Fuel Tanker [Aviation Services BP]
Maker and role
Fordson Thames, Manufacturer
The British Petroleum Company Limited, Commissioned by
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1973.221.1
Production period
Description
Fordson Thames Fuel Tanker BP. Registration No.EZ8957. Green tank, three wheels, rims of the tyres are yellow. 'Aviation BP Service' logo printed down the sides of the tanker. Black mud guards around the two rear wheels. Graffiti on the front of the tanker, and painted on the front left panel reads " ? GLEN EDEN MOTOR BODIES LTD., GLEN EDEN MOTOR PAINTERS LTD, PENNYCOOK SIGNS LTD., ? SUPERTHANE 279 ? , Donated by LUSTEROID PANTS LTD."
Brief History
This British Petroleum (BP) Aviation Service 3636-litre (800-gallon) fueller is one of similar type vehicles brought to New Zealand after WWII, when BP began marketing in the country. It had already seen wartime service in Britain and, although finally withdrawn from regular airport use in the late 1960s, it was subsequently employed until 1972 to supply aviation turbine kerosene to the SRN 6 Hovercraft used for rescue duties at Auckland Airport. It was in almost continuous service for some 30 years. Based on a Fordson truck chassis, the tank and fuelling equipment was manufactured by Zwicky Limited, a petroleum equipment firm.
For most of its working life it was used at airports throughout New Zealand to supply aviation gasoline to New Zealand National Airways Corporation's Douglas DC-3 Dakota aircraft. Unlike airliners with under-wing fuelling system, the DC-3 and other aircraft of this period were designed for over-wing fuelling, this is why twin hose booms were fitted to the fueller. As the DC-3 was progressively replaced by new airliners, the number of these fuelling units was gradually reduced. This particular vehicle had its overhead hose booms removed and was converted to deliver aviation kerosene through an under-wing fuelling hose-reel installed in a side cabinet.
For most of its working life it was used at airports throughout New Zealand to supply aviation gasoline to New Zealand National Airways Corporation's Douglas DC-3 Dakota aircraft. Unlike airliners with under-wing fuelling system, the DC-3 and other aircraft of this period were designed for over-wing fuelling, this is why twin hose booms were fitted to the fueller. As the DC-3 was progressively replaced by new airliners, the number of these fuelling units was gradually reduced. This particular vehicle had its overhead hose booms removed and was converted to deliver aviation kerosene through an under-wing fuelling hose-reel installed in a side cabinet.
Marks
AVIATION BP SERVICE Logo
THOMPSON / BILSTON LTD. / ? STON. STN? / ENGLAND / T.B. / AIRCRAFT FUELLER Maker's Plate
THOMPSON / BILSTON LTD. / ? STON. STN? / ENGLAND / T.B. / AIRCRAFT FUELLER Maker's Plate
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Fordson Thames et al. Fuel Tanker [Aviation Services BP], 1973.221.1. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Public comments
Thank you for your comment and sharing this memory.
- MOTAT Curatorial Research posted 3 years ago.
Great to see this tanker is still part of the Motat collection. I remember seeing it at the museum when I was very small maybe 40 years ago.
- Richard Wesley posted 3 years ago.