NEWS RELEASE       

  20 November 2009    

Historic DC3 scenic flights to feature in Rotorua Lakefront air show on December 12 

NZ Warbirds Society's DC3 staging scenic flights as part of the

Let's GO Rotorua Lakefront Air Show on 12 December

ROTORUA 20.11.09: Rotorua residents have the chance to participate in aviation history next month with an announcement today that four scenic flights in an historic DC3 aircraft will be available to the public as part of the 12 December Let’s GO Rotorua Lakefront Air Show.

The airshow and on-the-ground carnival celebrations are to mark the arrival of Air New Zealand’s inaugural direct trans-Tasman flight from Sydney at 2.35pm on 12 December.  
However Events & Venues Rotorua general manager Peter McLeod is warning Rotorua residents keen to relive that magnificent era of flying that they will need to get in quick as there will only be four DC3 flights, with only 30 seats available at $100 a ticket on each half hour flight.

Mr McLeod says the DC3 is arguably the most celebrated and successful aircraft ever built.

“Between 1935 and 1945 nearly 11,000 DC3s, and its military version the Dakota, were built. But only a few hundred remain in service today worldwide - and one of those will be with us in Rotorua on 12 December.”

After the war Dakotas were sold to civilian airlines and formed the basis of the commercial aviation industry in many countries, including New Zealand. Here the DC3 was the primary workhorse of NAC - National Airways Corporation - the domestic airline that later merged with Air New Zealand.

The Dakota first entered service with the RNZAF in 1943 and a total of 49 aircraft saw service with New Zealand’s air force. The last six were finally retired in 1977

Apart from being the primary transport aircraft of the allied forces in WW2, the Dakota was also the backbone of the Berlin airlift after the war.

As well as its passenger airline and military transport roles the aircraft has also been used extensively as a crop sprayer, top dresser, gunship and commercial freighter.

The DC3 coming to Rotorua on 12 December to take part in the Let’s Go Rotorua Lakefront Air Show is operated out of Ardmore in Auckland by the DC3/Dakota section of the New Zealand Warbirds Society

Before it participates in the airshow it will operate four scenic flights out of Rotorua Airport, on the hour from 9am to 12 noon.

DC3 scenic flight tickets go on sale on Tuesday November 24 at the Rotorua Convention Centre's Ticketmaster outlet, by phone on 0800 111 999 or online at www.ticketmaster.co.nz . Tickets are $100 each.

The Let's GO Rotorua Lakefront Air Show is being staged by Rotorua District Council as a free family event with support from the Rotorua Trust, Daily Post and MediaWorks.

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