Register Update

Aircraft Returning To Register

LHH AerospatialeAS332L1SuperPuma24078/8/07LloydOff-ShoreHelicopters, 45 Greenhill Rd Wayville SA 5034 9M-STU VH-LHH 9M-STU
PCF DHC-2BeaverMk1134826/7/07 TropicalAviation, POBox664CairnsQld4870 VH-CZS VH-PCF C-FFBX VH-PCF N1348 N87782 58-2018
VDW Bell 407 53696 24/7/07 Hawker Pacific, Locked Bag 172 Milperra NSW 2214 VH-VDV VH-VDW N91934
YZZ Bell 407 53002 1/8/07 Buzz Aviation, PO Box 655 Cronulla NSW 2230 P2-SHC VH-YZZ N92242 C-FWRA

Deletions

CRQ Dassault Falcon 2000EX 058 12/7/07 Re-registered VH‑CRW
CZS DHC‑2 Beaver Mk 1 1348 26/7/07 Re-registered VH‑PCF
DNN PA‑28‑180 Cherokee D 28‑4556 2/8/07 Destroyed
EYZ Cirrus SR22‑G2 0851 31/7/07 Re-registered VH‑CPK
HBZ Robinson R22 Alpha 0462 6/8/07 Withdrawn from use
HVR Robinson R22 Beta II 4104 1/8/07 Re-registered VH‑JHM
JXB Cessna 182S Skylane 18280407 1/8/Re-registered VH‑RCE
LHC Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17269942 20/7/07 Re-registered VH‑LFC
LHH Gippsland GA‑8 Airvan GA8‑04‑057 27/7/07 Re-registered VH‑LHC
MAT MBB Bo105LSA‑3 2050 9/7/07 Re-registered VH‑ISL
NSX Beech F33A Bonanza CE‑1340 25/7/07 Re-registered VH‑NMU
OSS Bell 47G‑3B Soloy 2654 8/8/07 Crashed 3km E Walkerston Qld 21/4/07
OYO PA‑31‑325 Navajo C/R 31‑7612053 8/8/07 Re-registered VH‑VPM
PDM Robinson R44 Raven II 10585 11/7/07 Re-registered VH‑JKF
PDW PA‑28R‑200 Arrow II 28R‑7535287 7/8/07 Re-registered VH‑VLG
PGX Cessna 210L Centurion 21061486 20/7/07 Damaged
RLE Robinson R22 Beta 1656 30/7/07 Re-registered VH‑ETE
SAQ PA‑31‑350 Chieftain 31‑8152197 23/7/07 Re-registered VH‑NWN
TBT Tecnam P2004 Bravo 087 25/7/07 Transferred to RA-Aus register
VDV Bell 407 53696 24/7/07 Re-registered VH‑VDW
XKW Eurocopter AS 350B3 Squirrel 3739 10/8/07 Re-registered VH‑YXX
XRA CAC CA‑25 Winjeel 25‑43 1/8/07 Re-registered VH‑CZE
YJB AeroCommander500SShrikeCommander32993/8/07CrashednearClonbinane
Vic 31/7/07
YQJ Boeing 717‑231 55096 19/7/07 Re-registered VH‑NXO
ZKM Pilatus PC‑12/47 795 11/7/07 Exported to Indonesia
ZZF Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II F406‑0078 30/7/07 Re-registered VH‑YZF

