A training aircraft used by the National Airways Corporation, with a history dating back to 1929, has been a special guest at the NAC's reunion held at Classic Flyers at Mount Maunganui.

The aircraft was purchased by a New Zealander, S.G. (Stan) White, in 1934, and left his hands in 1942 when it was sold to Union Airways.

It was more than 70 years later in 2012, after the aircraft changed multiple hands, when Stan's daughter, Jan Chisum and her husband Jerry Chisum of Bridge Pa, Hawke's Bay, purchased the aircraft her father flew from England after 43 stops over the course of several months.

According to Classic Flyers archivist Peter Layne, the aircraft is the only DH60 Moth still on the New Zealand aircraft register.

'It's really special to have it here for the reunion. It has such a great history,” says Peter.

Jan and Jerry said at the event they both felt 'blessed” to bring the aircraft to the special occasion.

Jan still remembers when Mr Middleton, who was then owner of the plane, said he was thinking of selling the aircraft.

'I said to him: ‘I thought you'd never say that'. It was an amazing moment,” says Jan.

The aircraft came first into Kiwi hands when it was purchased in 1934 by Jan's father, who was a flying officer serving in the RAF, from Hon Mrs Venetia Montagu who used it in 1933 for a tour of China.

Stan was due to complete his short service commission, and he intended to fly as far as Australia on his way home. He left England on September 18, 1934, and arrived in Sydney on November 1. The aircraft was then shipped across the Tasman and arrived in New Zealand on November 12, 1934.

Union Airways then purchased the plane on December 1, 1942, when the Royal New Zealand Air Force no longer had a use for the aircraft type. Union Airways named the Moth ‘Huia' and used it for communication flights and pilot training.

When Union Airways was nationalised on April 1, 1947, the aircraft became the property of the NAC, and they soon had no further use for it. It was then sold to A. B Baker of Hamilton who named it ‘Any Damn Thing' (ADT).

The aircraft was then sold on to multiple owners in Wairoa, then onto Palmerston North, by G.K. Reader, who sold it to H.L. Middleton of Pukekohe for restoration in 1972.

On July 2, 2012, it was sold to current owner, Jan Chisum.