
January 1959 to November 1974
New Zealand National Airways Corp (NAC)
ZK-BRE - c/n 282 - a V.807 series Viscount
New Zealand registered
Weybridge, Surrey, England
17 January 1959
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
31 January 1959
Departed from Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England on delivery to New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) named as 'City of Auckland' as a Type 807.
It was flown by Captains P A Matheson, A C Kenning and R J Walton.
It was fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart RDa6 Mark 510 engines and the cabin seating was configured for 60 passengers.
10 Febuary 1959
Arrived at Harewood Airport, Christchurch, New Zealand on delivery.
23 August 1962
The King and Queen of Thailand travelled from Whenuapai Airport, Auckland to Harewood Airport, Christchurch, New Zealand in this aircraft. The crew consisted of Captain A C Kenning, First Officer J E Shaw, Stewardesses N C Coe, D R B Brabant and W Te Purei.
Prepared for the Royal visit
15 and 16 February 1963
Used for the visit to New Zealand of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The aircraft was fitted out with prefabricated furnishings, plastic panels for the walls in off-white, the ceiling covered in a doeskin type of fabric, and carpeting of a rich gold colour. After the visit the fittings were stored for future use.
A second NAC Viscount ZK-BWO (C/N 428) was operated during the Royal visit as the No.2 aircraft carrying other tour personnel and also acting as a standby aircraft.
1963 Royal visit crew operating instructions
new New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) livery
circa 1968
Painted in the final New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) Viscount livery.
July 1974
Withdrawn from service and stored at Harewood Airport, Christchurch, New Zealand.
29 November 1974
Sold to Montgomery Corporation of Nassau, Bahamas and initially ferried to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea via Brisbane, Queensland, Australia by a French crew for Shackleton Aviation who were brokering the sale of this aircraft.
FURTHER READING
The Illustrated history of New Zealand National Airways Corporation
by Richard Waugh, Peter Layne and Graeme McConnell
The Illustrated history of New Zealand National Airways Corporation 1947 - 1978
The delivery of New Zealand’s first Viscount by Peter Layne
The delivery of New Zealand’s first Viscount
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