Traffic

Rebel Air have sold one of their DC-3’s to a new operator . in New Zealand who will fly under the name of Classic Air. VHPWM which was Rebel Air’s first DC-3 and was delivered to them in November 1979 was the aircraft selected. After overhaul by Hawker Pacific at Essendon VH-PWM departed there on July 5th. The Tasman crossing was made via Norfolk Island with VHPWM arriving at Christchurch Airport on the 7th.

Other DC-3 news from Essendon concerns VH-SBL of Travair, Western Australia. The overhaul of this aircraft is continuing and was expected to have been delivered to Perth in early August.

An interesting arrival at Bankstown in early June was the Catalina VH-ASA. Last flown in 1954, this very famous aircraft has been stored for a number of years at Camden. The move to Bankstown was made so that Hawker Pacific could rebuild the aircraft to static display for the Power House Museum.

A visit from a foreign registered DC-3 is a rare event these days in Australia. Touching down at Eagle Farm on June 21st was C-FGXW of Odyssey 86. To celebrate the 50th year of the DC-3 and to publicise the World Expo in Vancouver the DC-3 is making a world tour. After its Pacific crossing to Brisbane the DC-3 headed North to New Guinea.

For many people the era of the airliner powered by four reciprocating engines was full of romance and beauty. What could better the sight and sound of a fully laden Constellation or. DC-6 staggering off into the wide blue yonder. For Australia those days are long gone though a number of our propliners still operate overseas. Memories of these beautiful aircraft were renewed a few weeks ago when watching the film ‘Cuba’ on the TV. The climax of the film was supposedly Havana Airport and starred a DC-6B painted in the markings of a Cuban airline. The colour scheme rang a bell and sure enough on checking my notes I found that I had been watching the former Ansett/ANA DC-6B VH-INT. Delivered to Australian National Airways in October 1956 as ‘Olympiana’ VH-INT served with ANA then Ansett/ANA till sold overseas in November 1966. The DC-6B then saw service with operators in France, Belgium and the United States before being purchased by Spanish cargo airline Aerotransporte de Espana. It was in their colours that the DC-6B appeared in the film ‘Cuba’. The airport scenes were obviously not shot in Cuba but at Seville in Spain. From Spain the former VH-INT headed for Zaire where today it resides, out of service and with little hope of taking to the air again. So next time your local TV channel is showing ‘Cuba’ make sure you watch and enjoy the sight and sound of VH-INT.

Overseas Visitors

A strike by Olympic Airways pilots in June brought an interesting Boeing 747 to Melbourne and Sydney. Arriving in Melbourne on the 18th on OA471 from Athens and Singapore was 747-133 El-BRR. Built on order for Air Canada it was registered to them as C-FTOB. Now owned by Guinness Peat Aviation, the Boeing still carries its former Air Canada red cheatline but had an all white tail and fuselage top. Another 747 colour scheme new to Australia was noted at Sydney on June 26th. Nippon Cargo Airlines 747- 281F JA-8167 flew in from Tokyo using call sign KZ501.

Garuda Indonesia have adopted a new colour scheme and their 747 PK-GSD was noted during this period. Philippine Airlines are another overseas operator who have changed their colours with DC-10 RPC-2003 being noted.

Lan Chile 707-3218 CC-CEK ‘Tres Oceanos’ flew into Melbourne from Denpasar and Sydney on May 31st. The Boeing was operating another world charter and carried the inscription ‘Around the World Ill’.

United Technologies’ Boeing 727-30 N5073L visited Sydney and Melbourne in late May. N5073L c/n 18936 was originally built on order for Lufthansa and was delivered to them in April 1966 as 0-ABIV.

This was a busy period for visiting executive jets and among those recorded were: Gulfstream 3 N522SB Bank of America flew from Nadi to Sydney on May 18th; on June 17th the Chase Manhattan Bank flew three aircraft into Melbourne, Gulfstream 3’s N955CP and N40CH along with Falcon 50 N77CP; visiting Hamilton Island on June 20th was Gulfstream 2B N2615 while on the 19th Gulfstream 3 N100A was noted at Essendon and finally Gulfstream II N373LP of Louisiana Pacific Corp flew Auckland to Melbourne on June 25th.

Flying from Nadi to Sydney on May 25th were two Baron 58’s N7239J and N7239L which were on delivery to Hawker Pacific at Bankstowri. Noted at Adelaide on June 19th were four US registered light aircraft which were not on delivery to Australian operators. The four aircraft, Bonanza N4FH, Beech A36 N9489Q and N4504S and Piper Saratoga N8352C, were flown in by a group of pilots from Austin, Texas. The special flight was made to celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the twinning of the two cities.

