Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) was formed during August 1939 and commenced services between Auckland and Sydney on April 30th 1940 operating 2 Short S30 Empire flying-boats. These were replaced with 4 Short S25V Sandringham flying-boats from July 1946 but proving unsatisfactory were withdrawn from service within 2 years and replaced by 4 Short S45 Solent 3's and an S45A Solent 4 flying-boat from December 1949. The airline also operated a single PBY Catalina PB2B-1 flying-boat employed primarily for crew training and survey flights. During May 1954 TEAL acquired 3 DC6 prop liners through the demise of BCPA .... the airlines first land based aircraft .... and entered the turbine era from November 1959 when the first of 5 new L188 Electra turboprops were delivered. On April 1st 1965 TEAL was renamed "AIR NEW ZEALAND".

Government policy kept TEAL on the water far longer than most waterborne airlines around the world despite the airline realizing a move to land based aircraft .... jet equipment in particular .... was essential for it to remain competitive within its small sphere of trans-Tasman and South Pacific regional influence. Initially TEAL was in favor of Comet 4's. However careful forward planning soon highlighted need for a larger more capable jetliner. Negotiations commenced between TEAL and Douglas during the early 1960's which resulted in signing of a contract on September 23rd 1963 for the purchase 3 DC8-52's for delivery during 1965. These 3 new aircraft were destined to become ZK-NZA (# 45750), ZK-NZB (# 45751), and ZK-NZC (# 45752). They would transform the airlines image and usher New Zealand into the jet age.

Air New Zealand's first DC8-52 ZK-NZA performed its maiden flight from Long Beach California on February 14th 1965 and was delivered to the airline on July 20th 1965. The 6510 mile non-stop delivery flight to Auckland was completed in 13 hours 32 minutes. Arrival of ZK-NZA was closely followed by sister ships ZK-NZB on August 12th then ZK-NZC on September 22nd 1965. Each of Air New Zealand's DC8's were configured for 129 passengers and powered by P&W JT3D-3B fanjet engines. The airlines first 3 DC8's were delivered in hybrid livery featuring dual "TEAL/AIR NEW ZEALAND" titles employed fleet wide during transition from old to new corporate brands.

Air New Zealand's DC8 jetliners were the source of tremendous pride for the airline. Public acceptance was immediate. One aircraft was opened for inspection at Auckland International Airport on October 2nd 1965 by enthusiastic public eager for a close look the new jets. On October 3rd 1965 Air New Zealand operated it's first ever DC8 jet service between Christchurch and Melbourne and on November 24th flew its first scheduled services through the new Auckland International Airport .... an L188 service to Fiji along with a DC8 to Sydney .... the airport was not officially opened until January 29th 1966.

This was a time of major expansion for Air New Zealand. The longer ranging DC8's promoted services to new exotic places along with significantly reduced traveling times. Services to new destinations were often (unusually by today's standards) preceded by "non-commercial route proving/promotional flights" in advance of scheduled services. The first of such flights operated between Auckland and Los Angeles on December 10th 1965. Air New Zealand's DC8's then began operating twice weekly scheduled services to Los Angeles (via Nandi and Honolulu) on December 14th 1965. Similar promotional flights operated to the Orient during February 1966. First to Hong Kong on February 15th then Singapore on February 24th. Scheduled Air New Zealand DC8 services to Hong Kong (via Sydney and Manila) then commenced on March 3rd 1966 followed by Singapore (via Sydney) on April 6th 1966.

Disaster occurred on the afternoon of July 4th 1966. DC8 ZK-NZB crashed during a training flight at Auckland International Airport. The aircraft was performing a series of touch and go maneuvers during which simulated failed engine procedures were rehearsed. The accident occurred as the check captain rapidly retarded # 4 engine throttle moments after lift-off .... generated inertial forces then caused the associated thrust brake lever to rise and enter the reverse idle detent. Recovery was impossible before the aircraft impacted the ground about its starboard wingtip and cart wheeled disintegrating for several hundred yards along the main taxiway. 2 of the 5 crew were killed in the accident which highlighted a potentially fatal flaw in the DC8 throttle system not previously been encountered during developmental test flying.

DC8's re-launched Air Air New Zealand flights to Tahiti on November 5th 1967 after a 2 year suspension of services to French Polynesia. This service was operated as first stage of a 3rd weekly frequency to Los Angeles. An additional 2 factory fresh DC8-52's were purchased by Air New Zealand during 1968. The new aircraft became ZK-NZD (# 45932) delivered on January 29th and ZK-NZE (# 45985) delivered on February 28th .... increasing the airlines DC8 fleet strength to 4 aircraft. Both DC8's were delivered featuring Air New Zealand's definitive "Five Star Jet" livery of the 1960's-70's era. These new aircraft retained passenger seating configuration of their preceding sister ships but were powered by slightly higher performance P&W JT3D-3B-D1 type fanjet engines.

