Topdressing DC 3s (4) - ZK-AWO

 The next topdressing DC 3 was ZK-AWO:

Photos at Napier on 17/11/69 (above) and at Wanganui on 6/4/75 (below)

Douglas C-47B-35-DK (c/n 16732/33480)

Built by The Douglas Aircraft Co, Oklahoma City, OK with 2x 1200HP 14-cyl R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engines as 44-77148 

15 Jun 1945 USAAF but diverted under “lend-lease”  Exported to New Zealand 

NZ3548 7 Jul 1945 RNZAF 1 ASU Hamilton 

RNZAF 40 Sqn, Whenuapai 

Mar 1946 RNZAF 41 Sqn, Whenuapai.  Struck Off Charge 1 Jul 1952 

11 Jul 1952 NZ National Airways Corp Converted for civil use 23 Oct 1952 

ZK-AWO 3 Nov 1952 NZ National Airways Corp, Wellington named  “Putaitai” Converted to freighter at Christchurch 29 Sep 1958 

Last service 5 Sep 1966 @ 24,109 hours Flight Time 

21 Mar 1967 Airland (NZ) Ltd, Palmerston North Converted to topdresser First Flight 15 Oct 1968 

20 Feb 1978 Fieldair Ltd, Palmerston North named “Putaitai” 

18 Nov 1980 Fieldair Holdings (Central) Ltd, Palmerston North 30 Mar 1984 Fieldair Holdings Ltd, Palmerston North Last flight 1 Mar 1984 @ 32,846 hours Flight Time (8,737 hours topdressing) 

Cancelled 29 May 1985 

After some time in storage the bulk of the aircraft was scrapped at Feilding in the early 1990s.  The nose section was acquired by Chris Rudge of Aviation Adventures Ltd.  He upgraded it and it is now on a trailer at Pukaki airfield for promotional purposes.