This aircraft was ordered new by New Zealand National Airways Corporation - November 10, 1959

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as 'PH-FCF' - January 18, 1961

Registered to KNV Fokker NV, Schiphol-South, Netherlands

First flown at Amsterdam (Schiphol) as 'PH-FCF' - January 18, 1961

This was the 58th Fokker Friendship built

Accepted by New Zealand National Airways Corporation at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - February 09, 1961

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-BXB - February 10, 1961

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation, Wellington

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - February 16, 1961

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the ferry flight to New Zealand - February 21, 1961

It arrived at Christchurch on completion of the ferry flight - February 1961

Delivery route: Amsterdam - Rome - Athens - Karachi - Delhi - Calcutta - Bangkok - Zamboagna - Davao -

Divak - Darwin - Mt. Isa - Brisbane - Norfolk Island - Christchurch

The aircraft was named 'Kotuku' (white heron)

This aircraft was operated on New Zealand domestic services

The aircraft was damaged at Invercargill when the left main landing gear retracted at the terminal - October 16, 1961

The accident was traced to a malfunctioning electrical selector switch

It was repaired and returned to service

New Zealand National Airways Corporation merged with Air New Zealand - April 01, 1978

Withdrawn from use at Christchurch - December 01, 1979

Work commenced to convert the aircraft to military configuration - December 02, 1979

The aircraft had flown 41,045 hours with 53,333 cycles - February 21, 1980

Sold to the Royal New Zealand Air Force - February 22, 1980

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - February 25, 1980

It was converted into a resource protection aircraft

Accepted by the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Christchurch - March 03, 1980

Entered onto the New Zealand Military Aircraft Register as NZ2781

It was withdrawn from service by the R.N.Z.A.F. at Wigram Air Force Base - July 17, 1992

It had flown 8,306 hours with 7,025 cycles with the R.N.Z.A.F. - December 31, 1993

The aircraft was offered for sale by tender with the closing date of March 31, 1995 - February 21, 1995

The successful ternderer had a change of mind and negotiations commenced with the unsuccessful tenderers

Sold to Laoag International Airlines, Philippines - July 01, 1995

Test flown at Wigram - July 19, 1995

Entered onto the Philippines Aircraft Register as RP-C3888 - July 22, 1995

Departed Christchurch on the ferry flight to The Philippines - July 22, 1995

Arrived Manila on completion of the ferry flight - July 24, 1995

Ferry route: Christchurch - Norfolk Island - Brisbane - Mt. Isa - Darwin - Bali - Kuching - Brunei - Manila

This aircraft was accompanied by ex ZK-BXC and ZK-BXD on this ferry flight

Laoag International Airlines ceases operations - November 11, 2002

It was observed at Manila without engines and other major parts missing - February 08, 2003

It had flown 4,066 hours with 3,794 cycles with Laoag - March 01, 2003

The aircraft had flown a total of 53,417 hours with 64,152 cycles

Scrapped at Manila after 2004

ZK-BXB. NAC - 'Kotuku' in the second livery at New Plymouth Airport, March 04, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-168.)

ZK-BXB. NAC - 'Kotuku' in the second livery at Auckland Airport, September 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-059.)

ZK-BXB. NAC National Airways - 'Kotuku' in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, January 13, 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-169.)

ZK-BXB. NAC National Airways - 'Kotuku' in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, December 05, 1971.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 1991-089.)

NZ2781. Royal New Zealand Air Force - in the standard livery at RNZAF Base Wigram, April 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-083.)

NZ2781. Royal New Zealand Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Richmond Airport, October 1988.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1991-084.)

NZ2781. Royal New Zealand Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Richmond Airport, October 1988.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1991-173.)

NZ2781. Royal New Zealand Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Richmond Airport, October 1988.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1991-085.)

NZ2781. Royal New Zealand Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Richmond Airport, October 1988.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1991-174.)

RP-C3888. Laoag International Airlines - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, July 23, 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-129.)

RP-C3888. Laoag International Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, April 1999.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1991-172.)