Lone DC3 sits at airport

Press, 16 December 1980, Page 2

Lone DC3 sits at airport

Another two of the DC3 aircraft from Christchurch Airport have left on the first leg of their flight to Singapore. Two of the five DC3s, which have been parked at the airport for two years, arrived at Singapore on December 7, after 36A hours flying time and stop-overs at Auckland, Norfolk Island, Brisbane, and Darwin. The planes will be sold on the world market at Singapore. Mr M. D. Denovan, an Air New Zealand engineer, of Christchurch, who was copilot on one of the first two DC3s to leave, said the flight was very good, although an electrical storm soon after leaving Darwin provided anxious moments. “With all the fuel aboard, I wasn’t very excited about that,” Mr Denovan said. The' need to replace an engine magneto at Darwin was the

only mechanical fault to show. The second two DC3s to leave are expected to fly out of Auckland this morning. They left Christchurch on Sunday and yesterday. Mr Denovan said the fifth aircraft would probably leave early next year. The owner of the DC3s, Mr K. B. Neeley, will copilot one of those expected to leave Auckland this morning. Mr Neeley’s company, Island Associates, has brought a claim for $2.4 million in compensation against the Government over the original delay in permitting the aircraft to leave New Zealand. This is expected to be heard in the High Court at Wellington next year. A claim for outstanding parking fees on the aircraft was settled two weeks ago when the Christchurch City Council accepted a cheque from Mr Neeley for a fourfigure sum. .