VH-TFD Fokker F.27-1002 Friendship

VH-TFD. Fokker F.27-1002 Friendship. c/n 10114.

Was also registered as: PH-FAK; N1036P; N141PM; OB-1644.

This aircraft was the fourth of six new aircraft ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines - March 09, 1956

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FAK (CofR646) - April 09, 1959

Registered to NV Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker, Holland

First flown as 'PH-FAK' - April 09, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TFD - May 04, 1959

Registered to Australian National Airline Commission, Melbourne

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - May 05, 1959

Accepted by Trans-Australia Airlines at Amsterdam (Schipho)l - May 05, 1959

The aircraft was originally named 'George Evans'

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - May 06, 1959

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - May 15, 1959

Flight crew: Captains C. Howard, D. Moran-Hilford; Navigator D. Lawrence

Used to train East-West pilots Captains J. Swan and A .J. Smith at Mangalore - May 20 - 23, 1959

This allowed East-West Airlines to ferry their first Friendship to Australia utilising its own aircrew

Aircraft was renamed ' William Landsborough' before entering service

Operated its first revenue service - May 28, 1959

Leased to Guinea Airways Ltd - August 1959 to December 1959

Leased to MacRobertson Miller Airlines - September 07 to November 03, 1962

Repainted into the 'blue tail' livery at Brisbane Airport - September 1969

This was the 2nd T.A.A. Friendship to be repainted into the new livery

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd - April 12, 1979

Leased to Trans-Australia Airlines as the registered operator

Operated its final TAA revenue service - October 26, 1980

Returned to A.A.S. at the end of the lease - October 1980

The aircraft had flown 42,992 hours with 52,518 cycles

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 14, 1980

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N1036P - November 14, 1980

Trans-Australia Airlines markings were removed from aircraft at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - November 15, 1980

AAS (Australian Aircraft Sales) titles were applied - November 15, 1980

The intended sale to Wheeler Flying Service Inc t/a Wheeler Airlines did not eventuate - November 1980

Test flown at Melbourne (Tullamarine) as N1036P - April 08, 1981

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to Dinard, France - May 01, 1981

Sold to Pilgrim Aviation & Airlines t/a Pilgrim Airlines - May 20, 1981

Ferried Dinard - Ypenburg for overhaul - June 02, 1981

Departed Ypenburg on the delivery flight to Pilgrim Airlines - June 30, 1981

Registered to Pilgrim Aviation & Airlines - August 17, 1981

Reregistered as N141PM - October 20, 1981

Pilgrim Airlines was renamed Pilgrim / Newair Airlines - February 20, 1985

Newair acquired and merged with Business Express Airlines - February 28, 1986

Sold to Aerocar Aviation Corporation - December 12, 1986

Registered to Business Express Airlines - August 11, 1988

Withdrawn from use and stored at Hartford (Bradley International) Airport, CT - July 09, 1990

Sold to North American Jet sales, Inc - October 05, 1990

Sold to Jack Prewitt & Associates, Inc - October 05, 1990

Registered to Jack Prewitt & Associates - October 26, 1990

Sold to Aviation Enterprises Inc - December 04, 1990

Registered to Aviation Enterprises, Inc - December 27, 1990

Stored at Hernando County Airport, Florida - 1990 to 1996

Sold to North American Jet sales, Inc - April 02, 1992

Sold to Chon Dal, Inc - April 02, 1992

Registered to Chon Dal Inc - September 16, 1992

The intended sale to Fezel (Nigeria) Ltd did not eventuate - December 1992

Leased to Taymi SA, Peru - April 01, 1996

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - April 04, 1996

Entered onto the Peruvian Aircraft Register as OB-1644 - ?

Aircraft was delivered but did not enter service

TAYMI SA ceased all operations due to bankruptcy - June 1996

Returned to lessor having not entered service - June 1996

Sold to Air Dabia, Gambia - August 1996

Delivered to Air Dabia via Shannon - August 29, 1996

Air Dabia suspended operations - December 1998

Withdrawn from service and stored Banjul-Serekunda Airport - December 1998

Aircraft had flown 56,729 hours with 68,314 cycles

Last seen at Banjul Airport intact but in very dusty and neglected condition - July 05, 2005

Current status - ?

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-873.)

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Proserpine Airport, circa 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-866.)

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Proserpine Airport, circa 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-228.)

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-964.)

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-812.)

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-874.)

VH-TFD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'William Landsborough' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 04, 1964.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-460.)

VH-TFD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'William Landsborough' in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, December 1965.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 1999-418.)

VH-TFD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'William Landsborough' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 04, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1993-691.)

VH-TFD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'William Landsborough' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 04, 1967.

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1979.

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the final livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 29, 1979.

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the final livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1980.

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 10, 1980.

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the final livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1980.

VH-TFD. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Landsborough' in the final livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1980.

VH-TFD. AAS Australian Aircraft Sales - in the basic 'T.A.A.' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1980.

N1036P. Evergreen International - in the basic 'T.A.A.' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1981.

N1036P. Evergreen International - in the basic 'T.A.A.' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1981.

N141PM. Pilgrim Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, October 1983.

N141PM. Business Express - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, August 1986.

N141PM. Business Express - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, September 1986.

N141PM. Business Express - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, October 1986.