Visitors to Whakatāne Airport may have noticed a new addition to the carpark area that is likely to delight children.

A long-retired Cessna 188 aircraft has been loaned to the airport by Classic Flyers at Mount Maunganui.

Airport chief executive Mark Read said the new playground aircraft was known as Dusty – a nod to the much-loved character from the children’s movie Planes.

Dusty started life as a crop duster and later became a playground feature at Classic Flyers. He’s now been offered to Whakatāne Airport, where he’ll be ready for children to enjoy this spring.

“We have a close relationship with Classic Flyers, so when they offered us the plane free of charge, we grabbed the opportunity with both hands,” Mr Read said.

“The team from Classic Flyers have been amazing – they even delivered Dusty. It will be a great addition to our café and will give kids something to do while they are waiting for flights to departed or land.”

He said after Dusty’s stay at Whakatāne Airport, he would head back to Classic Flyers.

Classic Flyers chief executive Andrew Gormlie told the Beacon the aircraft, colloquially known as an Agwagon, was dated from the 1980s and originally came from Manawatu.

“In its heyday it would have done many years of fert spreading around the central North Island.”

It was donated to the museum by one of their long-time volunteers 18 years ago and was refurbished for the park, also by volunteers.

“It was very popular in our playground, called Torpedo Park. Lots of kids have played in that one. We are now giving our park a revamp, so the timing was right for us to donate the plane to Whakatāne.

The aircraft will need to be secured in place before it is made available to play on. Currently it is fenced off but can be viewed at the entrance to the carpark area.

Mr Read said there was other work ongoing around the terminal that was part of making the terminal waterproof.

The fall of the forecourt meant that water pooled around the terminal windows causing these to rot. Contractors have created new drainage and will relay the forecourt surface, which is deteriorating badly. This will eliminate drainage issues and improve forecourt usability for terminal users.