
The Catalina PBY Was Operated By Two RNZAF Squadrons In WW2
The "Merchant Enterprise" is an AW-650 Series 222 Argosy aircraft built by the Armstrong Whitworth company at Baginton, near Coventry, England. This unique twin-boomer first flew on 10 March 1965 and was operated by BEA on their European cargo routes. It then did several years service with TransAir in Canada and Alaska before arriving in New Zealand in July 1974. The aircraft is now on permanent display near Blenheim Airport in New Zealand.
The giant aircraft sits alongside the "Argosy Café", a specially built aviation-theme Café complete with a display room of artifacts, paintings and photographs. Photo: © 2007 Les Bushell (Image Supplied)
The pressurised passenger capsule for the Chatham Island route was relatively luxurious. Copyright © Paul Davidson (Image Supplied)
Moving the Argosy by road, to its final home opposite Blenheim Airport. Copyright © Paul Davidson (Image Supplied)
Photo © Les Bushell, 2007 (Image Supplied)
Overall Length: 26.44 m / 86ft 9in Wingspan: 35.50 m / 115ft 0in Height (Tail): 8.91 m / 29ft 3in Fuselage Length: 18.74 m / 60ft 7in Fuselage Width: 3.81 m / 12ft 6in Weight Empty: 21,000kg / 46,000 lbs (20 tons) Max Weight: 40,000kg / 88,000 lbs (39 tons) Max Payload: 12,000kg / 28,000 lbs (12.5 tons) Cruising Speed: 210 knots Ceiling : 25,000 ft
On April 1st 1990, "Merchant Pioneer" crash landed at Woodbourne Airport in Blenheim. This video was filmed on the day and shows the crash landing, along with some of the subsequent efforts to recover the aircraft. Copyright © Paul Davidson, Bytesize Productions, and The Argosy Trust. Used with permission.
ZK-SAE ("Merchant Enterprise") was one of just seven civilian 200 Series Argosies built. This aircraft is the sole survivor as all others eventually crashed or were scrapped. Another 56 military Argosies (100 Series) were built for the RAF and served with Transport Command through the 1960's. Most of these were also scrapped, but one can still be seen at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in the United Kingdom.
SAFE Air Armstrong Whitworth Argosy in Nelson (NZ) - Mid 1980's . This footage was originally shot by M. Clarkson on 8mm film stock.
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