As I sit at Auckland Airport listening to the whine of two Rolls Royce Dart engines attached to F27-500 ZK-PAX as it completes another freight run for Air Post from Wellington as "Post 20" I'm led to believe that fellow freighter, F27-500 ZK-NAO has been withdrawn from service prematurely following an in-flight engine shutdown a few days ago on its way into Auckland.
ZK-NAO has been with Airwork since March 1992 following Air New Zealand's disposal of the type and was procured by the Auckland based firm along with sistership ZK-NAN.
There has been industry speculation that Airwork were in the process of retiring the three F27's (ZK-PAX, POH, NAO) but the exit for ZK-NAO has been expedited after the engine shutdown.
Can anyone confirm that she has been withdrawn from service?
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| ZK-NAO arriving at Auckland 16 May 2005, MRC photo |
ZK-NAO was last flown on 30 Aug 2012 (early morning hours), it was withdrawn from service mainly because of lack of parts (especially engines).
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