Traffic

The last aircraft to depart Australia, VH-TBO’Arthur Phillip’, was initially delivered to TAA in Melbourne on January 29 1979. After 39,471 hours and 28,711 cycles VH-TBO operated its last flight for Australian on December 16 1992. Flightcrew for the delivery flight from Melbourne to Fort Worth were Captain D A Spiers, Captain S R H Mar and FEO A W Best. Flight number/callsign used by VH-TBO was AUS6904/Australian 6904. The planned delivery routing was Melbourne/ Apia/Honolulu/Las Vegas/Fort Worth, however due to a mechanical problem the first leg was operated via Sydney. The remainder of the ferry flight went according to plan, which for an aircraft that had been sitting idle for nearly 12 months, bears strong testimony to both the manufacturer and the airline engineers who maintained it over the years.

At 1907 local on December 10 VH-TBO touched down at Fort Worth/Meacham Field where the aircraft was handed over to Aeroejecutivo, which now operates the aircraft as XA-SMB. As for VH-TBO itself I have particular fond memories of this aircraft as I travelled on board both its first commercial service with Trans Australia Airlines and its last commercial service with Australian Airlines. For the record these flights were TN418 from Melbourne to Sydney on February 6 1979 and TN59 from Sydney to Melbourne on December 16 1992.

Along the Way

I was privileged to be a member of the crew on board the ferry flight of the last Australian Boeing 727-276 VH-TBO from Melbourne to Fort Worth. At airfields on the ferry route and during a week spent in the United States I noted a number of aircraft with Australian connections which I felt were worthy of note in this column.

At Honolulu were Hawaii Pacific Air Carvair’s N5459M and N5459X which are better known to us as VH-INM and VH-INK of Ansett-ANA. Another ex Ansett/ANA aircraft noted at Honolulu was the DC-3 VH-ANX which now operates with local freight company Genavco as N99131. Parked at Dallas/ Fort Worth was Aero Exo Boeing 727-276 XA-SIJ, which was previously VH-TBQ with Trans-Australia/Australian Airlines. Located in the desert near Ocotillo Wells in Southern California were a number of ex RAAF CA-27 Sabres which carried the markings of the Indonesian or Malaysian Air Force. A tour was made of the parked airlines at Mojave in particular to see if Boeing 727-76 N18480 of Continental Airlines was still resident, however the Boeing was not sighted and this unfortunately confirms reports that it was broken up for spares late last year. My particular interest in this Boeing was that as VH-TJA it was initially delivered to TAA in October 1964. Noted at Santa Paula was Merlin IIB N135SP which for most of its life was based at Essendon with the DCA Flying Unit as VH-CAH. The Merlin departed Moorabbin in August 1985 for the United States as N135SP and its present derelict condition suggests that it has not moved since its arrival in the US. Also found at Santa Paula was the Victa Airtourer N6300V.

Final airfield visited was Santa Monica and noted there was Catalina N5404J which was waiting to be ferried to New Zealand, where it was to become ZK-PBY. On its nose the Catalina carried the special markings ‘Spirit of the Coral Route’ for its ill fated ferry flight. Sadly, this aircraft was ditched on the Pacific after engine failure (refer Warbirds elsewhere this issue). Also at Santa Monica was Bell P-39Q Aircobra 42-19993 ‘Brooklyn Bum’ an aircraft that spent many years under restoration at Essendon Airport.

Boeing 737 Fleet Deliveries

Air New Zealand took delivery of Boeing 737-204 G-BHWF at Christchurch on December 16 after the former Britannia Airways aircraft completed its ferry flight from the ZK-NAI. G-BHWF was the second of three ex Britannia Air- UK. The Boeing later entered service with Air New Zealand as ways Boeing 737-200 aircraft recently purchased by Air New late February it is expected that Air New Zealand will retire Zealand. On delivery of the third aircraft G-BHWE/ZK-NAB in three of its older Boeing 737-200s ZK-NAP-NAR and-NAZ from service.

Other Air New Zealand fleet movements concern Boeing 747-219B ZK-NZX, which returned to Auckland on November 3 after completion of its lease to Virgin Airways. Britannia Airways Boeing 767-204 (ER) G-BNYS arrived in Auckland from Honolulu on January 3 to commence a 10 week wet lease to Air New Zealand.