Changes Of Owner Or Operator

ACO Cessna150B1505936428/7/07RogerMiller, 2DavisAveGunnedahNSW2380
AHP BeechC23Sundowner180M‑163915/5/07NewEngland VolunteerAir Transport,
35 Albury St Ashford NSW 2361
AHT Beech76DuchessME‑13228/6/07MVPurchasing, POBox674 Wagga Wagga
NSW 2650
AJL Cessna 172N Skyhawk 17268635 12/7/07 Paul McDonald, 15 Tanner St East
Geelong Vic 3219
ARS CessnaU206GStationairU2060689829/5/07Cromair, POBox5520Bundaberg
West Qld 4670
AST PA‑32‑300CherokeeSix32‑754009411/7/07CapeAir Transport, POBox641
Cooktown Qld 4895
AVG Cessna1521528233724/7/07RaffoulAviation, POBox WPBankstownAirport
NSW 2200
AWF Beech33DebonairCD‑1013/7/07GregoryShaw, POBox595Esperance WA6450
AZL Fairchild24W‑41AArgusII3081/7/07AndreaLucas, 53RowlandStKew Vic3101
BBU Cessna U206G Stationair U20604109 6/6/07 Broome Aviation, PO Box 386 Broome
WA 6725
BHJ RobinsonR22Beta220711/5/07John Witherspoon, “Pallamana” Charters Towers
Qld 4820
BIF Kawasaki BK 117B‑2 1084 29/6/07 Precision Helicopters,“ Black Springs” Barraba
NSW 2347
BIK Bellanca8KCABDecathlon456‑7826/3/07MichelleLappin, 575OldMelbourneRd
Traralgon Vic 3844
BJQ PA‑34‑220TSenecaIII34‑813312028/6/07John Wenske, RMB1245 Tallygaroopna
Vic 3634
BMU Robinson R44 Astro 0375 3/6/07 Duane Daye, PO Box 467 Rye Vic 3941
BOD Beech E55 Baron TE‑1158 16/7/07 Baron E55, PO Box 399 Bunbury WA 6231
BUJ PA‑28‑235 Pathfinder 28‑7610118 14/6/07 Guest Services, PO Box 303 Yarrawonga
Vic 3730
BWE PA‑28‑180CherokeeE28‑577811/7/07 TowerResources, POBox206 Walkamin
Qld 4872
BYA PA‑28‑161 WarriorII28‑791644422/7/07Rodney Waldon, POBox1734Southport
Qld 4215
CDK PA‑32‑300CherokeeSix32‑4026016/7/07AustralianAircraftManagement, PO
Box 294 Mascot NSW 1460
CFS PA‑28R‑201ArrowIII28R‑783704516/2/07 TurboAeroMaintenance, Hangar11
First St Moorabbin Airport Vic 3194
CKG Cessna182BSkylane5180131/3/07DonaldPercy, POBox3063Belmont WA6104
CLB PA‑28‑180CherokeeC28‑25493/7/07EMETConsultants, RSM502Busselton6280
CLK Eagle X‑TS 100 010 6/8/07 Sciona Browne, PO Box 45 Fremantle WA 6959
CVR Cessna U206FStationair U20602794 30/3/07 Durkin Produce Australia, 68 Narracan
Connection Rd Thorpdale Vic 3835
DLD Robinson R22 Beta II 3675 29/6/07 Harding Pastoral, “Gorrie” RSD M5 1953
Katherine NT 0852
DMN Beech58Baron TH‑110319/7/07BroomeAirServices, POBox3106Broome WA6725
DPF Cessna172HSkyhawk1725586416/7/07StephenJohns, POBox122Dongara6525
DPS Bell206B‑2JetRangerII178011/4/07 TurboAeroMaintenance, Hangar11FirstSt
Moorabbin Airport Vic 3194
DUE CZLL40MetaSokol15051030/6/07GeoffreyNicol, POBox106Fairfield Vic3078
DZF Cessna177Cardinal177001746/7/07BrianFinn, 165Lake StCairnsQld4870
EMM Cessna500Citation500‑005117/3/07Orkdale, POBox1439OxenfordQld4210
ERS MooneyM20FExecutive67041819/6/07Damien Trajkovic, 3ElsieCtPortMacquarie
NSW 2444
ETM GrummanAA‑1A YankeeAA1A‑03967/6/07JustinElkington, Lot363IronBarkLa
Warwick Qld 4370
EVB Scottish TwinPioneer358628/5/07SyAllsep, 5ExhibitionPdeMountPritchard
NSW 2170
FIF Cessna 207 Skywagon 20700095 30/6/07 Donovan Casey, 1Leslie Cl Elanora
Heights NSW 2101
FJJ FujiFA‑200‑160 AeroSubaru191/7/07Michael Phillips, POBox398Coonabarabran
NSW 2357
FMG Cessna152 15283511 6/7/07 BasairAustralia, POBoxCP234Condell ParkNSW 2200
FUS SAFSpitfireMkXII00621/6/07KarlSchultz, 54SawpitRd ToowoombaQld4352
FXC Cessna 210N Centurion 21063825 24/7/07 Peter Robertson, “Orielton” Hughenden
Qld 4821
