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VH-FVL. Aerospatiale ATR-72-212A. c/n 974. |
This aircraft was the third of four aircraft ordered by Virgin Australia for delivery in 2011 - February 23, 2011 Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127F turboprop engines It was observed on the production line at Toulouse - June 06, 2011 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-FVL - September 14, 2011 Registered to Avation Airframe Holding Pte Ltd, Singapore Leased to Skywest Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd, Cloverdale, Western Australia as the registered operator Operated by Skywest Airlines on behalf of Virgin Australia Pty Ltd First flown as 'F-WWES' at Toulouse - September 30, 2011 Accepted by Skywest / Virgin Australia at Toulouse - October 13, 2011 Departed Toulouse on the delivery flight to Australia as SXA1147 - October 13, 2011 The delivery flight was carried out by Southern Cross Aviation It arrived at Perth on completion of the delivery flight - October 16, 2011 Delivery route: Toulouse - Alexandria - Al Ain - Colombo - Jakarta - Perth The aircraft was named 'Preston Beach' Ferried Perth - Brisbane as DJ1082 - October 18, 2011 Ferried Brisbane - Canberra as DJ1608 - October 29, 2011 Operated its first revenue service Canberra - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as DJ629 - October 30, 2011 Virgin Australia announced its intention to acquire Skywest Airlines - October 30, 2012 Virgin Australia finalised the acquisition of Skywest Airlines - April 11, 2013 Skywest Airlines was officially renamed Virgin Australia Regional Airlines - May 03, 2013 The aircraft was withdrawn from service at Brisbane by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines - July 17, 2017 Ferried Brisbane - Nelson for end-of-lease maintenance - July 18, 2017 The maintenance was carried out by Air New Zealand Maintenance Service at Nelson The aircraft was then placed into long-term storage at Nelson Removed from storage and prepared for transfer to Australia - February 2020 Departed Nelson on the ferry flight to Australia as 'Velocity 9943' - March 05, 2020 It arrived at Cairns on completion of the ferry flight from New Zealand - March 05, 2020 Ferry route: Nelson - Brisbane - Cairns Returned to storage at Cairns Leased to Hevilift Australia as the registered operator - October 11, 2021 Test flown Cairns - Cairns - October 11, 2021 Operated its first Hevilift service Cairns - Townsville as HT773 - October 11, 2021 Registered to Airframe Leasing (S) Pty Ltd, Singapore - November 20, 2021 Leased to Hevilift Australia (Fixed Wing) Pty Ltd, Nundah, Queensland as the registered operator Hevilift Australia changed its trading name to Aerlink Pty Ltd - January 2023 Current with Aerlink |
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VH-FVL. Virgin Australia - 'Preston Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, May 19, 2012. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-179.) |
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VH-FVL. Virgin Australia - 'Preston Beach' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 14, 2014. (T. Haynes Copyright Image 0390-183.) |
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VH-FVL. Virgin Australia - 'Preston Beach' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 15, 2014. (T. Haynes Copyright Image 0390-184.) |
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VH-FVL. Hevilift - in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, September 24, 2022. (T. Haynes Copyright Image 0390-180.) |
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VH-FVL. Hevilift - in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, September 24, 2022. (T. Haynes Copyright Image 0390-181.) |
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VH-FVL. Hevilift - in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, September 24, 2022. (T. Haynes Copyright Image 0390-182.) |
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VH-FVL. Aerlink - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 06, 2024. (L. Fuge Copyright Image 0390-192.) |