ZK-AWO - Part Two

Part Two - ZK-AWO starts work again!

The remains of ZK-AWO/NZ3548 as recovered off a farm near Feilding during June 2000 by Paul Svendsen, Duncan Woolley, Tom Rudge and I. As well as having a healthy growth of moss and lichen, the nose section was corroding in a number of places, particularly around the windows and on the underside. Duncan was enticed into the trip by the offer of "an all expenses paid overseas holiday to recover a warbird" which he gladly accepted. Thanks Duncan!

Loaded onto a boat trailer, the nose section was towed south to Lyttelton. In the photograph to the left it is being driven off the inter-island ferry Arahura. Despite the bulk of the load, there was no problem towing it at 80km/hr. During the trip south, interest from other motorists and people on the ferry was high. "Where is the rest of it?" was a common question.

The first job in restoration was to cover in the back end of the nose section to keep the weather out. A frame was built up of steel and covered in aluminium (aluminum for those in the USA!). A door was built into the frame and holes in the lower bulkhead were covered. Templates were made for the windows and these were then manufactured by Glasstech in Christchurch at no cost - thanks to Barry Cummings.
 

With so much attention shown in the nose section during the trip south to Lyttelton, I realised that there was a lot of potential for ZK-AWO/NZ3548 to earn an income again through advertising work. A proposal was put to a local radio station, MORE FM, for the aircraft to be displayed at 20 locations over a one year period. This proposal was accepted and the contract more than covered the total cost of purchase, transport,  restoration of the exterior and construction of a purpose-built trailer. In addition to this, MORE FM also paid for panel beating, painting and sign writing. The photo at left shows the rear now covered with door fitted and the top coat going on after the aircraft has received an undercoat.
 

ZK-AWO/NZ3548 makes its public debut less than 48 hours after being painted and getting sign written. Towed down Colombo Street, Christchurch, in front of a crowd of over 100,000 people, it took part in the McDonalds Christmas Parade. By good fortune, the aircraft's yellow paint scheme it wore while flying for Fieldair as a topdresser matches the radio station's 4-wheel drive vehicles!

Now mounted on a purpose-built trailer (the most expensive item of the project), the nose section is hinged at the rear and awaits fitting of hydraulics under the nose so that it can be elevated for display. When the exterior is completely water-tight, restoration of the interior will commence. Before this can begin, I need to obtain an original escape hatch so, if anyone out there knows where I can get one, please contact me at:  Chris.Rudge@xtra.co.nz