MiG fighter really takes off - at least on auction website

A grounded Russian-built MiG fighter jet once owned by Christchurch property developer David Henderson is set to become one of Trade Me's most popular auctions.

The 37-year-old former Polish Air Force aircraft, billed as "the only example of a single-seat MiG-21 fighter in New Zealand", has attracted more than 110,000 page views on the website since being listed eight days ago.

The plane is being sold by Turners Auctions.

The auction is already the 11th most-viewed in the site's history with a week to run, but could struggle to overtake the handbag former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga used to strike a team-mate at a Christchurch bar in 2006.

The handbag attracted more than 1 million views, about 200,000 more than a "scary" washing machine sold last year.

Trade Me spokesman Paul Ford said the MiG could break into the site's top five if interest levels were maintained.

The effort Turners had put into answering more than 200 questions on the site was "magic".

"A really important part of keeping the momentum up around it is having someone who is prepared to give a little bit of themselves in the questions and answers," he said.

The top 10 most popular auction items were "pretty random", Ford said.

They included Prime Minister John Key's cast, the image of Jesus on pita bread, and two "ghosts" captured by Christchurch woman Avie Woodbury.

Turners marketing manager Lisa Gay said monitoring the MiG auction was "almost another fulltime job" for employee Sam Brown.

The company was "absolutely stoked" with the progress.

"It's unsurprising that it's generated a bit of interest, but you always wonder if it will be just the aviation fans who are into it."

Bidding yesterday reached $34,900, with the auction closing on Friday.

MOST POPULAR

Trade Me top 10 most-viewed auctions:

1 Hurricanes handbag & cellphone, 1,072,893 views

2 Scary washing machine, 810,802

3 Jesus Christ pita bread, 276,094

4 Optus B1 satellite, 231,908

5 Two captured ghosts, 214,291

6 Streaker's bikini, 191,023

7 Virgin Mary image on pebble, 172,229

8 John Key's cast off, 147,728

9 Used cigarette butt, 139,627

10 John Key's New Zealand flag, 132,744.

- © Fairfax NZ News