Traffic

VH-ABK was not in an airworthy condition but was under restoration to flying standard. During a storm at Scone Airport late last year the Dove was damaged thus making restoration impossible. VH-ABM flew into Essendon on March 28th and after a repaint by Pacific Aviation in Penguin Express markings it entered service on May 5th. The Dove will be operated by Penguin Express in an 11-seat configuration. It will be available for general charter work as well as for Sky School flights out of Essendon. VH-ABK was trucked into Essendon during April and will be used as a source of spare parts for VH-ABM.

Excluding the 6 ex-NTMS Doves which we have already covered the following is the present status of the Dove fleet in Australia: VH-ABK – derelict Essendon used as a source of spares. VH-ABM – Penguin Express, Essendon. VH-CJY – in poor condition at Jandakot. Stored in the open with broken windows and door hanging off hinges. VH-CLD – Moorabbin Air Museum exhibit. VH-CTS – Warbirds Museum, Mildura. Being cannibalised to supply parts for static restoration of RNZAF Devon NA1817. VH-DSM – Last noted 05/85 in storage in a hangar at Evans Head, NSW. Condition believed to be fair. VH-MGTstored in the open at Jandakot with parts missing, however, overall condition is fair. CR-TAG- Timor Air Transportc/n 04373. Exhibit in the Aviation Historical Society of Northern Territory complex at Stuart Park, Darwin. PK-LEA – c/n 04313 ex VHMJD. Damaged during Cyclone Tracy 12/74. The fuselage lies in the centre of Darwin Airport and is used by the Airport Fire Service. NZ1814- c/n 04397, VH-CJX. Restored to RNZAF markings for static display at Parafield. NZ1817 – c/n 04403. Warbirds Museum, Mildura. Being restored to static exhibit in RNZAF colours using parts from Dove VH-CTS.

Imports-Exports

Though Piper have suspended production of the PA31-310 and PA31-350 there is still a market for this popular twin in Australia. Early April saw 2 PA31 aircraft complete their TransPacific ferry flight on delivery to Australian owners. On April 2nd N4091B flew into Brisbane from Honiara with its eventual destination being Forbes in NSW, while on the 7th N3564L arrived in Brisbane from Rabaul. Final destination for this PA31 was Bankstown where it was noted in early May.

Other aircraft to ferry across the Pacific in this period have included – Cessna 182K N9524X Majuro to Cairns on April 1st. Cessna 207 N41JE Honiara to Cairns on March 24th and Baron N4551M Pago Pago to Brisbane on April 22nd. Coming in from the Indian Ocean were PA30 ZS-FVR which was noted at Perth on April 8th and Cessna 340 N29EX which originated its ferry in South Africa and flew Paraburdoo to Perth on April 28th.

At Bankstown in early May was 1411 a Queen Air 65 of the Royal Thai Air Force which is believed to be destined for·an Australian operator. On the same day at Bankstown were 4 Australian registered aircraft awaiting export to China. Cessna A815F VH-JFE and Transavia PL-12 Airfarmers VH-JFI, VH-JFJ and VH-JFK are all being exported to China through the Australian Development Assistance Bureau to modernise the country’s aerial agriculture.

Kendell Airlines Expands Fleet

With Kendell Airlines expanding their operations into South Australia in favour of Airlines of South Australia they have found a need to increase the size of their Metro II fleet. In the May issue of Traffic, we recorded the delivery of Metro II VH-BIF which was previously operated by Air Albatross as ZK-SWC. Kendell have since purchased the 2 remaining Metro cells from the Air Albatross fleet. ZK-SWD crossed the Tasman on April 17th on delivery to Kendell at Wagga. Previously registered VH-BPG with Air Queensland it has become VH-WGV with Kendell. The Metro was noted at Melbourne Airport on May 10th in service with Kendell but still wearing Air Albatross colours. Metro II ZK-SWA c/n TC-256 flew into Wagga on May 17th after its ferry from Wellington. Before purchase by Air Albatross in December 1983 this aircraft flew with Skywest as VH-SWN. With Kendell, it will be registered VH-WGY.

On May 6th Kendell took delivery of their second Saab SF340 when VH-KDP flew into Wagga from Alice Springs. The registration carried by this aircraft caught most by surprise as it was originally planned to be VH-KDI. Evidently, when the Saab was outfitted and painted by Metair at West Malling it carried the registration VH-KDI. On arrival back in Sweden it was found that these markings were not available however VH-KDP had recently been vacated by a departing Cessna 550 so that was used instead. The problems concerning the use of VH-KDI have now been cleared up and that will be used for Kendell’s third Saab SF340 which will be number 68 off the line and is due for delivery in October.

This now gives Kendell Airlines a fleet of 2 Saab SF340s VHKDK, VH-KDP and 7 Metro lls VH-BIF, VH-BIS, VH-KDQ, VHKDR, VH-WGV, VH-WGX, VH-WGY. On order is 1 Saab SF340 VH-KDI.

