Wanaka’s National Transport and Toy Museum is heading out onto the runway to become a world leading aviation museum.
The fledgling Bring Our Birds Home campaign to rescue some old Air New Zealand aircraft from around the world has gained momentum enough for the organisers to join forces with the well established Wanaka attraction.
A trust is now being set up to bring the two organisations together.
Bring Our Birds Home campaign was set up earlier this year to retrieve former TEAL / Air New Zealand aircraft from around the world and bring them home for restoration and display.
All the aircraft are the only remaining original members of TEAL/AirNZ fleets delivered between 1959 – 98.
Bring Our Birds Home campaign driver Paul Brennan told whatsoninvers.nz they have reached a crucial turning point in securing one of the two main aircraft in their sights, the former TEAL Air New Zealand DC-8 ZK NZC.
Paul Brennan says the DC-8 is now parked near a jungle at Manaus Airport in Brazil and has been caught up in a bankruptcy dispute for 14 years.
He says the way has now been cleared for BOBH to negotiate with the owners of Manaus Airport to purchase the aircraft.
He adds that things are going to happen quickly from now.
Paul Brennan says they have been extremely fortunate to have an agent in Brazil who was able to carry out negotiations on their behalf.
He says that was no mean feat considering the legal constraints and time differences.
Paul Brennan says this means that BOBH now has to raise up to fifty thousand NZ dollars to purchase the dilapidated frame and carry out a thorough pre-dismantling inspection.
Fund raising through crowd funding has enabled the campaign to get this far
Why go to Wanaka?
Paul Brennan says the Transport and Toy and Museum is already well set up to look after and display these important artefacts.
He says with tourism numbers in the central Otago region booming and with the majestic mountain backdrop, the museum will become one of the great civil aviation museums of the world and another great attraction for the Central Otago region.
Paul Brennan says there is also a strong aviation connection with Warbirds Over Wanaka
Mr Brennan says the Central Otago climate is a lot more favourable for aircraft restoration than that of the tropics of Brazil and Cuba
He says there are 6 aircraft scattered all over the world on the list to obtain. Another is parked at an airport at Havana, Cuba.
Paul Brennan says once they get one they should be able to get the others on the back of this.
He says the DC-8 and the other aircraft on the list to save are cultural items of interest for our country. He says these are more than pieces of machinery, they are the modern day equivalent of of the waka that brought the first Maori to our shores.
He says the ultimate goal of BOBH is to Save, Secure and Store these and other aircraft that he envisages will find their way on to his “to get” list in years to come.
Paul Brennan finishes off our chat saying wouldn’t it be a sight to see the main frame of ZK-NZC, a plane which once carried the Queen being transported by road from Bluff to Wanaka to start its journey to restoration?
National Toy and Transport Museum spokesman Jason Rhodes says joining up with BOBH adds more strength and clarity to what they’ve already been doing in acquiring aircraft.
Jason Rhodes says when it comes together it won’t just be aircraft on display but also things like ground support which will make it all the more appealing.
He says this exciting for the museum and the addition of the BOBH aircraft will be great New Zealand tourism and the Central Otago region.
If you can help by contributing a few $$$’s – here’s the givealittle page link.
http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/bringourbirdshome
See what Bring Our Birds Home is all about facebook.com/bringourbirdshome
Malcolm Gayfer whatsoninvers.nz