DC-3s - Fieldair ends and Classic Air proposes to fly DC-3s

 

29 March 1993 Evening Post DC3 grounded

The Douglas DC-3 was one of the most revolutionary airliners in history, which enabled the rapid expansion of airline services in many countries, including in New Zealand, for NAC, expanding domestic services across the country.  The DC-3 first flew with NAC in 1947, and 27 flew with the airline before it was phased out on main trunk routes by the Vickers Viscount from 1958 and by the Fokker F-27 Friendship from 1960, but NAC flew DC-3 aircraft until 1974, with remaining aircraft used to service airports with unsealed runways (notably Timaru and Oamaru).  After withdrawal by NAC, DC-3s were used by a handful of other operators including notably Fieldair which converted some for aerial topdressing.

This first article reports in 1993 on what were, at the time, the last commercial flights by Douglas DC-3s in New Zealand. Fieldair shut down its Cook Strait freight service. Fieldair had previously used the aircraft for topdressing.  3rd Level NZ blog tells more about its history.

The second article (below) is a report about Classic Air, which proposed to operate passenger DC-3 aircraft equipped with a luxury cabin for organised tours for wealthy tourists. It is unknown what happened to the venture

3 February 1994 - Evening Post- Classic Air