The remainder of the Air Albatross fleet have also found their way to Australia. Merlin IVA ZK-SWB flew into Adelaide on March 29th on delivery to South Australian commuter operator OpalAir. The Merlin IVA which previously saw service in Australia as VHCFO has been registered to Opal Air as VH-SWP. It will replace in-service Merlin Ill VH-SWK. Cessna 402A ZK-DHW c/n 0065 made its Tasman crossing on April 10th. It was noted at Bankstown in early May and is believed to have been purchased by locally-based P&T Aviation.

Other news regarding commuter operators in this period includes the setting up of a new airline in South Australia and further changes in the Australian Bandeirante fleet.

South Australia has seen the formation of State Air who has commenced flying between Adelaide and Kangaroo Island. State Air are part of Commodore Airlines and they have been given a new name so that they can operate as the designated Ansett airline on the route. Airlines of South Australia withdrew from the Adelaide to Kangaroo Island route on April 4th with State Air using N24A VH-PGW commencing operations on the 6th. Later in the month State Air took delivery of Shorts 360 VH-MVW and put it into service on the Kangaroo Island run. State Air have also ordered a new 360 for delivery later this year.

Lloyd Airlines has sold one of its Bandeirantes to a New Guinea operator. EMB-110P1 VH-KIR c/n 110. 274 was registered P2-NAL before departing Adelaide on March 24th on delivery to Nationair in Port Moresby. Lloyd in turn purchased the former O’Connors Airlines Cessna 402C VH-OAS for use on their commuter operations.

April 30th saw Skywest terminate commuter services between Perth and Sunbury and Perth and Rottnest Island. This now leaves Rottnest. Airlines. as the sole operator on the Rottnest Island route while Avior have temporarily taken over the Bunbury service. Skywest used their Bandeirante VH-WBI on both these routes and with their termination it is expected that it will be sold.

Propjet Fleet Changes

At a ceremony held in the Hawker Pacific hangar at Essendon Airport on April 26th the RFDS of Australia – Victorian Section accepted delivery of Beech King Air C90 VH-FDT c/n LJ. 842 – refer Traffic May 1986. The King Air which is based at Derby was named ‘Sir Robert Law-Smith’.

Noted at Perth Airport on May 3rd was Cessna 425 VH-EGS of the RFDS – Eastern Goldfields Section. This is believed to be a re-registration of Cessna 425 VH-JEC c/n 0183 which was delivered to them earlier this year.

Rossair has taken delivery of a second Cessna 441 to add to their charter fleet. N164TG c/n 0164 was previously operated by Texas Gas of Corpus Christi. Still carrying its US registration it flew Nadi to Sydney on January 20th on delivery to Rossair with whom it has since been registered VH-LBC.

The first Cessna 208 Caravan has been registered in Australia. N208CC c/n 00004 came to Australia last August at the end of a South Pacific tour. The Caravan was noted at Bankstown in early May and registered VH-JEE.

In November 1982 MU-2K N61DP c/n 290 arrived at Essendon on delivery to lnterair. By the following May, it had acquired dual registrations VH-MWZ – N61DP. In February 1984 N61DP became N61DX though it still carried the Australian registration VH-MWZ. The MU-2K remained static in lnterair’s hangar till early May when it was noted carrying only its Australian registration.

Merlin Ill ZK-YCL of Yates Seed Co. , has been sold in the United States. Still carrying its New Zealand registration it flew from Auckland to Nadi on April 4th.

In Traffic January we mentioned that Elders IXL had sold their Merlin IIIC VH-IHJ in the United States as N3028L. This was only a temporary stop as in December it was cancelled from the United States register as sold in Denmark. The Merlin is now operating with Metro Airways of Copenhagen as OY-BPK.

Biz Jet News

Another interesting period for changes in the biz jet fleet with signs of plenty more to come.

Departing the country in February were 2 Citations. Aviation Centre Cessna 550 VH-KDP was sold through Aerolink Aviation Corporation of Sydney to General Aviation Services of Wheeling, Illinois. Registered N810JT the Citation was to be flown to Denmark for operation there by Midfly. Lloyd Aviation sold their Citation I VH-SWC to Owners Jet Service Ltd. , St Charles, Illinois and it was registered to them in February as N32DA. Lloyds have meanwhile been awarded a contract from the Australian Defence Forces which will necessitate them importing 3 Learjets in time to commence operations on July 1st.

Noted at Moorabbin on May 12th was Citation I N18AF c/n 0283. This aircraft is believed to be on delivery to Air North Queensland.

The former Skywest Citation 550 VH-TNP departed Perth on April 28th on delivery to a new owner at Bankstown. The Citation was noted at Bankstown early in May carrying the inscription RGM International. This was the last Citation in the Skywest fleet and it was declared surplus to requirement when they lost the Mount Newman contract to Flightways. Over the years Skywest have operated 4 Citation 550s including VH-TNP. The others were VH-LSW which is now with Tillair as VH-TFY, VH-WNP now with lightways and VH-WNZ now with Lloyds. In July Skywest will add a new type of Biz jet to their executive fleet when they take delivery of BAe125-800 VH-CCC c/n 258002 (refer to Newsdesk).