FZW PA‑28‑151 CherokeeW arrior 28‑7715051 12/7/07 Desmond Ryan, 56 Randall Dr
Salamander Bay NSW 2317
HFS RobinsonR44RavenI170920/6/07CountyHelicopters, POBox1268 Wendouree
Village Vic 3355
HJL RobinsonR22BetaII35788/6/07GaryCastle, POBox474CaloundraQld4551
HOX RobinsonR44Astro057917/7/07DavidBlunden, 325MountBullerRdMansfield
Vic 3722
HQU RobinsonR22BetaII339111/7/07CloncurryMustering, POBox322Cloncurry4824
HSX Robinson R44 Raven II 11719 28/6/07 Latitude One Eight, 72 Grosvenor St
Wahroonga NSW 2076
HSZ RobinsonR44RavenII1172026/6/07ChoppairHelicopters, POBox5145Cheltenham
East Vic 3192
HWT Robinson R44 Raven I 1670 31/7/07 Guy Maine, 22 Stanley St RichmondV ic 3121
HYR RobinsonR44RavenII103418/6/07GordonFilmer, POBox413Mallacoota Vic3892
HZH RobinsonR44RavenI171223/7/07 WielandHelicopterCompany, POBox255
Oatlands NSW 2117
IFB Grumman AA‑1CLynx AA1C‑0049 1/7/07John Harding, 10 Monteith St Turramurra
NSW 2074
ITA BeechB200SuperKingAirBB‑12445/7/07AwesomeAviation, 45 VentnorAve
West Perth WA 6005
IXA Ted Smith Aerostar 601B 61‑0476‑126 16/7/07 Australian Aircraft Management,
PO Box 294 Mascot NSW 1460
JAQ PA‑34‑220T Seneca III 34‑8133184 27/7/07 David Upton, 322/15W entworth St
Manly NSW 2095
JFC PA‑32‑260CherokeeSixD32‑710002524/7/07BruceSimpson, 3CamelotCl
Kirkham NSW 2570
JNB Cessna1521527954513/7/07SchofieldsFlyingClub, POBox200GeorgesHall
NSW 2198
JPW PA‑28R‑180CherokeeArrow28R‑3065613/7/07Flight TrainingAustralia, POBox
523 Archerfield Qld 4108
KDT BeechG36BonanzaE‑377513/7/07JohnDurack, 20 Airlie StClaremont WA6010
KHS Robinson R22 Beta1206 2/2/07 Exhilarated Maintenance, PO Box1321 Humpty
Doo NT 0836
KLI PA‑18‑150SuperCub18‑770904230/6/07PhilipJones, POBox255LucindaleSA5272
KNW Cessna182QSkylane1826530920/7/07ShoalAir, POBox1958Kununurra4643
LGB SocataTB‑20 Trinidad91531/5/07LeighKershaw, 1035Beaudesert‑NerangRd
Clagiraba Qld 4211
LKQ PiperJ‑3C‑65Cub1431323/7/07PaulMcKeown, 18JocelynDrEumundiQld4562
LSE Jabiru J160 059 6/7/07 Sydney Flight Training Centre, Hangar 131 Vega Cres
Bankstown Airport NSW 2200
LSN Jabiru J160 082 9/7/07 Sydney Flight Training Centre, Hangar 131 Vega Cres
Bankstown Airport NSW 2200
LWW PA‑31Navajo31‑81120343/3/07CentralHighlandsAir Transport, POBox172
Emerald Qld 4720
MAM PA‑28‑140CherokeeC28‑267342/7/07Inter‑IslandAir, POBoxKL525Kings
Langley NSW 2147
MFE Robinson R22 Beta 1103 28/5/07 Summer House Projects, 17 Harrison Ave Maroubra
NSW 2035
MKY Cessna T207A TurboSkywagon2070034016/7/07Showcourt, POBox193Geraldton
WA 6530
MMR Beech G36 Bonanza E‑3779 10/7/07 CCJ, PO Box 2292 Ascot Qld 4007
MQM Beech58Baron TH‑57626/6/07BowairAviation, POBox1129DeniliquinNSW2710
MST Cessna182PSkylane182646289/7/07RebeccaPowell, 5OsloLa Willetton WA6155
NES PA‑32‑260CherokeeSix32‑33330/6/07PeartInvestments, POBox935Malonda
Qld 4885
NSL Cessna182SSkylane18280839 26/7/07Anthony Human, 14/8‑9 Sunrise Ct West
Lakes SA 5021
NSW Cessna421CGoldenEagle421C110319/7/07ACAirways, POBox521Albury2640
OCG Jabiru J400 0015 3/7/07 Brian Davison, PO Box 195 Blackall Qld 4472
ODL Hughes 269C 300C 44‑0290 15/7/07 Rodney Illingworth, PMB 39 Winnellie NT 0822
OXO RobinsonR44Raven12831/6/07BrazakkasHelicopterCharters, 719SpeewahRd
Kuranda Qld 4881
PAK BeechA36BonanzaE‑106013/7/07HawkerPacific, LockedBag172Milperra2214
PBI Cessna310R310R083116/7/07AustralianAircraftManagement, POBox294
Mascot NSW 1460
PFL DH.82A Tiger Moth 1056 1/7/07 Ronald Ennis, 41 Morris Rd Rothwell Qld 4022
