Topdressing DC 3s (3) - ZK-APK

 The next registered topdressing DC 3 (in alphabetical order) was ZK-APK:

ZK-APK in Airland ownership at Takapau 12/4/71 (photo via Graeme Mills)

and below as Fieldair at one of its fixed loading points (not sure of the location)

Douglas C47B-45-DK  (c/n 16967/34227)

Built by The Douglas Aircraft Co, Oklahoma City, OK with 2x 1200HP 14-cyl R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial 45-964 engines. 

24 Jul 1945 USAAF but diverted under “lend-lease” Exported to New Zealand flown to New Zealand NZ3532 21 Aug 1945 RNZAF 1 ASU, Hamilton 

RNZAF 40 Sqn, Whenuapai 

Jan 1946 RNZAF 41 Sqn, Whenuapai 

Jun 1946 RNZAF 40 Sqn, Whenuapai 

ZK-AOK 19 Feb 1947 Air Secretary, Air Department, Wellington (@ 695 hours FT) 

11 Apr 1947 RNZAF Struck Off Charge Harewood 31 May 1947.  ZK-AOK cancelled May 1947.

ZK-APK 6 May 1947 New Zealand National Airways Corp, Wellington named “Poaka” Flown to Australia for conversion by Australian National Airways 29 May 1947 

19 Mar 1948 converted to passenger configuration.

Withdrawn from Use Christchurch Jun 1962 @ 28,711 hours FT 

28 Aug 1964 converted to Skyliner configuration as “Skyliner Kaikohe” 

Exported to Fiji Cancelled 17 May 1967 

VQ-FAH 22 May 1967 Fiji Airways Ltd, Suva 

Exported back to New Zealand and re-registered ZK-APK 2 Oct 1967 New Zealand National Airways Corp, Wellington 

18 Nov 1968 Airland (NZ) Ltd, Palmerston North converted to topdressing configuration Test flown as a topdresser 13 Oct 1970  

20 Feb 1978 Fieldair Ltd, Palmerston North named “Poaka” then to Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd, Palmerston North named “Poaka” Last flight 3 Jul 1981 @ 42,764 hours FT (6193 hours topdressing) Cancelled 30 Mar 1984 . 

1986 to tea rooms at Mangaweka in various colour schemes.

May 2024 to Kevin Gardener , West Auckland and re-assembled in one of his paddocks.