Testimonials

9th December 2011
We've had a fantastic testimonial from Heather Hapeta who was lucky to win a flight on the Southern DC3.  She has an excellent website where she writes about her travel experiences, places & adventures she's done around the world.  Click on the link below to see some of the magnificent places she's visited and read about her experience with the Southern DC3.  

Thank you Heather for sharing your story with us.

http://kiwitravelwriter.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/flying-with-richie-mccaw-in

Here is another of Heather's Websites with plenty of must see adventures.

http://www.kiwitravelwriter.com/index.html



11 April 2011
Yesterday I had the pleasure of a trip on the DC3 over Christchurch, it was one of the highlights of my life.  During the 1950's I lived in Dunedin and occasionally flew to Christchurch on the Dakota, it certainly brought back memories.  The ladies on Cabin Duty were delightful and very friendly, as well as the pilot and co-pilot who were very helpful, it was great to be able to see the cockpit close up.  I was given the ticket for this trip by my wife for Christmas and would suggest to all people in Canterbury that this is a great way to view Christchurch.  Finally to have a very friendly Richie McCaw on board was a big bonus, what a gentleman.
Bob Pollock (Rangiora) 

14 February 2011
It was great to get your newsletter at the weekend.  As we have moved it has taken a wee while to get it.  It brought back great memories of when the DC3 AMY was in Gisborne and my wonderful flight with Dave.
As I grew up in Ashburton and my very first flight on an aeroplane was when our neighbour found free tickets for two children on the back of a flier in his paddock and gave them to my brother and I.  So the Gisborne flight brought back great memories.
Keep up the good work, it is wonderful that people like you want to keep these wonderful bits of New Zealand alive.
Judy Colbert

19/07/2010

Please convey to all involved in making my flight yesterday such a memorable occasion.

 

From my arrival at the departure point, where I was met by a very lovely Lady who advised me of the arrangements that had been made for me, and her continued assistance to have me escorted to the Aircraft, where I was met and assisted into my seat by Regan, and during the flight his attention and commentaries were so proffessional.

 

06/04/2009

Please pass my thanks onto the crew from the Catwalk DC3 flight on Saturday.
Having been in the Airforce for 9 years as you know I have done a bit of flying, but I
must say I was truly inspired on Saturday. Such a stunning day and Amy is such a
smooth ride; which I wasn’t expecting. A professional and friendly team you have
there and what a great Trust to be involved in.

I know the spinal team all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and are singing your praises.

Mel x

 

28/02/2009 - Last day flying out of Wigram 

 

 

Thank you for all your efforts on Saturday.

Even though the weather was not the best, it was a trip I won't forget for a long time.

That's one off the bucket list - All I need now is to fly one!

Cheers

 

Steve.

 

  

19/02/2009

Tour De Kaiata

What a wonderful aircraft the DC3 are !!

Please pass on our thanks to the pilots and cabin crew for helping
make the day a very successful promotion.
They pitched in and helped with lunch time proceedings which we could
not have done ourselves and were very professional all round.

Full credit and I am sure we will be using you again for promotions
and I suspect some of the attendees may also use you.

Grant Hutchings
Kaiata Developments Ltd

  

16/02/2009

 

A DC-3 flight combined with half and hour of lapping the old Lady Wigram Trophy Race Circuit.

A superb event that will be long remembered by all who took part.

Organised by your's truly as this was the very last opportunity to do both as one and the last time
cars will be seen chasing each other around this famous race circuit.

The fantastic variety of vehicles included saloons, sports, and race cars (dating back to Nick Harrison's 1924 Chev)
Noel Nevin on his Cucciola moped, a handful of Vespa's & motorcycles plus Jack and John Porter's Ford "A" race-about.
Other brands present included Aston Martin, Mercedes, Rover, Morris, MG, Ford, and a few moderns.

A closing ceremony featured the impressive Warbirds DC3 with flags flying from the drivers seat. It taxied slowly past
the guard of honour formed by twin rows of our vehicles; piped by a lone highland piper......very nicely done! Southern DC3
Trust looked after us SO WELL!  as did their immaculately "borrowed" Auckland based plane and crew;  the day was simply
BRILLIANT in every way!  Everyone raved about it!

 

Although it is no longer possible to repeat  that event, I strongly recommend a flight in this DC3 whilst it is still at Wigram.

 

Kind regards

 

Tony

 

  

20/09/2008

 

 

Hi Kim and all the team;

The highlight of a 60th Birthday surprise arranged for me by family was a spring day
adventure of a chartered flight on ZK-AMY. The visual experience within the cockpit was
as impressive and interesting as the pre-flight commentary on the ZK-AMY history plus
our flight plan. The informative, courteous, friendly and very efficient interaction by the
crew towards passengers is a testimony to the honour, pride and professionalism of the
Southern DC-3 Trust. Having enjoyed this experience I would recommend it to all.

 

Thank you all.

Regards

 

Gary and Helen Knight

 

5/08/2008

A Big "Thank You" to Kim and all the people from the DC3 flight, we had a great time from start to finish.

The drinks and nibbles were spot on and the service from the crew was very very good. They made all of us
feel very special as did the pilots. The signed rugby ball and poster were a great gift (but not necessary).
It was a fantastic day and was made a lot better than expected by how we were looked after by your people.  

So thank you again and please pass this message on from all of us at Plucks to the DC3 crew.

Neil Pluck - Plucks Engineering 

 

 

28/5/2008

AllRig parts & Services recently went on a fantastic trip to Ashburton with southern DC3. We can not thank Kim,
Brian and team enough for organising the day so well - all we had to do was turn up. It was a beautiful day and
flying was fantastic. Once aboard the DC3 we were invited up to the cockpit -from here the view was fabulous.

Upon landing in Ashburton we had a tour around the Ashburton Aviation Museum which was very interesting.
After our tour we were treated to lunch (all homemade and delicious). After lunch we were picked up by Peter Mac
in his old fire engine and taken for a trip across the airstrip to his museum of film and treated to a movie, popcorn
and jaffas, after the movie a cup of tea or coffee, then home again on the DC3. Our pilots and flight crew were great
and we had a very enjoyable trip, staff are still talking about it!  We can thoroughly recommend this trip to any
firms/social groups for a fantastic day out.

Debbie Bulman – Allrig parts & Services

 

22/06/2008

WOW!! What a great day.

Starting with a great flight from (Christchurch) Wigram airfield. Leaving in sunny clear condition for a low level
flight over farmland heading for Ashburton.

Once there we were greeted by an enthusiastic team who split us up into three groups and led us on an enthralling
trip of history, stories, sights and tales. Every exhibit had a story to tell. Be it a tyre being buried for 15 years at Antarctica
or a piece of Russian sputnik from outer space to the flying coffin and the Queen’s plane that only flew for 17 hours of it’s life time.

I was so sorry to leave so soon, I could have easy spent another hour or so there.

I must return someday with my family to visit this momentous museum full of so much history.

Happy Flying.

Mike Weir – Walsh’s Meats