What Happened To This Aircraft?

[Aharon]

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

Can anyone tell me what happened to that aircraft as seen on the photo below??

Thanks,

Aharon

[Splitpin]

Cant be sure, but that may have happened at Glentanner or Mt Cook. I recall a Dak skidding of the end of the runway in that area, but I didn't think it was an NAC one ....somebody will know for sure.

[Splitpin]

Here you are : https://www.flickr.com/photos/volvob12b/30239439316

" In June 2002 while attempting to take off in deep snow at Mt Cook the aircraft skidded off the runway and was substantially damaged. "

[Charl]

Well that's nice of you to go look that up, thanks Mr. Splitpin!

[Splitpin]

Charl your welcome, shouldn't really be on here at work but its lunch time.
What threw me was the NAC paint....I then remembered AWP wore that for a while ...and looked great.

[Naki]

It wears NAC colours again ...

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2020/04/ ... y.html?m=1

[Radar88]

In addition to my previous comment linked in your previous December 2020 posting Where Can I Find This Amazing Repaint Please
"The real world ZK-AWP was purchased by Air Chathams Douglas DC3 who made it airworthy again, in 2010 it flew again and began passenger services with Chathams Pacific, then to Air Chathams now where it's used for charters and freight. Air Chathams within the last year have painted ZK-AWP back into the original New Zealand National Airways Corporation NAC scheme for nostalgic Scenic Flight charter operations."

What Happened To This Aircraft?

It was Wednesday June 19, 2002. While doing Chartered scenic work operations under ownership with Pionair Adventures Ltd. In the original New Zealand National Airways Corporation NAC scheme for nostalgic Scenic Flight charter operations. Douglas DC3 ZK-AWP Plane fell victim of Winter freezing, mountainous weather conditions while attempting to take off in deep snow at Glentanner Aerodrome NZGT which is located at the north west end of Lake Pukaki and slightly south of the Mt Cook Airport in New Zealand. The Douglas DC3 ZK-AWP aircraft skidded off the runway and was substantially damaged. The incident was filmed by a TVNZ filmcrew whom were present on the day and it made the headline news that night! It was temporarily repaired by Fieldair staff onsite to enable a ferry flight to Palmerston North where it was fully repaired and renamed "Lucille" at the time.

Fast forward 19 years later to 2021 ZK-AWP is still flying the NZ skies as operated by Air Chathams, Sporting the original New Zealand National Airways Corporation NAC livery paint scheme for nostalgic Scenic Flight charter operations purposes. It was last seen by aircraft spotters and DC 3 enthusiasts, during the Summer 2020 - 2021, doing a series of Summer DC3 scenic flights at the regional airports Tauranga, The Kāpiti Coast.

January 2021 Air Chathams ZK-AWP DC3 Scenic Flight Tauranga Airport

January 2021, DC3 ZK-AWP scenic flight over The Kāpiti Coast with Air Chathams

Kapiti Airport - Air Chathams Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP Take off RWY34 - 17/1/2021

[Splitpin]

Cheers Naki, and she is looking good

[emfrat]

"Lucille"

[emfrat]

This is a head, from one of the HARS Daks. Not sure whether it was a P&W one or a C-W. Anyway it failed on climb-out for a trip to an airshow at Mildura, I think. The guide showing me round (who was actually PF when it happened) told me he could feel the loss of power but there was 'still plenty left'. They only returned because all the spares were just behind them at HARS, and there was plenty time to swap the engine and continue the trip.

[Charl]

Looks alright to me... don't those things breathe through their ears anyway?

[Aharon]

Thanks all for FANTASTIC explanations.

Regards,

Aharon

[emfrat]

Looks alright to me... don't those things breathe through their ears anyway?

That post was meant to include a line complimenting the 75yr-old design on being so robust.
Mike