From May 27th until September 20th 1969 DC8-52 ZK-NZA was leased to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines where it operated in a hybrid scheme comprised of Air New Zealand tail livery with KLM fuselage stripping and titles .... it became PH-ADA named "Antony Fokker".

 A 5th DC8-52 was delivered to Air New Zealand during November 1970. This particular aircraft was leased from United Airlines to become ZK-NZF (ex N8036U # 45303). The aircraft did not enter service until December 14th 1970 and was eventually purchased by the airline on July 9th 1971. In 1970 Air New Zealand DC8's began operating Auckland/Melbourne services from July 1st then Christchurch/Melbourne from July 4th. From April 1st 1971 the airlines frequency to Los Angeles increased to 4 services each week with introduction of a 2nd flight via Honolulu. Air New Zealand's 6th and final DC8-52 was also purchased from United Airlines on October 21st 1971 and became ZK-NZG (ex N8034U # 45301). This aircraft entered service on November 29th 1971. The airlines frequency to Los Angeles was further increased during November 1971 and again in January 1972 with DC8's operating additional Auckland/Nandi/Honolulu/Los Angeles and Auckland/Tahiti/Los Angeles services. Air New Zealand's final L188 Electra service operated on May 30th 1972 succeeded by DC8's which then commenced international flights through Wellington from June 1st linking the New Zealand capital with Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

Air New Zealand entered the wide-body era on January 27th 1973 with delivery of the first of 8 new DC10-30's. Prior commitment to DC10's the airline was considering re-equipping with DC8 Super 61, -62, -63, or L1011 aircraft. DC10's also introduced the airlines new corporate identity featuring Maori "Koru" tail logo and stripping representative of sternposts on early Polynesian voyaging canoes from pre-European times. The first of the airlines 6 DC8's were repainted in this new livery during May 1973 with conversion of the remainder of the fleet being completed prior the end of 1973.

From December 2nd 1973 DC8's commenced Air New Zealand Auckland/Rarotonga services and on December 4th reopened the airlines "Coral Route" linking Auckland, Tahiti, Nandi, Pago Pago, and Rarotonga. The "Coral Route" was originally operated by TEAL flying-boats from 1951-1960. Members of the British royal family traveled by Air New Zealand DC8 between Rarotonga and Christchurch on January 30th 1974. HM Queen Elizabeth 2 was accompanied by HRH Princess Anne and Captain Mark PHILLIPS for closure of the 10th British Commonwealth Games hosted by the city of Christchurch. The royal charter was commanded by Captain Ross JOHNSON. From March 1974 most Air New Zealand flights to Rarotonga, Tahiti, and American Samoa became direct services from Auckland rather than multi staged flights through the Pacific region. DC8's also introduced Christchurch/Wellington/Nandi services from May 3Oth 1974.

As DC10's entered service Air New Zealand began inevitable and progressive disposal of its DC8 fleet from 1976. DC8-52 ZK-NZF was sold to McDonnell-Douglas on March 25th 1976 for lease to Cyprus Airways. The aircraft became N99862 and was later damaged in a gun battle at Nicosia Airport on February 20th 1978. It returned to McDonnell-Douglas for repair and was later sold to Evergreen International where it became N804EV. On September 27th 1976 DC8-52 ZK-NZG was also sold to Evergreen International and became N800EV. DC8-52 ZK-NZA also joined Evergreen on January 14th 1977 to become N801EV. All 3 ex Air New Zealand DC8's served the remainder of their economic lives with Evergreen International until final withdrawal from service and eventual scrapping during the 1990's.

The airlines 3 remaining DC8's commenced Auckland/Rarotonga/Honolulu services from June 4th 1977 .... increasing frequency of Air New Zealand flights to US territories to 10 services each week. On April 1st 1978 Air New Zealand and New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NZNAC) were finally merged after several years of heated political debate. At the time of this merger the combined new Air New Zealand fleet comprised of 8 DC10-30, 3 DC8-52, 9 B737-200, 13 F27-100, and 4 F27-500 aircraft. From this time most trans-Tasman and Pacific services from both Auckland and Christchurch were operated by the airlines DC10's and B737's. DC8's were relegated to international services through Wellington and some peak domestic flights between Auckland and Wellington. An FAA worldwide grounding of DC10's from June 7th until July 14th 1979 imposed severe disruption throughout the airline industry. Air New Zealand's long haul international fleet was consequently reduced to 2 DC8's (1 aircraft was in maintenance). This was further reduced to a single aircraft when a DC8 was damaged in a tire blowout incident during departure from Honolulu. Damage was minor and the aircraft promptly repaired and returned to service. Throughout duration of the DC10 grounding Air New Zealand's air freight services were maintained by chartered Flying Tigers DC8-63F's.

