After finishing up its long service with the Department of Transport and predecessors, DC-3 VH-CAN was sold in 1978-79 to Paradak for use as a parachuting jump ship. It is seen in the photo above in Paradak colours at one of the Schofields airshows in 1979, shortly after joining Paradak.

After Paradak VH-CAN went to DC3 Queensland, who sold it in turn to John Love, an ex Albury Flight Service FSO, in approximately Sept/Oct 1991. John Love then sold it to Vincent Aviation of Wellington in about April 1994. After the aircraft was ferried to New Zealand by Civil Aviation Authority Flying Operations Inspector Kevin Smith, Peter Vincent had it put it on the NZ register in August 1994 as ZK-AMY Lady Jane, operating it from Wellington.

In mid-1998 the aircraft was put in storage with Fieldair at Palmerston North. In October 1998 the aircraft was registered to GYM Properties, Nelson, but remained in storage. In 2001 ZK-AMY returned to work, this time with Pionair.

in December 2004 ZK-AMY and another DC-3, ZK-AWP Lucille, were sold to Peau Vava'u Air of Tonga (both DC-3s had been operating in Tonga under charter since June 2004). ZK-AMY returned to New Zealand on 2 October 2005 and was registered to Southern DC-3 Limited on 23 February 2007.

(Photo: Richard Hitchins)

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