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VH-PDW. Convair CV-580. c/n 086. Was also registered as: N73136; C-GKFQ. |
This aircraft was ordered new by United Airlines Inc, Chicago, Illinois Construction completed as a Convair 340-31 - April 04, 1953 Powered by Pratt and Whitney R-2800-CB-16 Double Wasp engines Delivered to United Airlines - June 19, 1953 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N73136 - ? The aircraft was named ‘Mainliner Vancouver’ Sold to Frontier Airlines, Denver, Colorado - May 22, 1961 The aircraft was renamed ‘Sunliner Commanche’ Converted to 580 standard by Pacific Airmotive Corporation as Conversion # 66 - February 17 to May 6, 1966 Fitted with Allison 501-D13 turboprops Redelivered to Frontier Airlines - May 30, 1966 Registered to Frontier Leased Incorporation and transferred to Frontier Commuter - July 07, 1983 Leased to Metro Airlines, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas as the registered operator - October 1983 Returned to Frontier at the end of the lease - 1993 Leased to Combs Freightair, Denver, Colorado as the registered operator - early 1984 Returned to Frontier at the end of the lease - 1984 Sold to Metroflight, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas - August 30, 1985 The aircraft was named ‘City of Lake Charles’ Sold to SAAB Aircraft Holdings Incorporation - November 30, 1987 Sold to Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter - June 06, 1989 Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GKFQ - ? It was fitted with a rear cargo door - July 1990 Registered to Allcanada Express Ltd - July, 25, 1995 Leased to Air Canada Express as the registered operator - July 25, 1995 Returned to Kelowna Flightcraft with fleet number '505' - July 1996 Leased to Gulf and Caribbean Cargo - November 1999 Returned to Kelowna Flightcraft at the end of the lease - ?, 2007 Sold to Pionair Australia - ?, 2007 Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - October 25, 2007 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-PDW - October 29, 2007 Registered to Pionair Australia Pty Ltd It arrived at Sydney (Bankstown) on completion of the ferry light in standard Pionair livery - November 09, 2007 Ferry route: Kelowna - Oakland - Pontiac - Hilo - Pago Pago - Sydney Ferried Sydney (Bankstown) - Launceston to operate for Toll Holdings - November 12, 2007 Ferried Sydney (Bankstown) - Alice Springs - Darwin - August 26, 2009 It operated 12 return flights Darwin - Tyruscott carrying oil dispersant to combat an oil spillage in the Timor Sea Ferried Darwin - Alice Springs - Sydney (Bankstown) - September 03, 2009 It was withdrawn from service by Toll Holdings and returned to Pionair Australia - ? Wet leased to Virgin Australia for freight operations - July 03, 2016 Returned to Pionair Australia at the end of the wet-lease - ? 2017 It was withdrawn from service by Pionair and prepared for donation to HARS - March 27, 2017 Ferried Sydney (Bankstown) - Parkes for preservation by the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society - ? Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 15, 2020 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-FEO - May 26, 2023 Registered to Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Inc, Albion Park, NSW Currently on display at Parkes, N.S.W. with HARS with restoration to airworthy status being undetaken |
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N73136. Frontier - in the standard livery at Worland Airport, September 1979. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-229.) |
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N73136. Frontier Commuter - in the standard livery at Denver Airport, August 1985. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-172.) |
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N73136. American Eagle - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, circa 1986. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-230.) |
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VH-PDW. Pionair Cargo - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2008. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-151.) |
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VH-PDW. Pionair Cargo - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2008. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-152.) |
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VH-PDW. Pionair Cargo - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2008. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-153.) |
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VH-PDW. Pionair Cargo - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2008. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-168.) |