The McDonald’s franchise system has allowed the corporation to set up locations in almost every part of the world, even when local policies or ideologies were not entirely favorable. However, there is a McDonald’s in New Zealand that quickly stands out for one reason: it has a Douglas DC-3 airplane as part of its facilities. Although it is not possible to order food on the plane, it does have several tables to enjoy a burger…
With more than 80 years under its belt, McDonald’s is a brand that has many oddities in its history. From the installation of that location in Soviet Moscow to the offer of pizza on its menu, and even countries where it completely failed (Jamaica and Bolivia, to name two examples), the company accumulates details worth studying, even out of simple curiosity. With that in mind, we traveled to New Zealand, to the town of Taupō to be more precise. What is there? A McDonald’s with an integrated airplane.
The Story of the DC-3
Eileen Byrne and her husband Des have worked under the McDonald’s franchise system since 1995, but they became owners of this restaurant in 2000. What is the story of the airplane? It is a Douglas DC-3 built in 1943, which was used to transport passengers in Australia until 1961, and ended up in New Zealand where South Pacific Airlines extended that original role until 1966. Eileen indicates that the plane served under the Post Office, but other sources suggest it was acquired by Fieldair Holdings as an agricultural plane. Now, everyone agrees on the year of its final retirement, 1984. McDonald’s bought it in 1990, and it has been there ever since.
A Dining Experience Inside the Plane
It should be noted that the kitchen is not on board the plane, but rather it functions as a dining room, with a total of ten tables for twenty visitors. However, the DC-3 can be explored. Its cabin is intact, as are several of the original connections. The publicity has been so great that it was declared “the 'coolest' McDonald's in the world” in 2013, surpassing true giants like the McDonald’s in Ulsan, South Korea, the Denton House in New Hyde Park, and the UFO in Roswell.
Source: Insider
