The best flight I ever had was on SPANZ. NAC flew high and fast. I flew several trips between Wellington and Christchurch. The best flight was early one crystal clear morning. We left Harewood and I expected to go the coastal route, so was was surprised and excited to see we were flying up the Molesworth Valley probably around the mountain tops. It was safe, and stunning. As a young kid alone, I was utterly spoilt. I wish I had nicked one of their safety booklets. You see SPANZ had a sense of humour which made the booklet riveting reading. I recall it informed us that live crocodiles and molotov coctaile (and other things) are not to be carried in the cabin. I recall the Government starving SPANZ to death, when SPANZ applied for new routes and I think it was some Fokker aircraft they wanted for their necessary expansion. Bring back SPANZ
Anyone interested in SPANZ should get Dr Richard Waughs book of the same name. He goes into so much detail that cannot be covered in a short documentary.