A new Air New Zealand Auckland/Tokyo service was launched (via Nandi) on August 1st 1980. DC8's operated this route for the first 6 months before being replaced by DC10's. A regular trans-Pacific DC8 freighter service was also introduced between Auckland and Los Angeles from August 4th 1980 .... again using DC8-63F's chartered from Flying Tigers. DC8-52 ZK-NZD was temporarily withdrawn from service during February 1981 for conversion to pure freighter by McDonnell-Douglas at Tulsa Oklahoma. The aircraft returned to Air New Zealand as a DC8-54F on October 8th 1981 featuring the airlines revised livery adopted earlier that year. During tough economic climate of the 1980's the airlines DC8 freighter was for a time the only aircraft in the fleet actually recording a profit.

A further 2 royal charters were operated by Air New Zealand during October 1981. On October 13th HM Queen Elizabeth 2 and HRH Duke of Edinburgh were flown from Adelaide to Christchurch by DC8 for the commencement of their royal tour of New Zealand. The royal entourage again flew by DC8 from Auckland to Perth on October 20th upon the conclusion of the tour. Both royal charters were commanded by Captain Fred DOUGLAS. 1981 also witnessed disposal of the first of the airlines 7 remaining DC10's as the first of 5 new B747-200B's were delivered from May 29th. On December 15th 1981 ZK-NZE operated Air New Zealand's final DC8 passenger service between Melbourne and Wellington. This last flight was commanded by Captain Kieth WALSH. The airlines 2 remaining DC8-52's (ZK-NZC and ZK-NZE) were withdrawn from service and stored at Marana Air Park Arizona awaiting their fate. Both aircraft languished in the desert for considerable time before resurrection and being pressed into service with new foreign operators.

During 1988 ex ZK-NZE became C-FNZE and the sole fleet of short-lived Canadian tourist charter airline Points Of Call. Later the aircraft was converted to pure freighter and operated by Colombian carrier Lineas Aereas Del Caribe as HK-3842-X until its withdrawal from service and scrapping during the late 1990's.

Ex ZK-NZC first became C-FCRN with Crown Air during 1989. In 1991 it joined Peru's Faucett Aviacion as OB-1421 and in December 1994 was impounded by the Fedral Drug Administration in Miami. The aircraft later entered service with Transportes Chartres Do Brasil as PP-TPC during 2002. It was still active in 2004 but is since believed to have been withdrawn from service and scrapped.

By December 1984 aviation noise regulations within the USA forced discontinuation of Air New Zealand's DC8 freighter service to Los Angeles. DC8-73F aircraft were briefly chartered from Evergreen International to provide additional freight capacity along the Auckland/Los Angeles route during 1985. The airlines DC8-54F was subsequently relegated to mostly trans-Tasman and Pacific regional services during which it operated the first ever flight by DC8 freighter to Apia Western Samoa on December 14th 1985. From September 10th 1985 the first of 6 new B767-200ER's were delivered to Air New Zealand. On March 29th 1987 the airlines DC8 freighter was entered into the Singapore/Christchurch air race in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Christchurch International Airport winning line honors and being placed 3rd overall fastest aircraft on handicap.

22 years of successful DC8 operations finally concluded on September 25th 1987 when DC8-54F ZK-NZD operated Air New Zealand's last ever DC8 service between Brisbane and Auckland. This final flight was crewed by Captain Jim Woodhams, F/O Captain Bob Tarr, and F/E Don Nicholson. Withdrawn from service the aircraft went into storage at Air New Zealand's jet base on Auckland International Airport before being sold to Kalitta/American International Airways on September 1st 1989. In service with Kalita the aircraft became N806CK operating well into the 1990's and is currently believed to be in storage at Oscowa Michigan awaiting its final fate.

DC8's were instrumental in transforming Air New Zealand from a small insignificant trans-Tasman and Pacific regional carrier into a proud and respected major force among great airlines of the world. These fine aircraft ushered New Zealand into the age of modern long haul jet travel promoting new standards comfort, luxury, and service in the air upon which Air New Zealand's superb international reputation was founded.

Multi talented FS artisan Michael Verlin has beautifully repainted Dee Waldron's superb DC8-50 models in all chronologic variations Air New Zealand livery.

Mark Cranston
April 2006

This article is dedicated to the memory of my good friend and colleague the late Captain Bob Tarr, December 18th 1936-September 26th 2005 .... Air New Zealand Training Captain B767 .... "fly amongst the clouds with love".