![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
VH-BPH. Douglas DC-6. c/n 43128-135.
Built for Scandinavian Airlines order but not taken up despite registration SE-BDK being reserved Sold to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Arrived Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - September 30, 1948 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BPH - October 29, 1948 Aircraft was named 'Discovery' Used on BCPA route Sydney - Auckland - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco - Vancouver Chartered by A.N.A. to provide extra capacity at peak times - dates unknown B.C.P.A. was liquidated in favour of Qantas Empire Airways operating the Trans Pacific route - March 31, 1954 B.C.P.A. absorbed by Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - April 01, 1954 Most of B.C.P.A.'s staff and the three remain DC-6s were taken over by Qantas This aircraft was transferred to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - May 1954 The transfer was made in lieu of payment for TEAL's shareholding in the liquidated B.C.P.A. Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-BGC - May 13, 1954 Registered to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, Auckland Aircraft was named 'Arahia' (trailblazer) Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 17, 1954 Deployed on TEAL's route from Auckland and Christchurch to Nadi (Fiji) and Bora Bora (Tahiti) Engaged in seven return charter flights Sydney - Darwin - Manila - Iwakuni - Tokyo - from July 07, 1954 These flights were to support ANZAC troops based in Japan during the Korean War Ferried Auckland - Hong Kong for wingskin modifications to allow increased payload by 2,000 lbs - mid 1956 Withdrawn from service and stored at Whenuapai following the arrival of the Lockheed Electras - 1959 Returned to service to cover the upgrade of the airline's Lockheed Electras - late 1960 Repainted into the Lockheed Electra style livery before entering service Withdrawn from service once the three Lockheed Electras had been returned to service TEAL announced that this aircraft would be transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force - March 21, 1961 Transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force - May 12, 1961 Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - May 16, 1961 Entered onto the New Zealand Military Aircraft Register as NZ3633 - May 16, 1961 Entered service with 40 Squadron - May 23, 1961 Withdrawn from service - April 16, 1964 Departed Whenuapai on ferry flight to the United States - April 16, 1964 Sold to Lamm Associates Inc - April 26, 1964 Cancelled from the New Zealand Military Aircraft Register - April 26, 1964 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N255N - April 26, 1964 Sold to Pacific Western Airlines, Canada - May 18, 1965 Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - May 18, 1965 Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as CF-PWQ - May 18, 1965 Sold to Lamm Associates Inc, California - January 17, 1971 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N90MA - February 17, 1971 Registered to Lamm Associates, Inc Sold to Mercer Airlines - April 03, 1971 Sold to Aerial Applicators, Salt Lake City for use as a waterbomber - May 1973 Transferred to Sis-Q Flying Service - June 1981 Transferred to Macavia International, California when Sis-Q was renamed - June 1985 Withdrawn from service and stored at Santa Rosa, California Sold to T. & G. Aviation, Chandler, Arizona - February 1991 Sold to Pacific Harbour Capital, Portland, Oregon - February 1993 Sold to Barron Thomas Aviation, Wilmington, Delaware - April 1994 Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - July 11, 1994 The intended sale to Air Transport Office, Kinshasha, Zaire did not eventuate Aircraft observed in a derelict condition at Chandler, Arizona - April 2002 Cockpit section purchased by Pekka Kauppi of Finland to be converted into a simulator Nose section removed from aircraft and freighted to Finland - 2006 Rest of aircraft scrapped on site Cockpit section being restored at Pekka Kauppi's property in Finland |