VH-XFT. de Havilland Canada DHC-8-102. c/n 052.

Was also registered as: C-GFQL; P2-GVA; ZK-NEW.

 

 

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the de Havilland Canada Downsview plant - November 13, 1986

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as 'C-GFQL' - ?

Registered to de Havilland Canada, Downsview

First flown as 'C-GFQL' - November 1986

Powered by PWC PW120A turboprop engines

The aircraft was configured to seat 37 passengers

It was accepted by Talair at Downsview - November 27, 1986

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-GVA - ?

Ownership was transferred to Flight West Airlines - August 1990

Cancelled from the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-XFT - August 24, 1990

Registered to Flight West Airlines, Brisbane

Operated its first Flight West service Brisbane - Gladstone - Rockhampton - Mackay - Cairns - August 26, 1990

The aircraft was named 'Charles & William Archer'

It was leased to Ansett New Zealand - March 15, 1995

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the ferry flight - March 15, 1995

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 16, 1995

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-NEW - March 16, 1995

Registered to Ansett New Zealand Pty Ltd

Operated its first Ansett New Zealand revenue service - ?

Returned to Flight West at the end of the lease - February 07, 1996

Ferreied Christchurch - Brisbane - February 08, 1996

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - February 09, 1996

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-XFT - February 09, 1996

Registered to Flight west Airlines Pty Ltd, Brisbane

Leased to Eastern Australia Airlines - February 27, 1996

Returned to Flight West - July 22, 1996

It was sold to Skippers Aviation - July 08, 1998

The aircraft was involved in a visual separation incident on approach to Perth Airport - June 25, 2001

To view the ASTB report on this incident click 'HERE'

Registered to Skippers Aviation Pty Ltd - October 16, 2008

Current with Skippers Aviation

 

 

P2-GVA. Talair - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, August 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-106.)

P2-GVA. Talair - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, October 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-107.)

VH-XFT. Flight West Airlines - 'Charles & William Archer' in the standard livery at Bundaberg Airport, August 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-098.)

VH-XFT. Flight West Airlines - 'Charles & William Archer' in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, July 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-099.)

ZK-NEW. Ansett New Zealand - in the 'Starmark' livery at Nelson Airport, October 1995.

(M. Richardson Copyright Image 2923-108.)

ZK-NEW. Ansett New Zealand - in the 'Starmark' livery at Wellington Airport, November 22, 1995.

(M. Richardson Copyright Image 2923-100.)

VH-XFT. Flight West - in the revised livery at Brisbane Airport, July 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-101.)

VH-XFT. Flight West - in the revised livery at Brisbane Airport, August 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2924-168.)

VH-XFT. Flight West - in the basic livery at Brisbane Airport, July 1997.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-102.)

VH-XFT. Skippers Aviation - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 1998.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-103.)

VH-XFT. Skippers Aviation - in the standard livery at Perth Airport, May 28, 2009.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-104.)

VH-XFT. Skippers Aviation - in the standard livery at Perth Airport, November 01, 2012.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2923-105.)