Tonga Photos I

The Vava'U, almost International, airport. It has one runway and several airlines who stop there. They only go to Tongatapu (the capitol where the real international airport is) and to the Hapa'i group of islands just south of the Vava'U group.

This is our favorite plane that goes from Vava'U to Tongatapu. It went out of service for a major overhaul in New Zealand just after I left on it this last time. It was built during World War II. I think the pilots were born before then. They check the fuel with a stick they drop into the wing tanks. It is a safe and reliable airplane though. The other, newer airplanes broke down a lot but this one never did.