NAC's 60th anniversary
New Zealand National Airways Corporation Viscount ZK-BRF
A book and an aviation tour of New Zealand are being prepared to mark the 60th anniversary of
the formation of NAC – New Zealand National Airways Corporation.
Douglas DC-3 ZK-DAK
The book will be in a landscape format of about 250 pages featuring around 300 photographs
and illustrations - many in colour and many of Viscounts. Included will be a substantial
chronology of the airline and a short history of each aircraft that served in the fleet,
almost a 100 in all ranging from pre WWII prop-liners through to the latest jets.
The 9 day flying tour of New Zealand visits 19 locations travelling in Douglas DC-3 ZK-DAK
and possibly DC-3 ZK-AMY and follows some of the old NAC routes. The tour starts at Christchurch
on Friday 22nd March 2007 with a visit to the Ferrymead Heritage Park to view the former NAC
Viscount ZK-BRF and Douglas LC-47H 17221, which was used on Deep Freeze Operations to the
Antarctic. The 3 aviation authors, Richard Waugh, Graeme McConnell and Peter Layne, who are
responsible for the book, will be on hand to act as guides to the many aviation sites and
museums to be visited.
NAC Viscount ZK-BRF
NAC operated 5 Viscounts between December 1957 and December 1975. The Viscount became a
household word in New Zealand soon after ZK-BRD started service in 1958, with many people
making that extra effort to have a Viscount experience. NAC was justifiably proud of its
Viscount fleet which ushered in a whole new concept of airline flying. The Viscount was the
first pressurised turbo-prop aircraft to fly in New Zealand skies, and was popular with
travellers as it flew above air turbulence and reduced flight times.
Two NAC Lockheed Lodestars and two DC3s at Paraparaumu airport in 1949.
NAC was established in 1947 by the New Zealand Government as the primary operator of domestic
air services between major centres and provincial cities and towns by a forced take over of
Union Airways and a number of other smaller operators.
It was on 1 April 1947 that NAC formally took over the private airlines’ aircraft, timetables,
engineering services, and most of their key personnel. These operators were equipped with de
Havilland Dragon Rapides, de Havilland Fox Moths, Douglas DC-3’s, Lockheed Electras and
Lockheed 14s. In the late 1940s NAC started to provide international services to some nearby
South Pacific countries using converted ex Royal New Zealand Air Force Short Sunderlands.
Ex NAC de Havilland Heron ZK-BBM being restored and eventually painted in NAC livery at Tauranga, New Zealand
In the 1950s NAC acquired de Havilland Herons, Vickers Viscounts and in the 1960s Fokker
Friendships and Boeing 737s. A fully owned subsidiary was the freight company SAFE Air, which
operated Bristol Freighters and Armstrong Whitworth Argosies. In 1978 NAC merged with Air New Zealand.
The authors of the book are still looking for memorabilia, photos and stories about NAC. Also
needed are copies of Airline Review and Skylines or anything else that may be helpful to
complete their project. If you are able to help please contact them
at New Zealand Airline Research
For further information, itinerary and prices for the 9 day flying tour of New Zealand please
contact Anne-Marie at Easy Book Tours.