Swedish registered light aircraft are very much a rarity in Australia. Departing Essendon on June 6th was Cessna 404 SEIVG c/n 0691. This aircraft was previously registered VH-PVG with Sherrard Aviation at Essendon. Only imported to Australia in 1985 the Cessna 404 was contracted out by Sherrard to the Victorian Police. To compensate for the loss of VH-PVG two Cessna 404’s have been purchased by Australian operators from overseas. Sunbird Airlines of Cairns put Cessna 404 VHSBG on the line in May. This aircraft was the former Fiji Airways DQ-FDT c/n 0095 which flew into Cairns from Vila on March 9th. Noted at Moorabbin on July 14th was C-GJEM c/n 0217 of Kenting Earth Sciences, Ottawa, Canada. This Cessna 404 is for Rundle Air Services in Townsville and will be registered VH-JOG.

British Aerospace 125 Fleet Grows

British Aerospace added another two of their popular 125 business jets to the Australian register in July. Flying into Essendon on the 11th was BAe125-7008 VH-JFT on delivery to Pacific Aviation. This aircraft will join their expanding charter fleet which has been without a 125 since VH-JCC was sold to Lang Hancock late last year as VH-LRH.

VH-JFT c/n 257064 is a 1979 production aircraft that was delivered in May of that year as HZ-NAO to the NADCO Construction Company of Saudi Arabia. In 1983 it was reregistered HZ-OFC though it remained with NADCO. Earlier this year NADCO traded their -700 in on a -800. HZ-OFC returned to British Aerospace as G-BMOS while NADCO took delivery of BAe125-800B c/n 258050 which retains the registration HZOFC.

On July 12th Skywest took delivery of BAe125-800B VH-111 at Perth. With the impending America’s Cup, Skywest feel there will be plenty of charter work for their 125 in the coming months.

VH-III c/n 258002 is the former British Aerospace demonstrator G-DCCC.

With the delivery of VH-III the Australian BAe125 fleet now stands at eight and they are: VH-CAO series 3B with Sherrard Aviation at Essendon; VH-HSP series 7008 with Westfield in Sydney though this aircraft will shortly move to Essendon with Coles-Myers; VH-HSS series 700B with Shell at Essendon; VH- III series 800B with Skywest in Perth; VH-XL series 800B with Elders-IXL at Essendon; VH-JFT series 7008 with Pacific Aviation in Sydney: VH-LRH series 700B with Lang Hancock in Perth and VH-SGY series 800B with the Queensland Government in Brisbane.

There has been plenty of activity on the bizjet scene in the last few weeks. The Bond Corporation have registered their Falcon 200 in Australia as VH-BGL. The Falcon arrived in the country in January as N210FJ c/n 495 and has been flying under its US registration. Falcon 20F N876SC chn 391 which has been with Hawker Pacific since December 1985 could be destined for the New Zealand register. The Falcon has been flying regularly out of Nelson on charter to the Goodman Group (refer Newsdesk for additional information on the NZ Falcon sale). Hamilton Island Falcon 20E VH-HIF has been sold to Qintex Ltd. , of Brisbane. It now regularly commutes between Brisbane and their new land development at Port Douglas.

Associated Airlines’ Gulfstream IIB VH-ASG flew back into Essendon on May 25th after its conversion in the United States. VH-ASG now sports an attractive new colour scheme which was acquired during its conversion.

Lloyd Aviation in Adelaide have taken delivery of two Learjets, which they will use on their recently awarded Defence Forces contract. Learjet 35 VH-SLJ flew into Adelaide on June 20th from Noumea on completion of its trans-Pacific ferry. The Lear was flown to the United States in April for modifications associated with its target towing contract. Also on June-20th Learjet 36 N266BS c/n 035 flew Auckland to Melbourne on delivery to Lloyd. It is expected that this Lear will revert to its former Australian registration of VH-BIB which it carried between January 1978 and August 1979.

On February 25th Westwind N25RE c/n 248 flew into Sydney on delivery to Pelair. The Westwind has since been registered VH-AJJ. On May 24th Pelair Westwind VH-AJP was noted at Melbourne Airport carrying the markings of Ansett Air Freight and Australia Post. It is believed that Australia Post are using VH-AJP and sister ship VH-AJQ on a three month trial basis to see whether they can improve the Australian postal system.

