French colorist Benoit Vienne has done stunning work bringing to life this TEAL DC-6, which operated through the 1950s with New Zealand’s national airline.
The B&W photo, from aviation historian Paul Sheehan, depicts the DC-6, ZK-BGB “Ärawhata” at Christchurch Airport in 1955.
Tasman Empire Airways Limited acquired the aircraft in 1954 when British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (BCPA) — owned by the British, Australian, and New Zealand governments – collapsed.
BCPA’s three DC-6s were transferred to TEAL for trans-Tasman and Hibiscus (Auckland-Nandi) services.
In the six weeks after the collapse of BCPA, TEAL underwent a remarkable transformation. It transitioned from British to US aircraft, moved its engineering facilities, procured spare parts for the DC-6s, and launched the first service from Sydney to Auckland.
The use of the new Douglas also heralded a major change in the airline’s focus with respect to tourist traffic, illustrated by its introduction of tourist or economy class.
