Wanaka's World War II Hawker Hurricane P3351 fighter plane has been dismantled and shipped to a new owner in France.
The
plane, a feature of the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow
since 2000, was the last airworthy asset of the Alpine Fighter
Collection established by Sir Tim Wallis.
Alpine Group chief executive Jonathan Wallis this week confirmed the plane's sale but declined to say who had bought it.
''It is very sad to see it go. However, it is great the aircraft will fly again. That is what it was built and designed to do.''
Mr Wallis would not say how much it sold for.
The
Otago Daily Times reported in 2009 the Hurricane was being offered for
sale by auction and was expected to fetch $4.9 million.
The
Hurricane was built in 1940 and is one of just 11 still airworthy. It is
believed to have been the only one in the southern hemisphere.
The
wreckage of the plane was recovered from Siberia, where it was believed
to have been shot down in 1943. Sir Tim acquired it in 1993 and had it
restored.
Most of the restoration, aside from the engine and wings, was carried out in an Air New Zealand hangar in Christchurch.
Retired
Air New Zealand engineer Mike Davies said while he did not work on it
directly himself, he knew it had been a ''labor of love'' for those
engineers who had.
Mr Davies said one of the problems of owning vintage aircraft was the cost of keeping them airworthy.
Parts
were difficult to obtain and were expensive, and inspections were
required at short intervals. He was personally sad to hear the plane
would no longer be seen in New Zealand.
The Hurricane was the
major drawcard for the 2000 Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow which was
attended by 110,000 people over three days.
Over the years, the
Wanaka-based fighter collection restored and flew an array of vintage
aircraft, including five Polikarpov fighters, a Mark XVI Spitfire, a
P-51D Mustang, a Kittyhawk, a Russian Yak 3, an American Corsair, and
two Messerschmitt fighter-bombers.
The decision to sell the collection followed Sir Tim's serious Spitfire accident in 1996.
The
Hurricane had been on the market for eight years, which Jonathan Wallis
said was a reflection of the group's desire for the Hurricane to stay
in New Zealand.
''Having exhausted all avenues for keeping P3351 in New Zealand, the aircraft has now been exported,'' he said.
http://www.odt.co.nz
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