Cessna 425/441 in Australia

In this issue of Traffic we look at the Cessna 425/441 and how this twin turbine aircraft is finding a place in the fleets of a number of Australian operators. It was a slow start for the Cessna 425/ 441 in Australia with the first coming on the register in December 1979. Over the next four years a further seven were registered; however, in the last eighteen months sales have really taken off with fleet numbers being doubled to sixteen. Among Australian operators the aircraft has many uses including scheduled airline, charter, executive, bank courier and aeromedical.

The main operator of the type in Australia is the Katherine based Tillair who have four Cessna 441’s in their fleet.

History of this type in Australia is as follows: VH-KDJ Cessna 441 ex N88831 was registered in 12/79 to National Homes, Chermside Old. It was later traded in on a King Air 200 before being sold to the Queensland Police Department. Today VH-KDJ operates with Perth based charter operator Flightways; VH-KDN Cessna 441 ex N2625N was registered in 06/80 to Conquest Aviation, Canberra. In 1984 it was sold to Tillair; VH-CCY Cessna 441 ex N2723P was imported by Schutt Aviation at Moorabbin and registered to them in 04/81. In December 1983 it was registered N4555Y for sale in the United States. This fell through and the aircraft was purchased by Flightways, Perth; VH-PTH Cessna 425 ex N6774L was registered in 12/81 to Paul Terry Corp, Sydney. In 07/83 it was registered N555BE and sold to the United States; VH-TFG Cessna 441 ex N6855X was imported by Rex Aviation as a demonstrator. Registered in 11/81 to Tillair; VH-HBM Cessna 425 ex N68859 was registered in 05/ 82 to Yulgibar Holdings, Melbourne and is based at Essendon; VH-TFB Cessna 441 ex N68597 was imported by Rex Aviation in 12/81. Registered 06/83 to Tillair; VH-HWD Cessna 441 ex N300FE was registered in 07/84 to Corpair, Perth; VH-LBA Cessna 441 ex N46MR was registered in 01/85 to Rossair, Adelaide; VH-OAA Cessna 441 ex N4246Z was imported by Sherrard Aviation and registered 04/85 to O’Connor Airlines, Mount Gambier; VH-FWA Cessna 441 ex N36951 was registered 06/85 to Flightways; VH-JEB Cessna 441 ex RP-C346 imported by Rex Aviation and registered to them 12/85 though aircraft is operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service; VH-JEC Cessna 425 ex N6874D was imported by Rex Aviation 01/84 and registered to them 12/85. Operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service-Eastern Goldfields Section and later re-registered VH- EGS; VH-LBC Cessna 441 ex N164TG was registered in 02/86 to Rossair; VH-TFW Cessna 441 ex N441DA was registered in 05/86 to Tilair; VH-EVP Cessna 441 ex N8936N was imported 05/86 by Executive Airlines at Essendon.

Propjet Fleet Changes

There seems to be no stopping the flow of propjets coming into the country. The National Safety Council have added a sixth King Air 200 to their fleet. Noted at West Sale on June 7th was VH- NSR a model 200C c/n BL. 40. This King Air has been in the country for some months flying with Hawker Pacific under US registration N44344. Of interest is that this King Air has already been on the Australian register. As N3837R it was delivered to Hawker Pacific in August 1981 and flew as this till December 1982 when it was registered VH-OTH and delivered to Lloyd Avi- ation in Adelaide. The following June Lloyd retured VH-OTH to Hawker Pacific and they in turn sold the King Air in August 1983 to a US operator as N44344. Also at West Sale on June 7th was NSCA King Air 200 VH-NSS, which is a re-registration of VH- THS. The NSCA are believed to have a seventh King Air 200 on order.

Arriving at Brisbane on May 2nd was Cessna 441 N8936N c/n 0088. This aircraft has since been delivered to an Essendon based operator as VH-EVP and is used on contract to the Victorian Police. Another Cessna 441 has been added to Tillair’s fleet which gives them four of this type. VH-TFW c/n 0023 ex N441DA entered service in May.

Noted at Essendon in early July was MU-2B-25 N45GE c/n 270. 1:hisMitsubishi “:”as being prepared for Australian service by lnterair though I believe that its eventual destination is Perth. Crossing the Tasman on July 9th was MU-2B ZK-WAL c/n 037. Previously operated by Alpine Helicopters the MU-2 has been for sale for some time. It will be interesting to see whether it was on delivery to an Australian operator. MU-2G VH-UZC which previously operated with Transecutive Airlines was noted at Essendon in early June carrying the markings of Southern Cross Airlines. VH-UZC now appears to be based in Sydney though Southern Cross have their Head Office in Adelaide.