PFT Cessna206HStationair2060809222/6/07NSWPoliceAviationSupportBranch,
GPO Box 3880 Sydney NSW 2000
PKS Cessna172FSkyhawk1725315313/7/07KeithDoolan, 172MortimerStMudgee
NSW 2850
POH PA‑28‑235 Cherokee28‑1063620/6/07 Glenn Crockenberg, PO Box 690 JurienBay
WA 6516
RBX Kavanagh E‑210 KB245 23/6/07 Hottair, 7 Irving St Phillip ACT 2606
RDA PA‑31‑350Navajo Chieftain 31‑7305032 17/7/07AirtexAviation, 501 Tower Rd
Bankstown Airport NSW 2200
RKR AirT ractor AT‑802 802‑0027 30/6/07 AG Airwork, PO Box 1231 Deniliquin 2710
RLA Cessna 172M Skyhawk 17260784 14/7/07 Philip Campbell, 8/6 Forrest St Cottesloe
WA 6011
RVT PA‑28‑140Cherokee28‑204852/7/07NicholasGerathy, 5AndrewRdMount
Samson Qld 4520
RYS Cessna182ASkylane5101129/3/07Skydive, 4RadfordStHeddonGretaNSW2321
SID Bell 47G‑3B16651 14/7/07 Sydney Williams, 12/107 North Quay Brisbane Qld 4000
SKB Cessna172FSkyhawk172531516/6/07ChristopherMulloy, 31ManningStKingswood
NSW 2747
SMI Bell206B‑3JetRangerIII427128/5/07BrazakkasHelicopterCharters, 719Speewah
Rd Kuranda Qld 4881
SRG PA‑32R‑301SaratogaSP32R‑801310030/6/07CommonwealthofAustralia, PO
Box 280 RAAF Richmond NSW 2753
TDQ CessnaU206FStationairU2060280719/7/07BroomeAirServices, POBox3106
Broome WA 6725
TEK PA‑28‑161 Warrior II 28‑7916377 24/7/07 Flycorp, 67 Elliott Ave East Ryde NSW 2113
THP Robinson R22 Beta 0972 26/3/07 TBK Beef, PO Box 1162 Katherine NT 0851
TKJ Cessna172NSkyhawk1727077916/7/07ColvilleAviationServices, POBox147
Archerfield Qld 4108
TLO CessnaA185FSkywagon1850365822/12/06SeairAdventureCharters, POBox58
Wynyard Tas 7325
TOJ PA‑25‑235 Pawnee 25‑2694 3/6/07 AAFC School ofAviation, PO Box 647 Archerfield
Qld 4108
TOP Bellanca8KCABDecathlon629‑8012/6/07MichaelRobertson, POBox291Orange
NSW 2800
TUN CessnaA188BAgwagonA11880179711/7/07HamishJacob, POBox554Kununurra
WA 6743
UPA Cessna150M150792056/7/07PaulBramble, 37HasluckDrRankinParkNSW2287
VCB Beech 200 Super King Air BB‑579 14/6/07W estW ing Aviation, PO Box 1037 Mount
Isa Qld 4825
VCT Beech G36 Bonanza E‑3784 16/7/07 Croc Pac, PO Box 5800 Cairns Qld 4870
VLF Boeing727‑2772169517/5/07AustralianAirExpress, 7/440ElizabethStMelbourne
Vic 3000
WAF PA‑28‑180C herokeeC 2 8‑25291 7/7/07J effreyO uld,P OB ox8 7B ayswaterW A6 053
WIE GyrodyneXronOptimized400918/7/07 WielandHelicopterCompany, POBox255
Oatlands NSW 2117
WJB Cirrus SR22‑G2 0912 30/6/07 Gary Briggs, PO Box 1154 Dalby Qld 4405
WJM PA‑28‑151Cherokee Warrior28‑751521412/7/07MoorabbinAviationServices,
125 Second Ave Moorabbin Airport Vic 3194
WMY PA‑60 Aerostar 600A 60‑0527‑171 16/7/07 Australian Aircraft Management, PO
Box 294 Mascot NSW 1460
WWJ CirrusSR22‑G2092731/7/07PilatusAustralia, 17JamesSchofieldDrAdelaide
Airport SA 5950
WZW Cessna310R310R07196/6/07EastCoastAirServices, 1/47PrinceStCoffs
Harbour NSW 2450
XEX RobinsonR44RavenII108724/7/07 TropicalAviation, POBox664CairnsQld4870
XMI PA‑32R‑300CherokeeLance32R‑778007427/7/07Bevan Whitaker, POBox650
Maryborough Qld 4650
XRN GyrodyneXronOptimized400818/7/07 WielandHelicopterCompany, POBox255
Oatlands NSW 2117
YGT Thorp T‑18 Tiger V214 11/7/07 Ross Blagrove, PO Box 22 Cuballing WA 6311
YMI Robinson R44 Raven II 10238 14/6/07 TGS Helicopters, Phillip Island Airport
Newhaven Vic 3925
YQK Boeing 717‑231 55097 10/7/07 National Jet Systems, National DrAdelaide Airport5950
YRN GyrodyneXronOptimized401518/7/07 WielandHelicopterCompany, POBox255
Oatlands NSW 2117

