VH-FVI. Aerospatiale ATR-72-212A. c/n 955.

 

Second of four aircraft ordered by Virgin Australia for delivery in 2011 - February 23, 2011

Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127F turboprop engines

It was observed on the production line at Toulouse - March 24, 2011

Rolled out at Toulouse in the partial Virgin Australia livery as 'F-WWEH' - June 06, 2011

It was observed at Toulouse in the standard Virgin Australia livery - June 06, 2011

First flown as 'F-WWEH' at Toulouse - July 08, 2011

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-FVI - August 12, 2011

Registered to Avation Airframe Holding Pte Ltd, Singapore

Leased to Skywest Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd, Cloverdale, Western Australia as the registered operator

Operated by Skywest Airlines on behalf of Virgin Australia Pty Ltd

Accepted by Skywest / Virgin Australia at Toulouse - August 22, 2011

Departed Toulouse on the delivery flight to Australia as SXA1132 - August 22, 2011

The delivery flight was carried out by Southern Cross Aviation

Arrived Brisbane on completion of the delivery flight - August 25, 2011

Delivery route: Toulouse - Trabzon - Al Ain - Nagpur - Penang - Koepang - Brisbane

The aircraft was named 'Mission Beach'

Operated a proving flight Brisbane - Port Macquarie - Brisbane - August 27, 2011

Operated a proving flight Brisbane - Gladstone - Brisbane - August 28, 2011

Operated its first revenue service Brisbane - Gladstone as DJ1715 - October 18, 2011

Virgin Australia announces its intention to acquire Skywest Airlines - October 30, 2012

Virgin Australia finalises the acquisition of Skywest Airlines - April 11, 2013

Skywest Airlines was officially renamed Virgin Australia Regional Airlines - May 03, 2013

Leased to Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd, Brisbane as the registered operator - November 30, 2015

Operated its last revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Canberra as VA646 - December 03, 2017

Ferried Canberra - Nelson as VA9946 - December 07, 2017

The aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored at Nelson

It was observed at Nelson in the Virgin livery with the windows covered - May 26, 2019

Removed from storage and test flown Nelson - Nelson - January 13, 2020

Ferried Nelson - Brisbane - Cairns as VA9943 - January 15, 2020

The aircraft to undergo maintenance before return to the lessor

 

 

VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-003.)

VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-004.)

VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-005.)

VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-006.)

VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, December 13, 2011.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-007.)