Hawker Siddeley Andover C.1
Specifications
RNZAF Serial no. NZ7621
Currently stored in the Reserve Collection
Can be viewed on the Daily Tour
One of the RNZAF’s core workhorses of the 1980s and 1990s, the Andover was a versatile aircraft which saw service around the world, from VIP transport to peacekeeping operations.
The RNZAF acquired 10 Andovers second-hand from the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1976 to fill the short to medium range tactical transport role. They served with No. 1 and 42 Squadrons at Whenuapai and Ohakea, as well as overseas on peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and Somalia. The aircraft were also used for parachute training and disaster relief, while two were designated as VIP aircraft.
NZ7621 originally entered service with the RAF in the mid-1960s. Following its sale to the RNZAF, NZ7621 was flown from the United Kingdom to Auckland, arriving on 24 May 1977. It served solely with No. 42 Squadron, before being allocated to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand prior to the retirement of the Andover fleet in 1998. NZ7621 was flown to Wigram, arriving at the Museum on 28 June 1996.
One of the largest aircraft in our collection, NZ7621 sat outside for many years after its delivery to the Museum. As a result, it now requires some attention from our technical conservation team. After more than 15 years in our collection storage hangars, NZ7621 was moved into the reserve collection area in the Thérèse Angelo Wing in December 2022.
Andover NZ7621 is a very rare aircraft, being the sole surviving RNZAF example and the only military transport configured example in preservation anywhere in the world. Having it closer to the conservation workshop and in a much kinder environment means our team can begin to address some of the problems caused by its exposure to the elements. This means that visitors on our Daily Tours may get the opportunity to see ‘conservation in action’ as our technical staff and volunteers begin to work on various parts of the aircraft in situ.
