Post by zulucharlie on Oct 14, 2008 5:19:16 GMT
Monday, 14 October 1968 was a red letter day for the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC), when two of it's newly purchased, brand new Boeing 737 aircraft, one in Auckland, and one in Wellington, took off between 8:30 and 9am, bound for Wellington and Auckland respectively. The first of these two aircraft, ZK-NAC, makers serial no. 19929, the 60th Boeing 737 ever built of the thousands to follow what is now the worlds most popular and best selling airliner, had arrived in the country on 18 September from the Boeing plant, in Renton , Seattle , USA . This arrival was second only in the local newspaper headlines of 1968 to the tragic sinking of the interisland ferry, the Wahine in April that same year.
The advent of the Boeing 737 in this country marked a significant leap forward for New Zealand domestic travel, and it had a lot of interesting history behind it, as well as some controversy. New Zealand's story with Boeing goes back 50 years before the Boeing 737 appeared on the scene in Aotearoa. In 1918, the Walsh Brother's Flying School on one of the bays in Waitamata Harbour , had actually purchased the very first two aircraft ever built by Boeing, two wood, wire and fabric seaplanes. One of it's principle founders was famous New Zealand pioneering aviator George Bolt, born in Dunedin in 1893 (died Auckland 1963). It is said that these two Boeing aircraft were later buried in the Takapuna fortifications area. This has not been substantiated, but if the two aircraft were ever discovered, they would be the two most valuable antique aircraft in the world. Half a century was to pass before another Boeing aircraft was to be purchased. It had come at a time when our then domestic airline NAC had gone in search for a pure jet aircraft for New Zealand's domestic trunk route. Prior to this, a flight only years before, from (as an example) Dunedin to Auckland could take up to six hours in a DC-3. By 1957, the Vickers Viscount four engine turboprop was introduced into service in New Zealand . However, this nor the Fokker F27 Friendship twin turboprop could operate on the shorter runway at Taieri (Dunedin's original Airport), so it was not until 1962, when the airport opened at Momona, that passengers flew in these, which halved the flight time the DC-3 offered. But better was soon to come. NAC trialled two short haul jets before deciding on the then unflown Boeing 737, namely the Douglas DC-9 and British built BAC 1-11. Trade policy of the time was to buy British, thus it was with some controversy that NAC, opted for the US built 737. Their choice was based on the fact that the 737 was, by specification, able to cope with a circuit around the Wellington Harbour , in high winds prevailing, and safely land, even with one engine out in event of a failure. Also good high life devices on the 737 helped sway the decision, not to mention a superior spoiler configuration that would allow the plane to stay on the runway and not 'float' in rough windy conditions during landing, but rather hold fast. The performance statistics showed that the 737 would be the only aircraft of these three that could c'ut the mustard' in such an event. The prototype 737 made it's maiden flight on April 9, 1967, and soon after, pilots and reps from NAC travelled to the USA to fly this aircraft. Soon after an order for three of the series 200 of this aircraft was confirmed. In fact only 30 of the shorter 100 series were ever built. Of worthy footnote, Ansett New Zealand operated five of those very first examples, including the first production machine, though known as line no. 2 after the prototype. Sadly, this historic aircraft was stored for two years at Christchurch in airworthy condition, along with stablemates, after being replaced by BA 146s in 1989, and was simply ferry flown to the Arizona desert and unceremoniously cut up in 1995.
The first of these NAC examples, ZK-NAC 'Piripiri' arrived in new Zealand on September 18, 1968, making landfall over Gisborne, (where, 199 years earlier, Captain James Cook had similarly made landfall) and shortly after, landing at Wellington . This was followed days later by ZK-NAD 'Pukeko' (msn 19930/ln66) and NAE 'Pourourou' (msn 19931/ln 77). Prior to the official launch of their advent, ZK-NAC and D did some PR flights, one such being out of Dunedin for news reporters, journalists and various other individuals to give them a taste of the new aircraft. The speed was in instant wow factor, especially in the round flight from Dunedin which easily compassed most of Otago in 45 minutes. Previously the Viscounts had taken passengers at a cruise speed of 330mph, and overnight, the speed had risen to 570mph. Auckland was one hour and a half away on a non stop flight from Dunedin , an impressive leap forward from the DC-3s of just 6 years prior! Dunedin received a regular scheduled Boeing 737 service by December 1968, for those first two months the three jets were only working between Christchurch , Wellington and Auckland .
The distinctive Boeing 737-200, with its long tubular (and rather distinctive and impressively loud!) Pratt & Whitney JT8D underslung engines, was a type that continued to give safe and reliable service to passengers in New Zealand skies for 33 years, carrying passengers by the millions. NAC bought seven Boeing 737s in total before 1 April 1978, when they were merged into Air New Zealand . The national carrier continued to purchase this type of aircraft, the last brand new advanced examples with new lighter alloy features and more powerful JT8D-15 engines being bought in early 1986. (the earlier ones were -7 fitted, with the distinctive air inlets around the intake). At this same time, Air New Zealand sold the earliest six members of the fleet. Eventually, in the 90's Air New Zealand began to sell off the entire Boeing 737-200 fleet, (the last Air NZ service with one was on 17 December 2001) buying the distinctly different pod engine Boeing 737-300, which fly to this day and continue the 737 dynasty that now marks it's fourth decade of service from today.
