Armstrong-Whitworth AW650-222 Argosy

The 'Merchant Enterprise'.

The largest aircraft on public display in New Zealand, and the last of its kind in the world, is Argosy "Merchant Enterprise", now open for visitors at Woodbourne (Blenheim).

The "Merchant Enterprise" is an AW-650 Series 222 Argosy aircraft built by the Armstrong Whitworth company at Baginton, near Coventry, England. This unique twin-boomer first flew on 10 March 1965 and was operated by BEA on their European cargo routes. It then did several years service with TransAir in Canada and Alaska before arriving in New Zealand in July 1974.

Registered as ZK-SAE, the "Merchant Enterprise" was operated by Safe Air Limited from their base at Woodbourne, near Blenheim. It flew the main trunk air routes of New Zealand as a general purpose cargo carrier. It also flew the unique Chatham Islands service, using a specially-built passenger capsule fitted inside the freight hold.

Refurbished Argosy 'Passenger Capsule'.

In December 1978 the Argosy was the subject of much media attention when a series of "UFOs" were seen and filmed from it whilst flying along the Kaikoura Coast. The "UFOs" were also tracked on radar and seen by other air and ground observers. What they were is still a matter of much debate.

Safe Air ceased flying operations on 30 September 1990 and the "Merchant Enterprise" made its last flight back to Woodbourne commanded by long-serving SAFE Captains Allan Graham and Ian Pirie. It was then stripped of engines and instruments in preparation for scrapping. However at the last minute the aircraft was purchased by the Argosy Trust and moved to a nearby farm where it remained for some years awaiting restoration.

In November 1999 the aircraft was moved down Highway 6 to its present home as the centrepiece of the Argosy Museum and Café, immediately adjacent to its former base on Woodbourne airfield. It is being progressively restored to full static display standard but is unlikely to ever fly again.

The Argosy being moved to its current home in November 1999

The giant aircraft sits alongside the "Argosy Café", a specially built aviation-theme Café complete with a display room of artifacts, paintings and photographs - plus a Rolls-Royce Dart engine. Various mementoes including book, video documentary, prints and photographs may be purchased.

The Argosy Cafe Gallery.

The fully licenced café offers economical meals, snacks and the finest coffee in Marlborough. You don't have to be an aviation enthusiast to enjoy that!

A popular new feature at the Argosy is a realistic "Virtual Flight" aboard the aircraft itself. Passengers take their seats inside the re-furbished Chathams passenger capsule and experience the sights, sound and movement of an actual Argosy flight with a fascinating film telling the Argosy story as "inflight" entertainment.

Argosy Statistics

Overall Length	26.44 m	86ft 9in
Wingspan	35.50 m	115ft 0in
Height (Tail)	8.91 m	29ft 3in
Fuselage Length	18.74 m	60ft 7in
Fuselage Width	3.81 m	12ft 6in
Weight Empty	21,000kg	46,000 lbs (20 tons)
Maximum Weight	40,000kg	88,000 lbs (39 tons)
Maximum Payload	12,000kg	28,000 lbs (12.5 tons)
Cruising Speed	210 knots
Ceiling	25,000 ft

ZK-SAE was one of just seven civilian 200 Series Argosies built. This aircraft is the sole survivor, all others having crashed or been scrapped.

Another 56 military Argosies (100 Series) were built for the RAF and served with Transport Command through the 1960's. Most of these were also scrapped. There are five 100 Series Argosies left, three in the UK and two in the USA.

There are no Argosies left flying anywhere in the world.

Underneath the huge wing at Woodbourne.