Now at Wanaka, NZ

Written off at Palmerston North on December 17, 1969 as a result of wheels up landing. Now preserved at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland. Bob Kerr photo

If you look closely you can just make out the faded registration on the rear fuselage of this Lockheed Lodestar. This perticular aircraft was built in 1940 and is owned by D&D Aero since 1976 and based out of this airstrip ever since.

The real G-AGIH was a Norwegian Lend-Lease aircraft, operated by BOAC. On 29 August 1944 the aircraft crashed into hilly terrain in bad weather, while en-route from Stockholm-Bromma, Sweden to RAF Leuchars in Scotland. Three crew and 12 passengers were on board, all Norwegian. Four passengers survived. This aircraft at the museum is in fact ex N283M/OH-SIR, which was falsely painted to represent that very Lodestar.

World War II C-60A 42-56050 flew for British West Indian Airways after 1947 registered VP-TAQ. To Canada as CF-TSS in 1953, the aircraft was later registered N5846N and N23M before it was converted to a Learstar I in January 1957. Acquired by 3M (Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing) in 1960, it was registered HB-AMM to operate for the company in Europe. Titles read 3M Company aft of entry door. Returning to the USA as N23M, it was sold as N1040E in 1966 with Sheffield Corp and later Bendix. Sold in 1971, it was registered N706G but crashed September 11, 1975 at Clarendon, Jamaica with a load of marijuana.

Photo taken three days before it crashed at Coolangatta killing all 21 people on board. The aircraft had been loaded outside the aft trim limit. Photo from: Coffs Harbour Regional Museum

This aircraft was last reported stored at Nut Tree Airport, Vacaville, CA. in poor condition, the registration was cancelled in February 2013 and N6711 is now carried by a Vans RV-6A.

At this time was registered to Chemical & Industrial Corp. Registered as ZS-NPI in May 1968. Nose logo letters read Abonos Fertiberia, promoting a fertilizer brand.

Delivered September 3, 1941, USAAF C-57 41-23166 was sold post war as N60200 to Gannett Co (owner of several US newspapers). The aircraft was converted to a Learstar before delivery to Lockport Felt Co (N711L) in 1957. Coming to Canada for Turnbull Elevator in 1962, it was registered CF-CEC. Flying for several other owners until stored at Montreal in 1971, the C of A expired in 1973. By 1988 the aircraft was donated to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, AB. Last moved to Trenton, ON for the National Air Force Museum of Canada where parts were used for the restoration of Hudson FK466.

Ex-N9955F, N9965F, F-ARTF

Built in 1943 as a USAAF C-60A this aircraft served with the Royal Australian Air Force as A67-5 in WWII and post war was civilianised, firstly as VH-GRB, and later VH- OAS. It returned to the USA in 1953 as N4849V and later carried the registrations N667, N1000S and N101S. In 1959 it was converted to Howard 250 standard and was sold to Mexico in 1967 where it was registered XB-SAO. It returned to the US register as N2786Y in December 1982 and flown to Albuquerque, where it was reported as "stored" in October 1986. (Thanks to the Air-Britain publication "The Lockheed Twins" for information).

Continues in dismantled storage at NAFMC having previously been kept at Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Beginning as L-18-14 NC60200, it was taken on by the USAAC as a C-57 41-23166. Reverting to N60200 and then N711L, it flew for Ontario Airways of Portville, NY before being sold to Computing Devices of Canada as CF-CEC in 1968.

Around-the-world tour with Air Challenger titles