and Honolulu. Services from Auckland to Hong Kong via Manila and Singapore followed in early 1966. A service to Tokyo via Nadi started in 1980.

At the time in the 1960's NZWN, NZCH, and NZAA were all deemed to be International Airports for Arrivals and Departures points within New Zealand. These Airports are the only Airports that could handle the DC-8 Jet flights into and out of New Zealand.

The DC-8 Long range jet haul was not intended to be used for the Short range haul Domestic flight market Routes within New Zealand.

If any flight was done for Domestic relocation purposes only within New Zealand then the DC-8 Jet could only fly between the 3 International Airports of the time during the 1960's and 1970's such as between NZWN and NZCH, NZCH and NZAA and NZAA and NZWN

The Boeing 737 - 200 Jet was introduced into New Zealand for use on the Short range haul Domestic flight Routes within New Zealand.

Hope this helps.

[Aharon]

Radar88,

Thanks for answers!!

Do you remember what airports did Air New Zealand DC-8 flew from and to with Queen Elizabeth II as passenger?

Regards,

Aharon

[Radar88]

Aharon

You might be interested in the following link

http://flight-engineers-air-nz.blogspot ... ories.html

You will find the answer to the question regarding Queen Elizabeth II and her Air New Zealand DC-8 1974 and 1981 flights within the following History timeline for the Teal/Air New Zealand DC-8

1963
September 23:
Contract signed with the Douglas Aircraft Company for the purchase of three DC8 series 52 jets.

1965
July 20:
Official opening of Air New Zealand's jet base at Mangere by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr McAlpine. Arrival of first DC8 ZK-NZA, after a 6510-mile, nonstop flight from Long Beach to Auckland. The flight took 13 hours 32 minutes with an average speed of 530 mph against head winds averaging 40 mph.

October 3:
Inaugural DC8 Christchurch-Sydney service.

November 24:
First commercial services through new Auckland International Airport. An Electra from Nadi was the first international arrival. A DC8 flew out to Sydney.

December 14:
Inaugural DC8 Auckland-Los Angeles service, via Nadi and Honolulu.

1966
January 29:
Official opening of new Auckland International Airport at Mangere with three-day pageant.

March 3:
First DC8 Auckland-Hong Kong commercial service.

April 4:
First DC8 Auckland-Brisbane service.

April 6:
Inaugural DC8 Auckland-Singapore service

July 4:
DC8 ZK-NZB crashed in training accident at Auckland. Two crew members killed - Captain Don McLachlan and flight engineer Gordon Tonkin.

1970
July 1:
First DC8 Auckland-Melbourne service.

July 4:
First DC8 Christchurch-Melbourne service.

August 20:
First DC8 Auckland-Nadi-Honolulu service, becoming the fourth flight per week to the USA.

1972
June 1:
First DC8 Wellington-Sydney service.

June 2:
First DC8 Wellington-Melbourne service.

June 4:
First DC8 Wellington-Brisbane service.

1973
May:
First of six DC8s converted to new livery, all DC8 fleet conversion finished during 1973.

December 2:
First DC8 Auckland-Rarotonga service, weekly

December 4:
Inaugural DC8 Coral Route service from Auckland to Tahiti via Nadi (Fiji), Pago Pago (American Samoa), Rarotonga (Cook Islands).

1974
January 30:
H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened Rarotonga International Airport. Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, then travelled on an Air New Zealand DC8 from Rarotonga to Christchurch to close the 1974 Summer Commonwealth Games.

April 4:
First DC8 Christchurch-Wellington-Nadi service.

April 6:
First DC8 Nadi-Wellington-Christchurch service.

1976
March 25:
DC8 aircraft (ZK-NZF) sold to McDonnell Douglas for lease to Cyprus Airways, reducing the fleet to five.

May 5:
First DC8 Wellington-Pago Pago service, via Auckland.

1980
August 1:
First DC8 service from Auckland to Tokyo via Nadi.

August 4:
Inaugural DC8 transpacific freighter service (aircraft chartered from US-based cargo airline, Flying Tigers).

1981
October 13:
Air New Zealand DC8, commanded by Captain Fred Douglas, carried H.M the Queen and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh from Adelaide to Christchurch to begin their tour of New Zealand.

October 20:
H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh leave Auckland bound for Perth on board DC8 under the command of Captain Fred Douglas.

December 15:
Captain Keith Walsh commands the final flight by a DC8 passenger aircraft from Melbourne to Wellington bringing to an end Air New Zealand's international services through Wellington Airport.

1984
December 16:
Last flight by the DC8 Freighter to the United States due to new United States noise regulations.

[Aharon]

Thanks for TOTALLY AWESOME answers!!!

Regards,

Aharon