WONZ 326 – Bob McGarry

Guest: Bob McGarry

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 23rd of February 2025

Published: 8th of June 2025

Duration:  58 minutes, 19 seconds

In this episode we hear a presentation given at the WONZ 20th Anniversary Forum Meet at Wigram by licensed aeronautical engineer Bob McGarry. He talks about his career in aviation, which included the RNZAF, and working with Arch Finch at Rotorua where he learned his trade. He then worked for Fieldair in their engine shop at Palmerston North. He then went to Christchurch to run the engine shop for Airwork (N.Z.) Ltd.

Next he set up his own aero maintenance business with Alan Mincher at West Melton airfield. It was while he was there that he decided he needed a project, and he acquired the remains of Simmonds Spartan ZK-ABK back to airworthy condition. The Spartan was New Zealand’s first airliner, having operated originally with New Zealand Airways Ltd of Dunedin in 1929. Bob tells the story of the restoration in some detail.

There is also a YouTube version so you can see the photos, which have been extracted from Bob’s PowerPoint presentation.

Quick Links:

• The Wings Over New Zealand Forum

• The Air Force Museum of New Zealand

• The Air Force Museum of New Zealand on Facebook

• The Ashburton Aviation Museum (now home of the Spartan)

• The Ashburton Aviation Museum on Facebook

The music is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud.

Thanks to Allan Udy for his help with the audio recording. Thanks also to Phil Treweek.