V.I.P. Andover ready

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 7

V.I.P. Andover ready

PA Auckland The first of two Andover aircraft has been fully refurbished and is ready for use in carrying important visitors and local dignataries in New Zealand. “Royal New Zealand Ait Force people at Woodbourne have done a magnificent job on the plane,” said the Minister of Defence (Mr McCready) in Auckland. It had three cabins, one of which would accommodate eight passengers, and the others two passengers each. “I can pick up a telephone while flying in the plane and speak to my office in Wellington.”

Bookings have been made already for the new Gover-nor-General (Sir Keith Holyoake) to use the plane, which replaces the old DC3 V.I.P. aircraft.

Mr McCready said he still took strong exception to the remark of the chief executive of N.A.C. (Mr D. A. Patterson) that the R.N.Z.A.F. had not been

allowed to take part in the recent aviation exhibition at Hamilton, except for a “clapped-out old Andover.” The reference was sure to do more harm to recruitment and retention of R.N.Z.A.F. people than nonparticipation in the flying display. Mr Patterson was well aware that the 10 Andover aircraft bought from the Royal Air Force were well preserved and had been little used. They were the military version of the Hawker Siddeley 748 which was flying in many countries.

The aviation field days committee had used every means at its disposal to press its case for R.N.Z.A.F. participation. It had caused many representations to be made by prominent persons and organisations. Every one of them, including Mr Patterson, had been given a full reply. In Mr Patterson’s case, the Minister had seen him with the Chief of Air Staff present.