Register Review

Three new types appear in the New Allocations section this issue, Agusta AW139 ESH, AMS-Flight APIS HNU and Silver Centenary USC.

The Silver Centenary is a 1920s biplane design with a very interesting history. Selby Ford operated a powerhouse in Beverley, Western Australia, and during 1928 he designed an aeroplane. Ford, his cousin Tom Shackles and Tom’s sister Elsie began constructing the aircraft from plans drawn in chalk on the floor of the powerhouse.

The aircraft was originally powered by a 25hp (19kW) Anzani engine but this was later replaced with a DH Cirrus and made its maiden flight during July 1930. Three days later it was flown to Maylands to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the city and was named ‘Silver Centenary’.

The aircraft undertook a series of test flights but the authorities refused to issue a certificate of airworthiness as no plans could be produced.

After a period of storage at the powerhouse it was eventually moved to a new museum in the main street of Beverley in 1967 and more recently a group of enthusiasts have been restoring it to flying status.

ESH is the first of eight Agusta AW139s that have been ordered by Australian and New Zealand operators that are expected to be delivered during the next 12 months. Agusta has a history of cooperation with other helicopter manufacturers and has in the past built Bell 47Gs, Bell 47Js and 206 JetRangers under license to Bell, and Sikorsky S-61s and Chinooks in agreements with Sikorsky and Boeing. Then Agusta and Westland cooperated on a naval helicopter to replace British and Italian Sea Kings, resulting in the EH 101. This close partnership eventually led to Agusta merging with Westland to form AgustaWestland, but the company’s newest product, the AW139, is another product of cooperation with Bell, a 25 per cent partner until late 2005.

The popular AW139 is a medium lift, twin engine, 16-seater powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C turboshafts of almost 1700shp (1270kW). The internal dimensions of the large and unobstructed cabin make it an ideal platform for EMS operations and its flat floor and 1. 4m high ceiling give around 8 cubic metres of usable space. Sales for the AW139 have now exceeded 220 with more than 100 already delivered.

