Once with TEAL as ZK-BGC and the RNZAF as NZ3633

Delivered to British Commonwealth Pacific Airways as VH-BPH in 1948. To Tasman Empire Airways as ZK-BFC in 1954. Reregistered as ZK-BGC in 1956. To the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ3633 in 1961. Sold as N255N in 1964. To Pacific Western Airlines as CF-PWQ in 1965 then to Mercer Airlines as N90MA in 1971. To Aerial Applicators in 1972 and converted to a fire bomber. To Sis-Q in 1981, Macavia in 1975 then T & G Aviation in 1991 but remained in Macavia colours. Scrapped by 2006. Nose to Finland for use as a simulator.

BCPA was a joint UK, Australian and New Zealand airline formed to operate trans-Pacific services to North America. The partnership ended in 1953 and Qantas took over the routes to the US and Canada flying Super Constellations. The remaining BCPA DC-6s (one had crashed) were passed to TEAL, a joint Australian-New Zealand airline for trans-Tasman services. Nose section still survived as a full-size simulator in Finland by 2022. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

The crest on the fin is the City of Auckland. Sold in the US as N255N in April 1964. Nose section shipped to Tervakoski, Finland, where it arrived on 27 January 2009, Used as a full-size simulator. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Used for spares

Delivered new in 09.48 to British Commonwealth Pacific as VH-BPH. Later ZK-BFC, ZK-BGC, NZ3633 and CF-PWQ. Converted to tanker circa 1973 as N90MA. Scrapped 07.94.

Although still displaying Macavia titles it is believed that the aircraft was owned by T & G Aviation at the time of this photo.

Starting up to respond to a fire callout.

Sitting awaiting the next call during the firefighting season.

When International Air Response (formerly T&G) moved their base of operation from Chandler Memorial to Coolidge Municipal Airport, they scrapped many of the redundant propliners that had been stored on the field. The nose section of this former Macavia DC-6 was purchased by Pekka Kauppi in November 2006 and shipped to Tervakoski, Finland, where it arrived on 27 January 2009. He keeps it as a full-size simulator.

Aircraft still retained Macavia titles in this 2000 photo.

Ex-VH-BPH with British Commonwealth Pacific Airways, ZK-BGC joined TEAL in May 1954. In 1961 it was sold to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ3633. In the background are an RAAF Canberra and DH98 Mosquito VH-WWS. The latter's history is known in detail and it was based at Sydney airport in between December 17, 1956 and February 19, 1957, so it is assumed that is when the photo was taken.. WWS otherwise operated from Camden/YSCN airport. Photo by the late Mary Thomas, of Sydney.