Chartered Accountants, Business Advisers, Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand

Southern DC3 Charitable Trust

Brophy Knight Limited is proud to be involved with the Southern DC3 Charitable Trust.

ZK-AMY is the only DC3 still flying in the South Island and one of only two left flying in New Zealand. The public of NZ are enjoying ZK-AMY as an icon of living history. Fly in her and relive for yourself the glory of travel in the golden age of flight. As one of the four pilots on the Trust Board, Dave Horsburgh says, “The Old Girl is not ready to retire - we’ll make her earn her keep for a long time yet”.

The DC3 is a legend around the world and nowhere more than in NZ. Since its first flight in 1935 the DC3 has continuously impressed with its reliability, safety and style, along with the ability to earn its way in a world of rapidly advancing technology.

ZK-AMY began life flying for the US Air Force in 1944, she flew Australia from top to bottom between 1947–1994 and most recently flew with Pionair and Vincent Aviation.

Yet, with just 18,000 hours logged against her airframe, she is literally the youngest airworthy DC3 in the Southern Hemisphere

Scenic Flights

Experience the opportunity to fly on the DC3 around Christchurch

City Scenic Flights now include entrance to the International Antarctic Attraction Centre:

Little blue penguins

The Hagglund ride

FREE Parking

30 minute flight over the city

Pre-flight Briefing & short film on flights to Antarctica

Chartered Flights

We can fly to nearly any destination in New Zealand and are able to land on grass strips.

We specialise in Canterbury, Ashburton, Mt Cook, Queenstown and The Marlborough Sounds.

As our packages vary greatly, give us a call so we can tailor-make an adventure to suit you or your clients.

Whether it be solely chartering the aircraft or the entire package including activities...our professional team of experts can make an adventure to suit you.

With great excitement and anticipation we embarked on our surprise reward venture on what was a very damp day clearing up just for us. We had reached our last tax return target for 31 March and after a year of hard work, we were about to be rewarded for reaching our goal.

Arriving at our destination we all eagerly gathered in the carpark of the Ashburton Airport looking over at the Southern DC3 ZK-AMY“ or Lady Jane” as she is fondly known. We were to take a chartered flight on the airliner who began flying in 1944 for the US Air Force, had served in WW2 and had now made her home in Ashburton as a testament to the reliability, safety and style she possessed. We boarded (some more tentative that others) fastened our seatbelts (some more tightly than others) and looked around at the pristine interior complete with curtains, fresh flowers and the sound of 1940’s swing music in the background. Our hostess Kris and pilots Rod & Dave put to rest any uneasiness. Both men were experienced pilots for Air New Zealand and Dave Horsburgh is also a Trustee of the Southern DC3 Trust whose efforts have kept this legendary lady in the air. The DC3 is renowned for its reliability & safety with the same wingspan as a Boeing 737 but with half the weight., with just 18,000 hours on the clock, the ZK-AMY is the youngest DC3 in the Southern Hemisphere.

At 1,000ft overlooking the Canterbury region from a birds eye view was unique, the patchwork of farmland and braided Rakaia River beneath us, and after only 15 minutes the city of Christchurch. It was a privilege to be able to land where the Hercules traveling to and from Antarctica usually docks. Like stars we were picked up directly from the tarmac on a private bus, granted the bus had six large penguins riding on top, but nonetheless we felt special.

We were treated to a great afternoon at the Antarctic Centre, riding in the Hagglund around a rollercoaster course including deep water was an experience in itself. We braved an Antarctic storm reaching 40km/hr winds and a windchill of -18°! We met the penguins and saw them swim for food, watched an awe inspiring Antarctic film and after a lovely hot cup of coffee and a muffin headed back in our private bus to our private plane! The 15 minute trip home went too quickly, we detoured to see more of the Ashburton region including Lake Hood before landing smoothly back home at the Ashburton Airport.

The whole day was an unforgettable experience and something everybody is now able to enjoy thanks to the Southern DC3 Trust. Chartered Flights are now available, you can choose your destination anywhere in New Zealand, or take a Scenic flight around Christchurch at pre-arranged times.

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