VH-TGF. de Havilland Canada DHC-6-320 Twin Otter. c/n 270.

It was also registered as: VH-UQR.

 

This aircraft was originally ordered new by TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - ?

Built by de Havilland Canada at Downsview, Ontario, Canada

Rolled out at Downsview - November 27, 1969

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as 'N93995' - 1969

The registration marks were incorrectly painted on the aircraft as 'N9399S' but were rectified

First flown at Downsview as 'N93995' - December 06, 1969

Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines

Handed over to Air Capital International, Augusta, KS as the ferry contractor for T.A.A. - December 23, 1969

Departed Downsview on the ferry flight to Australia - December 1969

Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - February 02, 1970

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TGF - February 14, 1970

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Transferred to Trans-Australian Airlines of Papua New Guinea - February 18, 1970

The aircraft was named 'Samarai'

It was badly damaged in a hard landing accident at Mount Hagen - July 26, 1971

It was repaired in New Guinea and returned to service

Operated its final TAA Airlines of PNG service Mount Hagen - Lae - September 24, 1973

Ferried Lae - Thursday Island - Cairns - McKay - Brisbane - September 27, 1973

Ferried Brisbane - Dalby for maintenance - October 01, 1973

Rolled out at Dalby in the new livery - November 03, 1973

The aircraft was renamed 'John Gould'

Leased to Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service, Darwin in the standard T.A.A. livery - April 30, 1975

Returned to T.A.A. at the end of the lease at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - October 1980

Leased to Bush Pilots Airways, Cairns - November 20, 1980

Bush Pilots changed its name to Air Queensland - December 01, 1981

Air Queensland was acquired and merged with Australian Airlines - April 30, 1988

The aircraft was repainted into basic Australian Airlines livery and operated with 'Australian Regional' titles

Australian Regional Airlines merged with Sunstate Airlines, Brisbane - October 01, 1993

Operated its final Sunstate Airlines revenue service Lizard Island - Cairns - October 20, 1998

The aircraft was reregistered as VH-UQR - July 07, 1999

Registered to Transtate Airlines, Archerfield, Queensland

Registered to Macair Airlines, Archerfield, Queensland - December 13, 2000

The aircraft was withdrawn from use and advertised for sale - 2001

Sold to Kevin McCole, Hookset, NH, United States - September 27, 2001

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 27, 2001

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-UQR - October 25, 2001

Registered to Macair Airlines, Archerfield, Queensland

The aircraft remained stored at Cairns

Departed Cairns on the ferry flight to the United States - April 10, 2002

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 05, 2002

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N270CM - June 18, 2002

Registered to Kevin McCole, Hookset, NH t/a Orion Aviation. Hookset, NH

Departed the United States on the ferry flight to the Maldives - May 04, 2006

Arrived the Maldives on completion of the ferry flight - May 07, 2006

Ferry route: Louisburg - Sanford - St Johns - Santa Maria - Almeria - Heraklion - Maldives

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - May 25, 2006

Entered onto the Maldives Aircraft Register as 8Q-TMR - May 30, 2006

Registered to Hummingbird Island Airlines, Grand Cayman

Leased to Trans Maldivian Airways, Male as the registered operator

Current with Trans Maldivian Airways

 

 

VH-TGF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-413.)

VH-TGF. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 03, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1920-914.)

VH-TGF. Air Queensland - in the basic Trans Australia livery at Cairns Airport, May 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-874.)

VH-TGF. Air Queensland - in the basic Trans Australia livery at Brisbane Airport, August 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-827.)

VH-TGF. Sunstate - in the basic Qantas livery at Brisbane Airport, March 1999.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-915.)

VH-UQR. Transtate - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, September 1999.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-875.)

VH-UQR. Macair - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, December 2001.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-851.)