This aircraft was new ordered by New Zealand National Airways Corporation

It was the 90th Friendship built by Fokker

First flown as PH-FDE - November 20, 1961

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to New Zealand - ?

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the delivery flight - November 30, 1961

Sold to New Zealand National Airways Corporation - December 01, 1961

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-BXH - December 01, 1961

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC), Wellington, New Zealand

The aircraft was named 'Koropio'

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - December 12, 1961

It was operated on New Zealand domestic services for NAC

It was withdrawn from use and prepared for lease to East-West Airlines - September 1963

This lease was directly attributed to the New Zealand Government awarding South Pacific Airlines of NZ the

Christchurch - Nelson route for a period of one year and therefore the lease was more financially viable

than having the aircraft stored in New Zealand due to NAC having excess capacity

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - September 01, 1963

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EWH - September 12, 1963

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC), Wellington, New Zealand

Leased to East-West Airlines, Tamworth as the registered operator - September 14, 1963

Ferried Auckland - Norfolk Island - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - September 14, 1963

It was operated by East-West in the basic NZNAC livery retaining the name 'Koropio'

Operated its first East-West revenue service - October 04, 1963

Returned to New Zealand National Airways Corporation at the end of the lease - January 16, 1965

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-BXH - January 16, 1965

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC), Wellington, New Zealand

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 10, 1965

Returned to service with NAC - February 13, 1965

Air New Zealand and National Airways Corporation merged to form the one airline - April 01, 1978

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales, Sydney - September 1981

The aircraft remained in New Zealand

Repurchased by Air New Zealand and returned to service - 1982

Withdrawn from use and stored at Christchurch, New Zealand - April 08, 1990

It had flown 58,274 hours with 77,817 cycles

Sold to American Aircraft Company, Christchurch - November 06, 1992

An intended lease to Jetlease Inc with a sub-lease to Goa Way Airlines, Mumbai, India was not taken up - March 1993

The aircraft's age was given as the reason for this lease not proceeding

The aircraft remained stored at Christchurch

Used by Air New Zealand Engineering Services, Christchurch as a training aid for their engineers

Dismantled at Christchurch in preparation for removal by road - June 2012

Transported by road to Wanaka Airport for display at the Wanaka National Transport & Toy Museum - August 12, 2012

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - September 12, 2012

VH-EWH. East-West Airlines - 'Koropio' in the basic NZNAC livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-174.)

VH-EWH. East-West Airlines - 'Koropio' in the basic NZNAC livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1964.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-868.)

ZK-BXH. NAC Wings Of The Nation - 'Koropio' in the standard livery at Timaru Airport, April 10, 1975.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-594.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the transitional livery at Wellington Airport, January 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-056.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the transitional livery at Auckland Airport, November 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-356.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the transitional livery at Auckland Airport, September 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-661.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the transitional livery at Auckland Airport, February 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-057.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the transitional livery at Auckland Airport, February 1983.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 1991-186.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, July 30, 1988.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 1991-135.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport,September 1990.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-370.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand - 'Koropio' in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, June 24, 1992.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 1991-137.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand Engineering Training Services - in the all-white livery at Christchurch Airport, November 26, 1994.

(R. F. Killick Copyright Image 1991-138.)

ZK-BXH. Air New Zealand Engineering Training Services - in the all-white livery at Christchurch Airport, March 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-073.)