Perth-based charter operator Flightways have added a second Falcon 20 to their fleet and it will be used to service their newly awarded Mount Newman. Falcon 20F VH-NMN c/n 327 flew into Perth from Mount Newman on April 24th on the termination of its ferry flight. Built in August 1975 this Falcon has spent most of its operating life with the Harrahs Club of Reno, Nevada. Its last registration with Harrahs was N2H. In November 1985 it became N96L on sale to Jack Prewitt & Associates, Bedford. In January 1986 it was sold to Aviation Enterprises, Wilmington, Delaware. Delivery of VH-NMN gives Flightways an operating fleet of – Falcon 20 VH-FWO, VH-NMN: Cessna 550 VH-WNP: Cessna 441 VH-CCY, VH-FWA, VH-KDJ: PA31-350 VH-KGE PA31-310 VH-FWJ, VH-MNT: Baron 58 VH-BMT.

Pacific Aviation will also add a BAe125-700 to their charter fleet in July. The aircraft involved is believed to be c/n 257064 which is presently registered in Saudi Arabia as HZ-OFC. Pacific have been without a BAe125 in their charter fleet since late last year when VH-JCC was sold to Lang Hancock. Other 125 news concerns Sherrard Aviation at Essendon. Noted at Essendon in early April was BAe125-400F N707EZ c/n 25231. Though registered to an owner in Honolulu I believe this aircraft normally operates out of the Philippines. It remained at Essendon till early May and while here was advertised for sale by Sherrard. APM Ltd recently changed its name to Amcor Ltd. To promote this new name they hired Sherrard Aviation’s 125 VH-CAO to be used in a TV commercial. In late April VH-CAO was noted at Essendon wearing large AMCOR titles and an Australian flag.

Associated Airlines Gulfstream II VH-ASG was due back in Australia in late May after being converted to a Series 2B by Gulfstream Aerospace.

Helicopter Movements

This section of the industry is very active at the moment with quite a number of helicopters of varying sizes changing hands.

By late May the 2 Ansett S-61Ns at Melbourne Airport VH-BRH and VH-BRI had lost their Australian registrations. Instead, they have acquired a most unusual combination of letters and numbers. They have become N-AZ17 and N-AZ16 respectively, which I assume is meant to be N17AZ and N16AZ. It will be interesting to see whether these bogus markings are changed before they depart on their ferry flight to Bombay.

A visit to Portland, Victoria in early April found 2 Bell 212s working out of there in support of the drilling platform Arctic Zapata. They were VH-BEL which carried Mayne-Bristow markings and VH-BEE which was in Bristow Worldwide markings. The latter has only just been registered though it has been in Australia and New Zealand for some time as VR-BEZ.

Kestrel Aviation have recently set up operations at Moorabbin Airport. Initially involved in helicopter training and sales they have imported 4 Bell 47G’s from Canada. Noted at Moorabbin in late May were Bell 47G-2 VH-KHJ, VH-KHK, VH-KHL and Bell 47G-3B1 VH-KHM. At a later stage, Kestrel will also involve themselves in fixed-wing aircraft sales.

Noted at Melbourne Airport on April 23rd was Bell 214ST N3186W. It was last reported as operating with Era Helicopters, Anchorage Alaska.

The National Safety Council of Australia and Frontier Helicopters of Abbotsford, British Columbia exchange firefighting helicopters during the Northern or Southern fire season. Last November Frontier sent Bell 205A C-GFHM to Australia and while it operated with the NSCA it was registered VH-HHM. The Bell was noted at Melbourne Airport on March 28th being loaded on Qantas 747 VH-ECA for return to Canada. On May 7th NSCA Bell 205A’s VH-NSJ/03 and VH-UHP/05 were noted on a truck proceeding north up the Tullamarine Freeway. These helicopters have since been flown to Canada for the Northern fire season.

International Visitors

Perhaps the most interesting visitor for this period was Boeing 707-331C N345FA of Race Aviation. First noted at Sydney on March 13th Boeing operated a number of flights for Transcorp Airways from Sydney and Brisbane to Noumea. This aircraft was originally built on order for TWA and was delivered to them in July 1969 as N15713. In June 1978 it was taken out of service and the following August sold to Global International. In June 1985 it was sold to Farhad Azima of Kansas City who has the aircraft operated by Race Aviation.

Aer Turas DC-8-63CF EI-BNA operated a number of charters in our region during April. Between April 22 and 28 it was noted at Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Another overseas freighter noted was Martinair DC-10-30 PH-MBG which flew Sydney to Christchurch on April 10th.

In connection with the appearance of Halley’s Comet British Airways operated a Concorde charter from London to Auckland. G-BOAB arrived in Auckland on April 6th from Perth and returned to London the following day via Perth, Colombo and Bahrain.

The United States Navy flew Douglas C-9B 159119 into Perth on May 2nd from Darwin. Other military transports visiting were RAF VC10 XV103 c/s Ascot 2589 from Darwin to Ohakea on April 10th and sister ship XR810 c/s Ascot 2616 Singapore/ Darwin/Melbourne/Brisbane on April 27th.

Finally, the USAF Oklahoma ANG C-130H that visited Perth on March 3rd was 80809 and not as shown in the May Traffic.