Classic 1945 Douglas DC-3 at Norfolk Island 8 February 2025
17 February 2025
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On Saturday 8 February, the Norfolk Island International Airport was a busy place when the WWII classic aircraft, Douglas DC-3, registered as ZK-AWP, stopped to refuel on the journey from New Zealand to Australia.
On the Saturday morning, I followed the flight tracker, as the aircraft flew from Auckland to Kaitaia to Norfolk Island and landed mid-morning with many locals and visitors lining the fence to wave and greet the Douglas DC-3 to Norfolk Island. Many were excited to visit the airport where they had an opportunity to take photos over the fence and chat to the flight crew, learning about this amazing classic aircraft which has historic links to Norfolk Island dating back to WWII, when the Norfolk Island airport runway was first constructed. There is an old photograph, which was shared on Facebook, of this same DC-3 here on Norfolk Island in 1947. I also read that back in the 1950s, many passengers departing Norfolk Island also loaded large bunches of green bananas on the DC-3, as part of their baggage for friends and family in New Zealand.
This month’s Douglas DC-3 morning flight from New Zealand, was approximately 3.5 hours, and the afternoon flight was another 6.5 hours flying Norfolk Island to Sydney where the crew needed to enter through Australian boarder control.
Their journey would then take them onto Albion Park Melbourne Essendon for maintenance checks. The final destination for the Douglas DC-3 is to Darwin, Australia, where it will operate scenic flights for Gooney Bird Adventures.
I have found it interesting learning about the history of this lovely aircraft. I found a fantastic online page published in 2020, with the 75 years of history of the Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP.
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This 80 year old WWII classic plane has an interesting history. It was manufactured in USA in 1945, then sent to New Zealand for the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was registered as NZ3543 in 1947. It was operated by New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) as an air service from Auckland to Norfolk Island and onto New Caledonia, Fiji and Cook Island in the late 1940s and 1950s. It was named Powhaitere, the Māori name of a New Zealand native bird. (Yellow Fronted Parakeet) - Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae.
In the 1960s it was converted to Skyliner and named Kaitaia. In 1970 the aircraft went to Western Samoa for service with Polynesian Airlines Ltd as 5W-FAI. Three years later it returned to NAC in New Zealand and sold to Southern Air Super Ltd and conversion to a top-dresser. 1975 the next owners was Fieldair Ltd, Palmerston North. In 1986, the DC-3 was converted to a freighter by Classic Air Services Ltd with a contract with NZ Railways. 1993 sold to Wanaka based Alpine Deer Group Ltd, 1994 sold to Classic Air Ltd, Wellington and converted back to an airliner configuration. 1995 ownership changed to Mackley Aviation Ltd, Milford, Auckland. 1998 ownership to NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd, Albany Auckland. In 2000 it was leased to Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch who used it for tourist flying in New Zealand and Australia. 2001, Flight 2000 Limited, Ardmore, Auckland. In 2002 it was sold to Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch. 2005 the NZ registration ZK-AWP was cancelled, and DC-3 went to Tonga for service with Peau Vava’u Air as A3-AWP. In 2010, after not being used in Tonga for 3 years A3-AWP was restored to air-worthiness and entering service with Chathams Pacific in Tonga.
In 2013 the Tongan registration was cancelled and the DC-3 returned to New Zealand for service with Air Chathams back as ZK-AWP and renamed Powhaitere. The classic plane continues to be used on sightseeing flights and for a brief period on scheduled services between Auckland and Whakatane.
Check out this link for more images and information about the first 75 years of history
3rd Level New Zealand: Douglas DC-3 ZK-AWP - Her 75 year history
I have read social media post from Stefan Wood, who has posted on Facebook the news that he flown and purchased the Douglas DC-3. He is excited that this amazing WWII aircraft will be taking sunset scenic flights in Darwin. Check out “gooney bird adventures” for more details.
I have enjoyed following the journey of the DC-3 on Facebook, reading the history and seeing images of the plane, plus sharing photos with others interested in the classic aircraft. It was wonderful to see the paint work which has the NAC logo, and so great to see it here on Norfolk Island on 8 February 2025. Here are a few photos taken here on Norfolk Island.
Betty Matthews
21 February 2025
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Betty Matthews
14 February 2025