ZK-CIB Convair 580

This aircraft was constructed by the Convair Division of the General Dynamics Corporation at San Diego, California

It was built as a Convair 340-42 with the construction number of '96'

It was originally intended for Philippine Airlines as 'PI-C342' but the order was cancelled

It was rolled out at San Diego - July 09, 1953

First flown - July 1953

It was sold to Union Producing Company, Shreveport, Louisiana - July 30, 1953

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N8420H - July 30, 1953

Registered to Union Producing Company, Shreveport, Louisiana

This aircraft was damaged by fire at Shreveport - October 20, 1955

It was rebuilt by Convair and assigned the new construction number '327A'

It was reregistered as N8444H - April 24, 1956

Registered to Union Producing Company, Shreveport, Louisiana

It was rolled out at San Diego - May 09, 1956

Redelivered to Union Producing Company - May 1956

Conversion to a Convair 440 (PAC166) was commenced - July 17, 1956

Sold to North Central Airlines - December 02, 1965

It was converted to a Convair 580 - ?

Redelivered to North Central Airlines - May 01, 1969

Leased to Coastal Airlines for a short period - ?

North Central Airlines was renamed Republic Airlines - July 01, 1979

The aircraft was badly damaged in an accident at Brainard, Minnesota - January 09, 1983

The aircraft was repaired and sold to Jay-Dee Aircraft Supply Company Inc - October 14, 1983

Leased to Coastal Air as the registered operator - December 1983

Returned to the lessor at the end of the lease - ?

Sold to Aero Quetzal, Guatemala - September 1987

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - February 1988

Entered onto the Guatemala Aircraft Register as TG-MYM - February 1988

Registered to Aero Quetzal

It was withdrawn from service and stored at Tucson, Arizona - May 1989

Sold to Jay-Dee Aircraft Supply Company

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N8444H - March 20, 1992

Sold to Kelowna Flightcraft, Canada - May 1994

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-FCID - July 26, 1995

Registered to Kelowna Flightcraft

Departed Canada on the ferry flight to New Zealand on delivery to Air Chathams - May 1996

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the ferry flight - May 26, 1996

Ferry route: Kelowna - Honolulu - Pago Pago - Auckland

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-CIB - May 26, 1996

Registered to Air Chathams Limited, Waitangi, Chatham Islands

The aircraft was configured as a 'Combi' with a freight capacity of 6.3 tonnes or 39 passengers

This flexibility suited Air Chathams' operations due to the changing load requirements

Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - June 07, 1996

Leased to Chathams Pacific Airways, Tonga - July 17, 2012

Returned to Air Chathams at the end of the lease - September 21, 2012

Operated its final revenue service Auckland - Christchurch - Auckland - September 12, 2021

Withdrawn from use and stored at Auckland

Donated to the National Toy and Transport Museum, Wanaka - ?

Ferried Auckland - Wanaka for display - May 21, 2022

The aircraft had flown 59,769 hours with 56,284 cycles

It is still on the New Zealand Aircraft Register as of - June 07, 2022