PA31T Cheyenne I N71TW c/n 8304003 transited Nadi in early June en route to Australia. The Cheyenne now operates out of Toowoomba with Stahmann Farms so it will be interesting to see whether It Is registered in Australia. One Cheyenne which we won’t see on the Australian register is the PA42-400LS N440WH Imported to Australia by Pacific Aviation in November 1985 the Cheyenne departed Australia on July 12th on return to the United States.

PACIFIC ISLAND HERON FLEET EXPANDS

In Traffic March 1986 we mentioned that Fiji Airways had purchased three DH114 Riley Heron’s in the United States. Details of these aircraft plus other additions to the Pacific Island Heron fleet have recently come to hand.

The first of three Heron’s for Fiji Airways flew in to Nausori on December 9th. Registered N15FB c/n 14061 it has since become DO-FED with Fiji Airways. On December 12th a further two Heron’s arrived at Nausori after their trans Pacific ferry flight. N14FB c/n 14078 was registered DQ-FEC while N507FW c/n 14057 became DQ-FEE. Fiji Airways will use their three Heron’s to replace Twin Otters presently used on their inter-island routes.

Before the arrival of the Fiji Air Heron’s the only aircraft of this type in Fiji was Sunflower Airlines DQ-FDY. This Heron is well known in Australia as it operated as VH-CLW with both Connair and Kendell Airlines. In February Sunflower purchased a second Riley Heron in the United States. N414SA c/n 14056 was picked up in Tulsa and flown to Fiji by way of the US West Coast, Honolulu and Pago Pago. Now registered DQ-FEF it carries the name ‘Marama Ni Ua’.

Arriving in Raratonga from Honolulu on June 19th was Riley Heron YV-284P c/n 14131. This aircraft was believed to be on delivery to local operator Air Raratonga.

Another de Havilland type to enter service in the Pacific Islands was DHC6-200 Twin Otter P2-MFR with the Missionary Aviation Fellowship in Mount Hagen. Previously operated in Mozambique by MAF, USA as N63118 c/n 118 the Twin Otter entered service with MAF, Australia in early June.

NOMAD NEWS

Noted at Bankstown on June 26th were N22B’s c/n 152 and c/n 154. These late production Nomads have been in storage at Oaklands, NSW. They are to be converted to N22B Mission Master configuration by Hawker Pacific for the Royal Thai Air Force.

The former Barrier Reef Airways N22B VH-BFH which has been in storage at Brisbane Airport was dismantled in late June and moved by road toMaryborough. It is believed that the Nomad has been purchased by Sunstate Airlines. Whether the Nomad is to be rebuilt or used as a source of spares for Sunstate’s N24A VH-FCX remains to be seen.

The first N22C version of the Nomad has gone into service with an Australian operator. Former GAF demonstrator VH-IIG was upgraded to N22C standard and sold through Ian Baillie Aircraft Sales at Moorabbin to Suncity Aviation Holdings P/L, of Mildura. Carrying the markings of Mildura Air Tours the Nomad entered commuter service with Suncity Airlines on June 2nd. Suncity are flying the Nomad between Mildura and Griffith as a feeder to the Air NSW F27 service to/from Sydney.

The National Safety Council of Australia have bought a controlling interest in the Coolangatta based operator Twinair. NSCA Nomad N22SB’s VH-SNX and VH-SNZ have been transferred to Twinair. The Nomad’s still carry their NSCA yellow colours though all titling has been removed. The colours have been modified slightly with the addition of a green band on the tail and lower fuselage.

Noted in storage at Bankstown in late May were two N22SL’s VH-SBY and VH-SDZ, previously operated by NTAW• from Darwin. VH-SBY still carried Northern Airlines colours while VHSDZ is all white. □

Traffic does not usually report on the lighter side of General Aviation, but this interesting new type was recently uncrated at Perth’s Jandakot airport after shipment from USA. It is the first 1986 production Taylorcraft to be seen in Australia, built by a newly formed company which is marketing an updated version of the old 1931 Taylorcraft design which was the predecessor of the famous Piper Cub. Piper dealers Piper West imported this first Taylorcraft and are hoping for local sales as utility or private aircraft for those interested in the ‘rag and tube’ style. (Geoff Goodall)