Save The Plane
If we raise a minimum of $NZD1 million we will purchase the plane and raise the balance to bring it back to New Zealand.
Auckland
Please read: ZK-NBV - Boeing 747-419 ‘City Of Christchurch’, ‘The Frodo Plane’, ‘Mighty Waka’, ‘The Queen Of The Skies’
Our Urgent Campaign...
We are in a race against time to save the last remaining original Kiwi Boeing 747 passenger jet left on the planet, the former Air New Zealand Boeing 747-419, MSN 29610-1180 - ex ZK-NBV,
'City Of Christchurch' from Aersale INC, Florida, USA. The airplane is currently in operational storage at Roswell, New Mexico USA after ending service with Wamos Air, Madrid Spain.
What makes this aircraft so special?
NBV is the only remaining original -19 747-400 passenger jet on the planet, -19 being the Boeing designator for Air NZ ordered/spec aircraft. This airplane alone has carried well over two million Kiwis in her 15 years in our service - many, many New Zealanders took their first few steps out into the world on their classic Kiwi OE, through the door of this aeroplane. Then there are the crews, the engineers, flight planners, ground handlers, at home and wherever she ventured in the world. Most of NBV's life has been spent high above the earth at close to the speed of sound with her hundreds of passengers, warm, safe and comfortable, all with a story to tell, and she did this day in and day out. day in and day out. This aeroplane is a truly iconic nation building artifact of our social and transportation history. NBV was 'The Frodo Plane' featuring special Lord Of The Rings livery in early 2000 and conducting a dazzling Wellington fly past at the 'The Two Towers' movie premier.
NBV Short History...
First flown with a Boeing test registration at Everett (Paine Field) October, 09, 1998.
Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-NBV October 31, 1998.
Registered to Air New Zealand Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
Handed over to Air New Zealand at Everett October 31, 1998 - named City Of Christchurch.
Arrived Auckland (02:15 local) on completion of the delivery flight November 02, 1998.
Rolled out in 'The Lord of the Rings 'The Two Towers' livery November13, 2002 .
Depart Auckland on last outbound Air NZ B747 AKL-SFO service September 10, 2014.
Arrives at AKL on return from SFO September 12, 2014 and withdrawn from use.
Before its final flight with Air New Zealand, ZK-NBV had completed 67,552 flight hours (7.80 continuous years airborne) and 7284 landings - this aircraft was the last Boeing 747 in the Air New Zealand fleet.
Mission...
Our mission is to raise 2.5 million New Zealand dollars by the end of the second week of July 2021 to purchase NBV, have the airliner flown from Roswell New Mexico USA and repatriate it's x 4 GE engines back to the States in special vibration proof containers. Bring Our Birds Home's interest in the airplane goes back to 2018 when NBV became the last remaining on the scrapping and destruction of New Zealand's first Boeing 747-219B, ZK-NZV, MSN 22722-523 at Domodedovo Airport, Moscow, Russia.
If We Are Successful In Our Mission?
The ferry flight of NBV will be from Roswell International Air Centre to New Zealand, most likely Christchurch in the South Island. At some point the aeroplane will be partially dismantled and shipped by road to the National Transport & Toy Museum at Wanaka for reassembly and eventual permanent public display. https://nttmuseumwanaka.co.nz/ https://www.bringourbirdshome.co.nz/bobh-display-plans
About us
To save, secure, recover, repatriate, store and eventually display six New Zealand Airliner air frames of national historical and cultural significance.
Use of funds
Donations will be used to purchase the plane, preferably in flyable order but there are other options.
- NZ$2.5m is needed to purchase the Frodo 747 Plane, bring her back to New Zealand and repatriate the four engines back to the USA.
- If we raise a minimum of $NZD1 million we will purchase the plane and raise the balance to bring it back to New Zealand.
- If the total amount isn't raised, parts of the plane will be purchased.
Latest update
Update 12/7/2021 12 July 2021
Thanks everyone for your generous donations so far.
At an earlier date the page referred to us refunding donations if the full amount was not raised. However, this is not the case.
Please see how the funds will be used:
Donations will be used to purchase the plane, preferably in flyable order but there are other options.
- NZ$2.5m is needed to purchase the Frodo 747 Plane, bring her back to New Zealand and repatriate the four engines back to the USA.
- If we raise a minimum of $NZD1 million we will purchase the plane and raise the balance to bring it back to New Zealand.
- If the total amount isn't raised, parts of the plane will be purchased.
If you have any concerns regarding this please contact Givealittle at helpdesk@givealittle.co.nz by 5pm Friday 16th July 2021.
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