Out of those first three Boeing 737s from 40 years ago, what was ZK-NAC was scrapped in Arizona, USA during 1992. ZK-NAE was scrapped five years later. ZK-NAD 'Pukeko' (one of the two that made the inaugural flights on 14 October 1968) however, still languishes, in a derilict state in an airliner boneyard in North Carolina , USA . I strongly believe this significant aircraft, which has been here since 1991, should be dismantled and shipped to New Zealand for static preservation. The history of this aircraft type in New Zealand skies is easily as important as that of the DC-3 from a previous generation, and goes hand in hand with the fact that New Zealand once was custodian (and may possibly unknowingly still be) to the first two aircraft ever built by William Boeing's now multi billion dollar aircraft manufacturer. This aircraft could be restored to static display, using time expired parts, repainted to the NAC livery, recalling this grand era when things were going faster and faster. Indeed, it is interesting to recall that NAC was just 21 years old when they purchased the new Boeings. They had started off using wood wire and fabric DH Dragon Rapides and Fox moths, seating just 8 passengers travelling at 90mph, little more than two decades before they were flying 100 odd seat jet airliners at six times that speed. A quantum leap indeed.
Here on my webshots album is my own (and only) photo of that first 737, ZK-NAC 'Piripiri' at Dunedin in August 1980. By this time the aircraft was wearing a hybrid livery of NAC with red and orange, but with Air New Zealand titles and the koru on the tail, following the April 1, 1978 merger. Eventually all aircraft were repainted in the Air New Zealand Teal and blue livery. While this photo is not of the best quality as I was a schoolboy armed with an instamatic 126 camera at the time, it is also of interest that these were the days where, as a non passenger, I was at liberty to wander out onto the tarmac and take such a photo, no one was bothered, imagine trying that now! rides.webshots.com/photo/2705470980026462666cKjzVA Next pic to this shows the fourth 737 of the NAC fleet, (seen here in aforementioned Air NZ plumes that became standard) which arrived in 1971. There's a chance that this aircraft may also still exist in Oklahoma.
Other more original period shots of ZK-NAC www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=ZK-NAC&distinct_entry=true - please scroll past the Cessna 172 that inherited this 737's registration after it departed our shores. Pics on the lower page show the aircraft on test at Seattle, with the original type engine nacelle arrangement. And see the cabin arrangement - 5 seats across, (this was soon changed) and no closing overhead locker bins!
ZK-NAD incl shots of her as she appears in the boneyard. www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cnsearch=19930/66&distinct_entry=true
ZK-NAE www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=®nr=ZK-NAE
Paul Jeffery,
Dunedin,
New Zealand.
The advent of the Boeing 737 in this country marked a significant leap forward for New Zealand domestic travel, and it had a lot of interesting history behind it, as well as some controversy. New Zealand's story with Boeing goes back 50 years before the Boeing 737 appeared on the scene in Aotearoa. In 1918, the Walsh Brother's Flying School on one of the bays in Waitamata Harbour , had actually purchased the very first two aircraft ever built by Boeing, two wood, wire and fabric seaplanes. One of it's principle founders was famous New Zealand pioneering aviator George Bolt, born in Dunedin in 1893 (died Auckland 1963). It is said that these two Boeing aircraft were later buried in the Takapuna fortifications area. This has not been substantiated, but if the two aircraft were ever discovered, they would be the two most valuable antique aircraft in the world. Half a century was to pass before another Boeing aircraft was to be purchased. It had come at a time when our then domestic airline NAC had gone in search for a pure jet aircraft for New Zealand's domestic trunk route. Prior to this, a flight only years before, from (as an example) Dunedin to Auckland could take up to six hours in a DC-3. By 1957, the Vickers Viscount four engine turboprop was introduced into service in New Zealand . However, this nor the Fokker F27 Friendship twin turboprop could operate on the shorter runway at Taieri (Dunedin's original Airport), so it was not until 1962, when the airport opened at Momona, that passengers flew in these, which halved the flight time the DC-3 offered. But better was soon to come. NAC trialled two short haul jets before deciding on the then unflown Boeing 737, namely the Douglas DC-9 and British built BAC 1-11. Trade policy of the time was to buy British, thus it was with some controversy that NAC, opted for the US built 737. Their choice was based on the fact that the 737 was, by specification, able to cope with a circuit around the Wellington Harbour , in high winds prevailing, and safely land, even with one engine out in event of a failure. Also good high life devices on the 737 helped sway the decision, not to mention a superior spoiler configuration that would allow the plane to stay on the runway and not 'float' in rough windy conditions during landing, but rather hold fast. The performance statistics showed that the 737 would be the only aircraft of these three that could c'ut the mustard' in such an event. The prototype 737 made it's maiden flight on April 9, 1967, and soon after, pilots and reps from NAC travelled to the USA to fly this aircraft. Soon after an order for three of the series 200 of this aircraft was confirmed. In fact only 30 of the shorter 100 series were ever built. Of worthy footnote, Ansett New Zealand operated five of those very first examples, including the first production machine, though known as line no. 2 after the prototype. Sadly, this historic aircraft was stored for two years at Christchurch in airworthy condition, along with stablemates, after being replaced by BA 146s in 1989, and was simply ferry flown to the Arizona desert and unceremoniously cut up in 1995.
