VH-TAR Convair CV-240-5

This aircraft was part of an original order for 20 airframes placed by Western Airlines but was not taken up

Convair offered these aircraft to other interested airlines providing they accepted the Western specifications

Trans-Australia Airlines agreed to purchase five of these aircraft for $US 260,000

This aircraft was constructed at the San Diego plant

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAR - March 24, 1948

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Construction was completed - September 21, 1948

Departed San Diego on the delivery flight to Australia - October 08, 1948

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - October 24, 1948

Delivery route: San Diego - Tulsa - Chicago - Montreal - Goose Bay - Narssaq - Keflavik - London - Rome -

Nicosia - Basra - Karachi - Delhi - Calcutta - Rangoon - Singapore - Makasar - Darwin - Alice Springs - Adelaide -

Melbourne

The aircraft was originally named 'Thomas Mitchell'

It was later named 'William Dampier', 'John Roe' and 'James Cook'

Entered service with Trans-Australia Airlines - November 07, 1948

Leased to Guinea Airways - July 01, 1958 to August 01, 1959

Operated its first Guinea Airways revenue service - July 28, 1958

Re-entered T. A. A. service - Augus 01, 1959

Sold to Beldex Corporation - November 25, 1959

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9314R - ?

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to the United States - November 25, 1959

It arrived at Pompano Beach on compoletion of the ferry flight - December 06, 1959

Ferry route: Melbourne - Alice Springs - Darwin - Djakarta - Singapore - Bangkok - Calcutta - Karachi -

Bahrain - Kartoum - Fort Lamy - Accra - Assension Island - Natal - Belem - Port of Spain - Kingston - Miami

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 07, 1959

Sold to Monsanto Chemical Company - December 07, 1959

The aircraft was reregistered as N2007 - ?

Sold to General Dynamics Inc - January 1965

Reregistered as N240R - ?

Converted to 'CV-600' configuration by General Dynamics - 1965

Sold to Stromberg-Carlson Corporation, Rochester - December 07, 1970

Reregistered as N123SC - ?

Sold to Aviation Office of America - January 30, 1975

Sold to Miami Aviation Corporation - April 12, 1976

Sold to Aerolineas Colonia (ARCO), Uruguay - April 12, 1976

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the Uruguayan Aircraft Register as CX-BJL - ?

Withdrawn from service and stored at Laguna de los Patos, Uruguay - November 1986

It was reported to be in a poor condition minus engines - 2002

Current status - ?

VH-TAR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Thomas Mitchell' in the original livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1029-089.)

VH-TAR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Thomas Mitchell' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(E. Coates Collection Copyright Image 1029-132.)

VH-TAR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Thomas Mitchell' in the revised livery with the additional 'Royal Crest' at an unknown location, date unknown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1029-020.)

VH-TAR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Thomas Mitchell' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 1029-076.)

VH-TAR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Dampier' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1029-021.)

VH-TAR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Dampier' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1029-022.)

VH-TAR. Guinea Airways Limited - 'John Roe' in the T.A.A. livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1958.

(E. Coates Collection Copyright Image 1029-115.)

N240R. General Dynamics - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, May 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-106.)

N240R. General Dynamics - in the standard livery at Los Angeles Airport, February 21, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-204.)

N240R. General Dynamics - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, November 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-094.)

N123SC. Aviation Office Of America - in the standard livery at Miami Opa Locka Airport, April 1975.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-137.)

N123SC. Aviation Office Of America - in the standard livery at Miami Opa Locka Airport, February 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-138.)

N123SC. Arco - in the basic Aviation Office Of America livery at Miami Opa Locka Airport, May 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-139.)

CX-BJL. Arco - in the standard livery at Buenos Aires Airport, June 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-104.)

CX-BJL. Arco - in the standard livery at Buenos Aires Airport, January 1979.