Fly DC3 New Zealand

30/04/2025

Exactly a year ago, the crew at FLY DC3 New Zealand operated our final passenger flight. After 37 years flying in New Zealand, with the dreams and plans to ‘keep going forever’ - it just got too hard. (We will elaborate on another post.)
Over the last 12 months, we have been quietly preparing our beautiful DC3 airliner for sale. This has meant a comprehensive and detailed ‘top to tail’ detail, ensuring that the new owner knows that everything has been attended to. It takes time to do it properly.
Meanwhile, our lovely ‘Betsy’ has been looked after at Ardmore, and before she heads away, (later in 2025) we will ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to come and say ‘’Bye Betsy’. It will be the saddest day, to say “Farewell” to this most beautiful DC3 airliner , probably one of the handful of loveliest/best DC3’s in the world.
We thought we would have her forever - her time in New Zealand was a large part of her history. For more than 50% of her amazing life, Her Story was in our hands. On Our Watch.
(I (Jessica) am writing a book – including the time I managed the operation of ZK-DAK in New Zealand.)

09/06/2024

In Normandy…80 years after D-day.

01/05/2024

https://podcast.radionz.co.nz/downloads/aft/aft-20240501-1315-battle_to_keep_historic_aircraft_in_the_air-128.mp3

01/05/2024

I will put up the podcast for you. What lovely people at RNZ and Jesse just puts you at ease.

Great to have Geoff and Jessica in the studio to talk passionately about Betsy, a Douglas DC-3 aircraft! They're trying to come up with a way to keep people enjoying Betsy for many years to come.

29/04/2024

On our last day flying this side of winter... we fitted in interviews and filming between our 3 flights.

The fate of a tiny airline is hanging in the balance as it wrestles with operational costs and a struggle to find crew.

28/04/2024

There is a lot to talk about today… that will be posted Monday .
In the meantime- here is our final landing today… and Captain Jolon’s sons voting on it.

25/04/2024

We have made a recent decision here at Fly DC3 New Zealand to ‘winter over’ the DC3 here at Ardmore during the recession in New Zealand.
Global issues , uncertainty, and the increase in operating, insurance, maintenance and compliance costs at this time have us beginning our winter ‘hibernation’ early.
Our last day of flying will be this Sunday 28th April, with the final flight departing at 1300 and arriving back at our WW2 hangar at 1330.
We have three flights , all booked ahead.
1.) 1 hour departing 1015/1030.
2.) 1/2 hour departing at 1145/1200.
3.) 1/2 hour departing at 1300 and back at 1330.

We will continue to maintain our beautiful aircraft over winter - complete engine runs, keep the inside cabin and flight deck as if she was ready to fly and complete required engineering checks and tasks.
Our crew will take some time to look at what the future looks like, working on a range of ideas for the DC3. After 37 years in New Zealand, we dearly would like to keep her flying.

This photo reflects the early morning starts when we do May flights here in the Southern Hemisphere. May in the Clevedon Valley, where Ardmore Airport is based, is often gorgeously foggy and it burns off by about 0930. I love this photo... it shows the crew working early to get us ready for our days flying...

19/04/2024

Todays planned 1 hour at 1030 and then 1/2 hour flight at 1145/1200 have been transferred to tomorrow - Sunday 21st April. We have spare seats on both flights so please email us on [email protected] if you would like to book.
Next Sunday, 28th April are our two last flights.
I will explain the 'last' in another post this weekend.

14/04/2024

More pics from today’s 1-hour scenic…another epic day of aviating in our iconic 1944 airliner!!!

14/04/2024

Day two this weekend of DC3 flights.
Todays flight was a 1 hour up to Goat island and returning back to Ardmore via abeam Waiheke island.
I will put up some gorgeous photos but first… one of our Captains was asked if he could take a photo of two passengers in front of the aircraft. ‘ Yes of course!’ So Geoff looked through the camera and saw the gentleman drop to his knee and pull out a smart little jewellery box. … she said ”Yes.”
Look at her nails as well!

09/04/2024

Recently, our team was lucky enough to have editors Noah and Jean-Luc of Oceania Aviation Insider fly with us on our iconic 1944 DC-3, ‘Betsy’ and get a feel for vintage aviation!

"After taking off you will embark on a scenic flight like no other...The experience is such a great way to get a feel of vintage aviation and experience flight how it was 80+ years

Experience Betsy and the care of our crew for yourself - book your seats this April at www.flydc3.nz/

Read more about their experience here: https://oceaniaaviationinsider.site/articles/fly-dc3-experience

Recently we flew with Fly DC3 from Ardmore, this article gives an insight into the amazing airline.

08/04/2024

https://www.flydc3.nz/tour/auckland-city-and-region-1-hour-flight-april-14th-full-and-april-20th

Counting down the final flights of the summer and autumn season with just two flights with available seats. Those views from the 'Low and Slow DC3' have been so popular this season.
April 20th is a 1 hour flight and we have 10 seats left to book.
April 28th is a half hour flight and there are also just 10 seats left to book.
Doors open at our WW2 hangar at Ardmore at 0930, with final Check in between 0945/1000. The Cabin crew will offer a range of fresh hot teas and coffee in nice china cups, cold drinks in proper glassware, as well as our chocolate biscuits served from a 3 tier platter!
Captain's Welcome -then board our beautiful DC3 airliner, for a departure out over Auckland city and harbour, and if you are on the 1 hour flight - all the way up the coast to Orewa, then out to Goat Island Bay and return.
Join us for what will be the final nostalgic flights for this season ...

Auckland 1 hour tour - a spectacular way to view Auckland and the northern region from above! ( 1030-1130)