The first of these NAC examples, ZK-NAC 'Piripiri' arrived in new Zealand on September 18, 1968, making landfall over Gisborne, (where, 199 years earlier, Captain James Cook had similarly made landfall) and shortly after, landing at Wellington . This was followed days later by ZK-NAD 'Pukeko' (msn 19930/ln66) and NAE 'Pourourou' (msn 19931/ln 77). Prior to the official launch of their advent, ZK-NAC and D did some PR flights, one such being out of Dunedin for news reporters, journalists and various other individuals to give them a taste of the new aircraft. The speed was in instant wow factor, especially in the round flight from Dunedin which easily compassed most of Otago in 45 minutes. Previously the Viscounts had taken passengers at a cruise speed of 330mph, and overnight, the speed had risen to 570mph. Auckland was one hour and a half away on a non stop flight from Dunedin , an impressive leap forward from the DC-3s of just 6 years prior! Dunedin received a regular scheduled Boeing 737 service by December 1968, for those first two months the three jets were only working between Christchurch , Wellington and Auckland .
The distinctive Boeing 737-200, with its long tubular (and rather distinctive and impressively loud!) Pratt & Whitney JT8D underslung engines, was a type that continued to give safe and reliable service to passengers in New Zealand skies for 33 years, carrying passengers by the millions. NAC bought seven Boeing 737s in total before 1 April 1978, when they were merged into Air New Zealand . The national carrier continued to purchase this type of aircraft, the last brand new advanced examples with new lighter alloy features and more powerful JT8D-15 engines being bought in early 1986. (the earlier ones were -7 fitted, with the distinctive air inlets around the intake). At this same time, Air New Zealand sold the earliest six members of the fleet. Eventually, in the 90's Air New Zealand began to sell off the entire Boeing 737-200 fleet, (the last Air NZ service with one was on 17 December 2001) buying the distinctly different pod engine Boeing 737-300, which fly to this day and continue the 737 dynasty that now marks it's fourth decade of service from today.
Out of those first three Boeing 737s from 40 years ago, what was ZK-NAC was scrapped in Arizona, USA during 1992. ZK-NAE was scrapped five years later. ZK-NAD 'Pukeko' (one of the two that made the inaugural flights on 14 October 1968) however, still languishes, in a derilict state in an airliner boneyard in North Carolina , USA . I strongly believe this significant aircraft, which has been here since 1991, should be dismantled and shipped to New Zealand for static preservation. The history of this aircraft type in New Zealand skies is easily as important as that of the DC-3 from a previous generation, and goes hand in hand with the fact that New Zealand once was custodian (and may possibly unknowingly still be) to the first two aircraft ever built by William Boeing's now multi billion dollar aircraft manufacturer. This aircraft could be restored to static display, using time expired parts, repainted to the NAC livery, recalling this grand era when things were going faster and faster. Indeed, it is interesting to recall that NAC was just 21 years old when they purchased the new Boeings. They had started off using wood wire and fabric DH Dragon Rapides and Fox moths, seating just 8 passengers travelling at 90mph, little more than two decades before they were flying 100 odd seat jet airliners at six times that speed. A quantum leap indeed.
Here on my webshots album is my own (and only) photo of that first 737, ZK-NAC 'Piripiri' at Dunedin in August 1980. By this time the aircraft was wearing a hybrid livery of NAC with red and orange, but with Air New Zealand titles and the koru on the tail, following the April 1, 1978 merger. Eventually all aircraft were repainted in the Air New Zealand Teal and blue livery. While this photo is not of the best quality as I was a schoolboy armed with an instamatic 126 camera at the time, it is also of interest that these were the days where, as a non passenger, I was at liberty to wander out onto the tarmac and take such a photo, no one was bothered, imagine trying that now! rides.webshots.com/photo/2705470980026462666cKjzVA Next pic to this shows the fourth 737 of the NAC fleet, (seen here in aforementioned Air NZ plumes that became standard) which arrived in 1971. There's a chance that this aircraft may also still exist in Oklahoma.
Other more original period shots of ZK-NAC www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=ZK-NAC&distinct_entry=true - please scroll past the Cessna 172 that inherited this 737's registration after it departed our shores. Pics on the lower page show the aircraft on test at Seattle, with the original type engine nacelle arrangement. And see the cabin arrangement - 5 seats across, (this was soon changed) and no closing overhead locker bins!
ZK-NAD incl shots of her as she appears in the boneyard. www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?cnsearch=19930/66&distinct_entry=true
ZK-NAE www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=®nr=ZK-NAE
Paul Jeffery,
Dunedin,
New Zealand.
