Schley Ride South Pacific
Documentary (1972)
Production:
Picturelogue Inc. of Waukesha Wisconsin (Production)
Norman E.Schley (Photography)
Also from this series:
Schley Ride to series
“Schley Ride to the South Pacific” (c.1972) is a color travelog by filmmaker Norman E. Schley as he embarks on a tour of countries in the South Pacific: French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Hawaiian Islands. This film was made in two parts and this particular installment highlights Schley’s time in Tahiti, Bora Bora, Melbourne, and Sydney. Note: this film is silent, but originally may have had a soundtrack, or alternatively would have been screened with accompanying live narration by the filmmaker.
Part 1
Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster
Comment says Air Polynésie DC-4 plane for service from Tahiti around Polynesia; passengers board plane. The airport shown doesn't match with Aéroport de Tahiti Faa'a at this time. [ See discussion tab (1)]
Registration F-BBDR, c/n DC148 10417. Delivered new to USAAF in 1944, registered 42-72312. Bought by American Airlines in 1946, registered N90437, named Flagship New Orleans. Sold to Air France in August 1949, registered F-BBDR. Sold to UTA-Union de Transports Aériens in Décember 1967. Sold to Air Polynésie in January 1971. Sold to Air Comores in December 1973, re-registered D6-CAA in November 1976 one year around after independence. Wfu in Moroni, Comores in 1979. Bought by South African Air Force in 1981, registered 6907. Wfu in 1992. Sold to Africa Cargo Airlines in June 1993, registered ZS-NJN then 7Q-YYY of Malawi in March 1994. Sold to Interstate Airways in March 1996, registered 3D-NJN of Swaziland. Sold to Aviation Mondiale in March 1998, registered 3D-ADW. Stored at Lanseria.
Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster
Same F-BBDR on approach to Bora Bora.
At Aéroport de Bora-Bora.
Supposed leaving French Polynesia towards Australia [ See discussion tab (2)], but Air Polynésie only operated intra insular routes, had no international destinations.
Part 2
World map highlighting the Pacific Ocean; various flag pins placed across map; camera zooms into Australia and New Zealand. First pictures shows Wellington cable car and panoramic views from Mount Victoria Lookout of Wellington and harbor.
Comment says Passengers climb air stairs onto Air New Zealand flight. Probably from Wellington Airport, but the air stairs is too high to correspond to the Fokker F27 Friendship mentioned further. [ See discussion tab (3)].
Fokker F27-100 Friendship
Specific landing gear of a F27 Friendship probably from New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) at the time. Taking off.
On approach for landing.
Move to Fiji Islands.
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
At Nadi Airport on Viti Levu island. [ See discussion tab (4]]
Fiji Airways operated 4 aircraft of the type. Douglas C-47A and C-47B .
Taking off from Nadi Airport or Nausori International Airport? [ See discussion tab (5)]. Supposed to carry passengers to Hawaii, but such airplane couldn't do the distance and the company started international flights in 1973 only (Brisbane Australia).
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