Ansett Australia took delivery of Boeing 737-33A VH-CZV at Melbourne on December 16 after the aircraft ferried in from Dothan, Alabama via San Diego, Honolulu and Nadi. VH-CZV was the first of three Boeing 737-33A aircraft leased from Ansett Worldwide having previously operated in the UK with British Midland as G-OBMA. The other two aircraft are Boeing 737-33A VH-CZW, which was also with British Midland as G-OBMB and was due to be delivered to Melbourne from Dothan in late January, and VH-CZX, which was with Monarch Airlines but operated by EuroBerline as G-MONN, due to arrive in February. The entry into service of these aircraft will bring the Ansett Australia Boeing 737-300 fleet total to 19. Ansett Express returned Fokker 50 VH-FNI to service on November 16 after a long period of storage in Melbourne. Fokker 50 VH-FNH which carries the tail markings of the Indian airline continues in service with Ansett Express though it no airline titles. Fokker 50 VH-FNE remains parked at Melbourne Airport with both engines removed and one wonders whether it will ever be delivered to Rajair. Ansett Worldwide Boeing 757-23APF 9J-AFO arrived in Melbourne on October 2 on termination of its lease to Zambia Airways, as we reported in the November ’93 issue. Countless rumours then surrounded the Boeing 757, which was locked away in the Melbourne Jet Base shortly after its arrival. It wasn’t until December 2 that the Boeing 757, now registered VH-AWE, was pushed out of the hangar. On the 6th VH-AWE was flown to Avalon for further maintenance before again returning to its Melbourne Jet Base hangar. On December 29 VH-AWE departed Melbourne for Sydney and the following day it departed for the Persian Gulf, on commencement of a lease to Gulf Air.

Ansett Worldwide has recently leased or sold a number of Boeing 757-23As it had in storage. Boeing 757-23As N52AW, N53AW and N58AW were new aircraft flown from Seattle to Marana in Arizona for storage. N52AW and N53AW have been leased to Aeromexico as XA-SKR and XA-SKQ respectively while N58AW has been sold to the Government of Turkmenistan for operation by NSA Turkmenistan. Leisure Air, a new charter operator based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina has leased two Boeing 757-23As that Ansett World- wide had in storage at Luton. These aircraft were G-OAHK, which was previously with Britannia Airways and 5Y-BGİ which was with Kenya Airways.

Ferry Flights

Papua New Guinea Defence Force Douglas C-47 P2-001 ferried from Port Moresby to Cairns on December 20. Purchased by Peter Starr of Dakota National Air the C-47 re- mained in Cairns until late January when it ferried south to Warnervale.

Mil Mi-8 SSSR-25481 and Mil Mi-17 SSSR-70870, which were previously operational in Papua New Guinea, were ferried to New Zealand in late December. The two helicopters were noted at Rockhampton on December 27 and at Norfolk Island on the 28th. NGA Aviation An-12 RA-11324 departed Brisbane on November 27 for Darwin and Singapore. The An-12 had been static at Brisbane Airport since June 12 after it was imported by NGA Aviation for operations in the South Pacific region, which as it transpired never eventuated.

Air Tractor AT-502 N45526 msn 0134 ferried from Honiara to Cairns on December 13. Final destination for N45526 was believed to be South Australia. Noted at Cairns on December 17 was PA34-200T D-GRAL of Oliv Air, while at Brisbane on December 19 was PA34-220T HB-LSC which carried Timberland markings. Cessna 340 VH-HMN ferried from Norfolk Island to Pago Pago on December 9 with its eventual destination being the USA. Cessna 182Q VH-SHD flew from Norfolk Island to Auckland on December 5 en route to a new owner in Picton.

Biz/Propjet News

Essendon on December 25. After certification in the Interair hangar the Citation was registered VH-AWS to Shortstop Jet Charter at Essendon. It is believed however that the aircraft will be operated by an owner in the Cairns area. On January 7 VH-AWS was flown from Essendon to Moorabbin for repainting and refurbishment by Aerospray. Cessna 500 VH-LJL has been sold by Aeromil to PDL Industries of Christchurch with the aircraft making its first appearance there on December 23. Transair Citation 550 VH-TFQ, which has been operating on long term lease to Milne Bay Air in Port Moresby, has now been sold to that company. During December VH-TFQ was reregistered P2-MBN to reflect its change of ownership. BAe 125-600B VH-NJA, which has been advertised for sale for some months has found a new home in the Philippines. The BAe 125-600B was noted at Essendon on January 11 now registered RP-C1600.

Cessna Citation 500 N263A msn 0263 was delivered to Hawker Pacific took delivery of Beech Starship N2000S and King Air 350 N80663 in December. The Starship N2000S flew into Port Hedland on December 14 from Denpasar while the King Air 350 N80663 msn FL-108 flew over the same route on the 15th. Another King Air to arrive in this period was B200 VH-MYO which ferried into Bankstown on December 22 on delivery to Clamback & Hennessy t/a Airking P/L. VH-MYO was flown from Wichita to Bankstown via Santa Barbara, Honolulu, Pago Pago, Nadi, Tontouta and Coffs Harbour by the principals of Airking, Aminta Hennessy and Ray Clamback. With the delivery of the King Air B200 VH-MYO Airking has traded in its King Air 200 VH-MYO to Hawker Pacific and they in turn have reregistered the aircraft VH-MYU.

Moores Air Charter has sold its King Air 200 VH-MKR in the United States. As N83GA the King Air departed Sydney on November 20 for Norfolk Island and Pago Pago. Another King Air 200 recently sold overseas was VH-IBD which as P2-IAH ferried from Cairns to Port Moresby on November 17 on delivery to Islands Aviation in Rabaul. Skywest Aviation King Air B200 VH-SWC is operating on contract in Vietnam, however the aircraft will remain on the Australian register.