ESH is the first of three AW139s for the Queensland government for operation by EMQ (Emergency Management Queensland) as a SAR/EMS platform.

Other local orders have come from Lloyd Helicopters/ CHC, which has ordered another three examples for its NSW EMS contract, while Helicopters NZ of Nelson has ordered a second AW139 even before its first has been delivered. Australia, PNG and New Zealand Agusta distributors Heliflite also has ordered an AW119 Ke light helicopter for demonstration and onward sale in the region.

HNU is the first AMS‑Flight APIS M to come to Australia, a lightweight, amateur-built powered glider.

The AMS-Flight factory is in Slovenia, close to the Austrian border, and was established in 1999 to take over the production of the Elan range of gliders originally built by Glaser-Dirks in Germany. During 2003 AMSFlight took over Albaster who were building the APIS range of gliders which were equipped with a 40hp (30kW) Rotax 447 engine and a propeller that folded away into the nose of the glider when not in use. HNU is an ‘M’ Model indicating that it is ‘quick build’ kit version of the APIS.

Picture This Ballooning’s Cameron 110 CNE is in the shape of a light globe and is the ninth special shaped balloon currently flying in Australia – all built in Bristol, UK, by Cameron Balloons.

Cameron is the world’s largest manufacturer of hot air balloons and is well known for its special shapes. Picture This Ballooning operates six hot air balloons, five of which are Cameron special shapes, including a house, rugby ball and now a light globe, along with a single Australian built Kavanagh D-77.

Two aircraft, LHH and YZZ, have Returned to the Register after time spent overseas while two others, PCF and VDW, are included in this section after returning to their original markings. Lloyd Off-Shore Helicopters’s Super Puma LHH is back in Australia after five years in Malaysia flying as 9M-STU, and Buzz Aviation’s Bell 407 YZZ has returned from a short stay in Papua New Guinea as P2-SHC. Tropical Aviation’s Beaver PCF was changed to CZS for only three weeks before returning to PCF, while Hawker Pacific’s Bell 407 VDW has taken up its original markings after eight months as VDV.

Of the 26 aircraft listed in the Deletions section this issue 19 have been re-registered and one has transferred to the RA-Aus register, leaving only six lost to Australian skies – one exported to Indonesia, one withdrawn from use and four as a result of accidents.

Bell 47G OSS clipped power lines whilst spraying crops in North Queensland and was destroyed by fire in the resulting crash. Incredibly the pilot was able to free himself and escape the fire with only very minor injuries.

Unfortunately the two on board Shrike Commander YJB when it crashed near Clonbinane, Victoria, during July were not so lucky. The General Aviation Maintenance Commander came down on a flight from Essendon killing the pilot and the owner of General Aviation Maintenance, Steve Knot. The company operates 47 aircraft, mainly Aero Commanders and Dornier Do228s, and Steve had recently completed negotiations to obtain a further nine Dorniers from Nigeria. An emotional farewell to Steve was conducted by General Aviation Maintenance pilots at Essendon after the funeral when 17 Commanders and Dorniers staged an impromptu fly-by with the aircraft taxying in and all shutting down at the same time resulting in a sudden eerie silence.

The Changes of Owner or Operator section reveals that Scottish Twin Pioneer EVB has been obtained by Sy Allsep who intends to bring the aircraft back to full flying status after spending some time in open storage on a private strip near Atkinson Dam in Queensland.

Scottish Aviation was formed in 1935 at Prestwick, Scotland, and after moderate success with the Prestwick Pioneer, a five-seat high wing single engine aircraft, the company was encouraged to move into the larger aircraft market. The result was the Twin Pioneer, a high wing, three fin, fixed tail wheel design powered by two 640hp (477kW) Alvis Leonides radial engines. The square section fuselage could accommodate 16 passengers and, with an eye on lucrative military contracts, Scottish Aviation tailored the Twin Pioneer to be a rugged, short field performer that could be adapted to many aerial tasks.

The prototype first flew during June 1955 and, as expected, more than half of the total production of 86 Twin Pioneers were delivered to the RAF. Fifteen went to the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the rest were sold on to the civil market.

