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VH-GVH. de Havilland DH-114-1B Heron. c/n 14033.
This aircraft was ordered new by New Zealand National Airways Corporation - 1953 It was built at the de Havilland plant at Chester Accepted at Chester by NZNAC - October 27, 1953 Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-BBO - ? Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation, Wellington, New Zealand The aircraft was named 'Mako' (Bellbird) It was reregistered as ZK-BEQ - December 08, 1953 The registration was changed as the regulatory authority felt that the existing registration was not appropriate for the carriage of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to New Zealand Used as Queen Elizabeth II personal aircraft during the Royal Tour of New Zealand 1953 - 1954 It was reconfigured with a 'Royal Suite' that had been supplied by de Havilland, UK At the end of the Royal Tour this suite was returned to England Departed Auckland on the ferry flight to Australia - January 18, 1958 Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - January 20, 1958 Ferry route: Auckland - Norfolk Island - Coffs Harbour - Sydney - Melbourne Sold to Southern Airlines - January 20, 1958 Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - January 26, 1958 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-GVH - January 26, 1958 Registered to Southern Airlines Ltd Thev aircraft was named 'Queen of the South' at naming ceremony at Naracoorte, S.A. - February 15, 1958 This was to honour the local community who raised part of the purchase price of this aircraft The operating licence of Southern Airlines was sold to A.T.I. (Operations) Pty Ltd - December 22, 1958 This aircraft was not owned or operated by Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd Sold to Qantas Airways Ltd - January 06, 1959 Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney Sold to Fiji Airways Ltd - April 23, 1959 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 10, 1959 Entered onto the Fijian Aircraft Register as VQ-FAL - September 08, 1959 The aircraft overran the airstrip on landing at Ura, Taveuni - December 11, 1965 The extensive damage proved to be uneconomical to repair and it was written off on site |