This aircraft was ordered new by National Airlines Inc - ?

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N90892 - ?

Delivered new to National Airlines Inc - July 02, 1947

This aircraft was one of five National Airlines DC-6s involved in training flight crews for Australian National Airways

Sold to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - September 1, 1953

This was the first pressurised aircraft acquired by A.N.A.

The purchase price was $US 1,250,000 which included a spare engine

Australian Government guaranteed the finance for this aircraft with loans from the Commonwealth Bank and A.M.P.

The aircraft was configured to seat 58 passengers

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-INV - September 18, 1953

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

The acceptance flight was carried out at Miami, Florida - December 04, 1953

Departed Miami on the ferry flight to Australia - December 05, 1953

Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - December 9, 1953

Ferry route: Miami - Los Angeles - San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captain A. Lovell and a Douglas pilot

The aircraft was named 'Nairana' (eagle)

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Launceston (Captain P. Gibbs) - December 17, 1953

Established new Adelaide - Perth speed record of 3 hours 6 minutes - August 12, 1955

The aircraft carried 39 passengers and 5 crew members on this flight

The previous record of 3 hours 16 minutes had been established by TAA Viscount VH-TVE - July 26, 1955

Transferred to Ansett-ANA following the Ansett purchase of A.N.A. - October 21, 1957

Withdrawn from use at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - ?

Sold to Transit Equipment Co. New York - February 21, 1960

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to the United States - February 27, 1960

Arrived San Francisco on completion of the ferry flight - February 28, 1960

Ferry route: Melbourne - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco

Flight crew: Captains J. Withecombe, C. M. Long; F/O K. Watts; Navigator W. C. Kennedy; Engineer B. McDonald

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 04, 1960

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N74841 - March 09, 1960

Registered to Transit Equipment Co

Leased to International Airlines as the registered operator - January 1963 to December 1963

Leased to Senator Barry Goldwater for the U. S. Presidential campaign - May 1964 to October 1964

Leased to Lineas Aereas de Nicaragua SA (LANICA) - 1965 to March 1966

Sold to Carolina Aircraft Corp - July 1996

Leased to Saturn Airways Inc - July 1966

It was written badly damaged during a training flight at Oakland Airport, California - January 24, 1967

The nosewheel collapsed when the aircraft ground-looped after hitting water on the runway

The accident was attributed to a failure to maintain directional control and improper control of engines and power

settings by the trainee pilot and the inadequate supervision and lack of familiarity by the training captain

It was deemed to be too expensive to repair and aircraft was written off

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - ?

VH-INV. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Nairana' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 1125-438.)

VH-INV. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Nairana' in the final livery over Sydney Harbour, date unknown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1125-549.)

VH-INV. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Nairana' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-113.)