Crashed at Wairakei on December 12, 1987

ZK-AZL returns from cropdusting work.

Scrapped at Ardmore after being withdrawn from use in 1979. The forward fuselage, wing centre section and engines shipped to the Cook Islands for use as a wind generator on a set of The Silent One (1985). Engines later sold in the US. Rest was still corroding away at Aitutaki as recently as 2008.

At the time of the photograph, VH-EVZ was still in the condition it was in when it arrived in Australia. It been on the register for five months. -EVZ had travelled the South Pacific, starting in New Zealand as ZK-BZL. It went to Fiji as VQ-FBB then to the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) as VP-PAI. Airframe corrosion saw it sold in Australia where it was refurbished. -EVZ was destroyed in a mid-air collision with a glider at Waikerie, South Australia when a glider flew into its towline. That glider and the Pawnee spun in but the glider under tow landed safety.

James Aviation's ZK-AZL was the first top-dressing DC-3. Named "Hi-Land Duster", the windows have been blanked-off and a loading chute installed in the fuselage top. Ex RNZAF NZ3545 and NZNAC. Withdrawn 09.74.