Australian Iron and Steel, of Whyalla, imported the first Twin Pioneer, BHJ, in 1957 but this was severely damaged in a storm in Western Australian during 1961. BHJ was replaced by AIS and this aircraft continued working in the mining industry with Australian Iron and Steel, later BHP, and then with Dampier Mining until 1971 when it was sold to Aerial Agriculture at Bankstown.

Aerial Agriculture used the Twin Pioneer as a freighter but saw potential for the aircraft to be used on survey work. When the opportunity arose to obtain some ex Royal Malaysian Air Force Twin Pioneers Aerial Agriculture decided to invest in four such aircraft, 9M-ARU, -ARS, -ART and -ARB. The four aircraft were ferried to Bankstown during 1972 and parked on the grass to await refurbishment. The aircraft were allocated local registrations EVA to EVD with EVD being the last Twin Pioneer built.

Unfortunately, although EVA was refurbished and eventually went to the US, work could not be found for the aircraft and the three remaining machines languished on the grass, slowly deteriorating, until 1987 when Clark Film Services obtained the aircraft with the intention of using them on outback aerial safaris under the name of Capricorn Air.

AIS and EVB were refurbished and eventually ended up at Coolangatta whilst EVC was moved to the Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown. EVD went to Australia Wonderland, an amusement park in Sydney’s western suburbs, but was later stored, dismantled, at Wedderburn Airfield. Sadly, during 2005, AIS and EVB were moved to Brad Field, a private strip, northwest of Brisbane to await their fate.

Earlier this year Air Atlantique, a UK based company who operate the only other airworthy Twin Pioneer in the world, bought AIS, EVB and a large spares package in order to keep its own aircraft flying. Fortunately Air Atlantique only wanted the engines and some minor airframe parts and so agreed to sell EVB and some spares, including engines, to Sy Allsep. Sy had been interested in the Twin Pioneers for some years and had already accumulated a large inventory of spare parts including the remains of EVC and EVD.

Sy ferried EVB to Bankstown during August and reports that the aircraft is in reasonable condition and, armed with his collection of spares, will not take long to reach full flying status.

A recent survey of the Malaysian and Indonesian registers has produced some previously unreported subsequent markings for Australian aircraft, including several operated by Asia Pacific Flight Training at Kota Bahru, Malaysia. Seneca PZP and Warriors HLD, UZT and FYH have all been noted in this column late last year and during the first half of this year as being exported to Malaysia and we now know that these have become 9M-APS, -APT and -APU respectively with the last one not yet accounted for. Over the same period Bell JetRanger BQR and MD369E ONZ have gone to Intan Angkasa Air as PK-IWP and PK-IWR respectively and Air Tractors YRA and FNE are now operating as PK-RGU and PK-WBS with Eastindo and Helizona respectively.

Cessna 402B ASL is now flying as PK-WLW with Kura Kura Aviation, Beech Super King Air HPZ is now with Purawista Baruna as PK‑JCA, and Mission Aviation Fellowship Gippsland Airvan SPG is now marked as PK‑MPK.

In South America Swearingen Metros UUD and NEO are now flying in Bolivia as CP-2485 and CP-2473 with Aerocon and Amaszonas at La Paz. In Brazil Boeing 767s NOA and ITA have joined the Varig fleet at Guarulhos as PR-VAA and PR-VAG. In nearby Venezuela Swearingen Merlin IHJ, which departed these shores during 1985 for America then Denmark before travelling south to Venezuela, is now flying as YV-2045. Twin Otter TNM is in Chile with Compania Minera San Francisco marked as CC‑PQI.

Across the globe in Africa 42 year old East West Friendship EWJ has recently joined Oubangui Airlines at Bangui, Central African Republic, and has been registered TL-ADS. RAAF navigation trainer HS. 748 POZ is now in PNG flying as 3X-GEE with Guinee Air Cargo of Conakry, and Gippsland GA-8 UMT is operated by Tanzania Game Tracker Safaris as 5H-DLF and based at Arusha.

Finally to Canada where Bell 212s BHO and NSJ are now C-FNOS and C-FNPG with Eagle Copters of Calgary, and Eurocopter Colibri AZH, which was only cancelled in March, is now know to have become C-GEMU with TRK Helicopters of Langley.