National Airways Corporation celebrates 60th

Media Release
19 March 2007

National Airways Corporation celebrates 60th anniversary

One of New Zealand’s first domestic airlines National Airways Corporation (NAC) will take to the skies once again, 29 years after it ceased operation.

The airline that flew more than 30 million passengers between 1947 and 1978 celebrates its 60th anniversary this month and to commemorate the occasion a special nationwide NAC Flying Tour will take place from 23 to 31 March 2007.

NAC’s 60th anniversary organiser and aviation historian Reverend Richard Waugh said there had been a lot of interest in the tour, which will depart from Christchurch making its way north to Auckland over the course of a week.

“We have charted a newly painted Dakota aircraft complete with NAC decal and we’ll be flying some of the old NAC routes. It will be a special walk down memory lane for former NAC staff and passengers who used to fly NAC,” said Rev. Waugh.

The tour, which is open to all members of the public, will be supported by a number of special events at various regions around the country to mark the tour’s arrival.

“Celebrations kick off with a cocktail function at Wigram’s Air Force Museum in Christchurch followed by a series of social events and open days in each region. It will be a great opportunity for airline enthusiasts and members of the NAC community to get together and celebrate.”

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Rob Fyfe said this was a momentous occasion for both NAC and Air New Zealand.

“NAC laid the foundations for what is currently Air New Zealand’s domestic service, operating flights to 30 destinations around the country, and introducing the first Boeing 737 aircraft onto the main trunk,” said Mr Fyfe.

“These events, organised by dedicated teams of volunteers, including former NAC employees and some present Air New Zealand staff, are a testament to the contribution that NAC made to New Zealand’s aviation history and the legacy that remains today.”

NAC was New Zealand’s main post-war domestic airline, operating services throughout the country from 1947 to 1978 when it merged with Air New Zealand. The airline operated a mixed fleet of Boeing 737s, DC3s, Dominie, Friendship and Viscount aircraft.

The tour will visit the following regions: Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, Queenstown, Wanaka, Hokitika, Westport, Nelson, Blenheim, Wellington, Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, Napier, Gisborne, Tauranga, Matamata, Hamilton and Auckland.

The NAC Flying Tour schedule is as follows:

22 March 7pm - Christchurch
NAC evening function at Wigram’s Air Force Museum
45 Harvard Ave, Sockburn, Christchurch

23 March 9am - Christchurch
Visit restored Viscount ZK-BRF at Ferrymead Heritage Park.

23 March 1.30pm - Christchurch
NAC Flying Tour begins at Christchurch Airport with Warbirds DC-3 and
DH89 Dominie. Joining the tour will be Southern Trust’s DC-3 ZK-AMY

23 March 2pm - Ashburton
Flying Tour arrives to special aviation welcome including inspection of NAC. Friendship ZK-BXG and visit to the Ashburton Aviation Museum.

23 March 4.15pm - Timaru
Flying Tour arrives to civic reception. Visit to the South Canterbury Aviation Trust. Also on display will be a replica of Richard Pearse’s early pioneering aircraft.

23 March 6pm - Dunedin
Flying Tour arrives at Taieri Aerodrome. Inspection of former Union/NAC hangar.

23 March 8pm - Dunedin
The iconic Dunedin Railway Station is the venue for the NAC celebratory dinner

24 March 10.30am - Invercargill
Flying Tour arrives for stop-over. Departs at 3pm for Queenstown

25 March - Queenstown
NAC Flying Tour has a full day in Queenstown. Special Dominie ZK-AKY flights available to Milford Sound to commemorate NAC’s first charter flight into Milford with this very same aircraft in July 1956 when the strip was upgraded to suit twin-engine aircraft

26 March 9.30am - Wanaka
Flying Tour arrives about 9.30am from Queenstown for a stop-over

26 March 2.45pm - Hokitika
Visit to many local historic aviation sites including new Guy Menzies memorial at Harihari.

26 March 7pm - Hokitika
Evening event at Hokitika Airport Terminal, meal, drinks and entertainment with Kokatahi Band

27 March 9.50am - Westport
Flying Tour arrives about 9.50am for a short stop-over

27 March 1pm - Nelson
Flying Tour arrives about 1pm for a lunch stop-over

27 March 5pm - Blenheim
Flying Tour arrives at Omaka Airfield

27 March 7pm - Blenheim
Marlborough NAC event at Chateau Marlborough

28 March 9.30am - Wellington
Flying Tour arrives at Rongotai

28 March 11am - Wellington
NAC Luncheon at The Pines, The Esplanade, Houghton Bay, Wellington

28 March 3pm - Paraparaumu
Flying Tour arrives for short stop-over and visit to Kapiti’s Museum of Aviation and NAC memorial plaques.

28 March 4.15pm - Palmerston North
Flying Tour arrives for a stop-over to visit Union Airways/NAC plaques and displays

28 March 6pm - Napier
Flying Tour arrives

28 March 6.30pm - Napier
NAC Hawkes Bay function at the Cosmopolitan Club Function Room, Albion Street, Napier. Art deco or aviation dress encouraged. Emphasis is to meet old friends, celebrate past times and launch the new NAC book

29 March 1pm - Gisborne
Flying Tour arrives from Napier at about 1pm for lunch stop-over and visit to the Gisborne Aviation Museum (GAPS)

29 March 4pm - Tauranga
Flying Tour arrives

29 March 6.30pm – Tauranga
NAC Evening Function at Classic Flyers Aviation Museum, Tauranga Airport

30 March 9.30am - Matamata
Arrive about and visit the NAC Kaimai Memorial, other local sites and have lunch

30 March 3pm - Hamilton
Arrive for a short stop-over

30 March 4.30pm - Auckland
NAC Flying Tour arrives at Ardmore

30 March 7pm - Auckland
Dinner event at Rangitoto Ballroom, Langham Hotel, Symonds Street, Auckland

31 March 1-4pm - Auckland
MOTAT Open afternoon (free entry) 1-4pm at Aviation hangar (off Motions Road, near Zoo)

ENDS

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