Passenger link commemorated

Press, 17 January 1986, Page 5

Passenger link commemorated

A handful of enthusiasts watched appreciatively as a gleaming 42-year-old airliner swept in for a perfect landing, in spite of a stiff breeze, at Wigram Air Base yesterday. The twin-engine de Havilland Dominie, in the colours it wore proudly for the National Airways Corporation in the 1940 s and 19505, was on a special flight to

commemorate the inauguration of New Zealand’s first main trunk passenger service 50 years ago yesterday.

The beautifully restored wood and canvas Dominie re-enacted the departure of the first DH Express from Palmerston North to Taieri via Blenheim and Wigram. Union Airways began its

services with a main trunk route from Palmerston North to Dunedin in January, 1936, the first time the general public had been able to travel by air between the islands.

Auckland and Wellington had to wait until the arrival of the sleek, all-metal Lockheed 10A Electras in 1937 before they, too, could become part of the airways network.

Between them, up until 1939, the DHB6 Express airlines and the Electras provided New Zealand with a main trunk airline network, Auckland to Dunedin. Members of the Master-ton-based Sport and Vintage Aviation Society have lovingly restored the Dominie, which will be a main attraction providing joyrides this week-end at Airshow ’B6 in Palmerston North.

Proceeds from the show will be shared by the promoters of a national museum of commercial aviation in Palmerston North and the R.N.Z.A.F. Museum at Wigram. The airliner will return to Wigram from Taieri at 11 a.m. today, before departing at 12.30 p.m. for Woodbourne (Blenheim) and then to Milson (Palmerston North).