Pacific Island News

Aviazur which is based at Noumea, took delivery of Cessna 406 F-ODYZ msn 0057 during January. The Caravan II, which was being ferried by Pilot International of Wichita, Kansas, flew from Darwin to Cairns on the 3rd and then from Cairns to Brisbane on the 7th. Southern Cross Aviation based at Camarillo, California, ferried Beech 1900D F-OHRV from Cairns to Noumea on December 30, however its eventual destination and operator was not known at time of writing. Fiji Air has replaced its current fleet of two DHC-6 Twin Otters with updated aircraft from the United States. DHC-6 300 DQ-FEU ferried from Norfolk Island to Brisbane on December 8 with its eventual destination after maintenance at Archerfield being the Papua New Guinea based operator Mendikwae. DHC-6-100 DQ-FDK has been sold to Great Barrier Airlines with the aircraft departing Nadi on December 29 for Norfolk Island and Auckland.

based in Mendi took delivery of DHC-6-200 VH-XFH from Flight West Airlines on November 15 at Cairns.

Milne Bay Air has terminated the lease on Dornier 228-200 P2-MBU with the aircraft being returned to Singapore on January 1. Mount Cook Airline took delivery of BAe 748-2A G-BGMO at Christchurch on December 4 when the aircraft terminated its ferry flight from the UK using f/n NZM748.

Later registered ZK-MCB and carrying the name “Te Anau’the BAe 748 entered service with Mount Cook on December 28. Polynesian Airlines wet leased MD-11 N280WA from World Airways on December 22, 23 and 24 to operate three return services on the Apia to Auckland route.

Regional Airline

NEWS British Aerospace Jetstream 41 G-JMAC was demonstrated to a number of regional airline operators in Australia and New Zealand during late November and December.

Eastern Australia Airlines initially terminated its lease of Dash 8-103 VH-NID on Nov 30 with the aircraft being returned to Rothchilds Bank. In early December at Sydney VH-NID had its Eastern Australia titles deleted and the Kangaroo removed from the tail. VH-NID then commenced operations as a freighter with Australian Air Express. However later in the month it returned to Eastern service to cover maintenance requirements on other Dash-8s in the Eastern fleet.

Flight West Airlines has purchased a fourth EMB-120RT Brasilia which will be delivered to Brisbane in February. The Brasilia was previously operated by Transportes Aereos de Cabo Verde as D4-CAZ msn 120140. EMB-110P1 Bandeirante VH-XFO was added to the Flight West fleet in November. This aircraft was previously operated by Talair as P2-RDW and was taken out of storage at Mareeba. King Air 200 VH-XRF has been withdrawn from service with the all silver aircraft being noted at Brisbane in late December. Flight West, like a number of other regional airlines affiliated with Ansett, will adopt the Ansett Australia colour scheme though we believe the various affiliated airlines will retain their individual names. However at presstime the first Kendell 340 rolled out of the paint shop was in full Ansett livery. Hopefully the specific policy on this will become clearer soon. We would also like to clear up any confusion regarding the relationship between Talair and Flight West following the publication of our annual Regional Airline Directory in the December edition. We would like to stress that Talair did not financially fail, it was simply closed down at an operational level as a matter of management directive. According to Flight West, when ops ceased last May, Talair boasted assets of some $440m. Talair is also not the parent of Flight West. A full profile of Flight West appeared fron p63 of our April ’93 edition.

Kendell Airlines has ordered two more Metro 23 aircraft which when delivered in March will bring its fleet number of and VH-KEU msn DC-846 will replace in the Kendell fleet two this type to six. The aircraft concerned VH-KED msn DC-845 Metro Ils which will be withdrawn from service and sold. At a ceremony held at Kingscote Airport on November 29 Metro 23 VH-KAN was named The First Settlement in South Australia – Kingscote, Kangaroo Island’. The following day at Coober Pedy Metro 23 VH-KDO was named ‘Spirit of Coober Pedy’. Kendell Airlines has donated its Metro II VH-BIF to Airworld with the aircraft departing Wagga by road for Wangaratta on November 26.

Lincoln Airlines sold its PA31-350 VH-LNA in November to Moores Air Charter with the aircraft being reregistered VH-MKR.

Newcastle Aviation which is primarily involved in night freight operations has added a fourth Metro III VH-SSW to its fleet. The aircraft concerned is N346AE which was originally delivered to Brisbane on March 14 1993, however it initially saw service in Malaysia before returning again to Maroochydore on August 9.

Southern Pacific Regional Airlines’ four Mohawk 298 aircraft VH-HEI, -HIX, -HKS and -HKT were auctioned in Sydney on December 8 with the aircraft being purchased by the UK based Majestic Group. VH-HKS was ferried from Sydney to Bundaberg on January 13 where it joined the remainder of the fleet.

Tamair is planning to add a third Metro III to its fleet in late February for entry into service the following month. Subject to contractual negotiations the aircraft concerned will be Metro III VH-NEK msn AC-615B ex N615AV.