VH-TGG. de Havilland Canada DHC-6-320 Twin Otter. c/n 277.
This aircraft was originally ordered new by TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - ? Built by de Havilland Canada at Downsview, Ontario, Canada Rolled out at Downsview - January 1970 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N8861 - ? First flown at Downsview as N8861 - January 14, 1970 Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines Handed over to Air Capital International, Augusta, KS as the ferry contractor for T.A.A. - January 22, 1970 Departed Downsview on the ferry flight to Australia - February 1970 Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - February 07, 1970 Transferred to Trans-Australian Airlines of Papua New Guinea - February 08, 1970 The aircraft was originally named 'Chimbu' but later renamed 'Salamaua' Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TGG - February 27, 1970 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne Operated its final TAA Airlines of PNG revenue service Port Moresby - Lae - September 28, 1973 Arrived Brisbane on completion of the ferry flight from Papua New Guinea - October 01, 1973 Returned to service on Trans-Australia Airlines mainland routes The aircraft was renamed 'William Wills' Leased to Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service, Darwin in the standard T.A.A. livery - December 29, 1974 Ferried Brisbane - Darwin - December 29, 1974 Returned to T.A.A. at the end of the lease - October 1980 Leased to Bush Pilots Airways, Cairns - November 30, 1980 Bush Pilots was renamed 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 was merged with Sunstate Airlines, Brisbane - October 01, 1993 Operated fits inal Sunstate Airlines service Brampton Island - Mackay - September 02, 1998 Ferried Mackay - Brisbane and withdrawn from service - September 02, 1998 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 10, 1998 Sold to Topscore Management, Geneva, Switzerland - November 1998 Departed Brisbane on the ferry flight to Malta for overhaul by NCA - December 01, 1998 Entered onto the Swiss Aircraft Register as HB-LSU - January 1999 Registered to Topscore Management, Geneva, Switzerland Transferred to Benavia Special Air Operations - January 1999 Leased to Tassili Airlines, Algiers as the registered operator - January 1999 Returned to Benavia Special Air Operations on termination of the lease - January 2002 Transferred to Topscore Management, Geneva, Switzerland - January 2002 Cancelled from the Swiss Aircraft Register - January 2002 Entered onto the South African Aircraft Register as ZS-OVL - January 2002 Registered to Topscore Management, Geneva, Switzerland Leased to Rossair Contracts, Lanseria, South Africa as the registered operator Returned to Topscore Management, Geneva, Switzerland on termination of the lease - July 2002 Cancelled from the South African Aircraft Register - July 2002 Entered onto the Swiss Aircraft Register as HB-LSU - July 2002 Transferred to Topscore Management, Cayenne, French Guiana - July 19, 2002 Leased to Air Guyane Express as the registered operator - July 19, 2002 Cancelled from the Swiss Aircraft Register - January 17, 2003 Entered onto the French Aircraft Register as F-OIJI - January 17, 2003 Registered to Air Guyane Express, Cayenne Leased to Air Antilles Express, Point-a-Pitre as the registered operator Returned to Topscore Management, Geneva, Switzerland on termination of the lease - February 08, 2009 Departed Cayenne on the ferry flight to Switzerland - February 08, 2009 Arrived Altenrhein (Switzerland) on completion of the ferry flight - February 11, 2009 Ferry route: Cayenne - Sal - Cabo Verde - Arrecife - Madrid - Alterrhein The aircraft was prepared for lease to Air Loyaute, Noumea, New Caledonia - August 2009 Departed Altenrhein on the ferry flight to New Caledonia - August 30, 2009 Arrived Noumea on completion of the ferry flight - September 07, 2009 Ferry route: Altenrhein - Split - Hurghada - Muscat - Male - Cocos Islands - Port Headland - Longreach - Tontouta (Noumea) - Magenta (Noumea) Leased to Air Lovaute, Noumea, New Caledonia as the registered operator - September 07, 2009 Current with Air Lovaute |
VH-TGG. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-438.) |
VH-TGG. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-163.) |
VH-TGG. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-871.) |
VH-TGG. BPA - in the standard livery at Rockhampton Airport, November 1982. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-409.) |
VH-TGG. Air Queensland - in the original livery at Cairns Airport, December 1984. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-410.) |
VH-TGG. Air Queensland - in the final livery at Cairns Airport, February 09, 1986. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-446.) |
VH-TGG. Air Queensland - in the final livery at Cairns Airport, May 1987. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-378.) |
VH-TGG. Australian Regional - in the Australian livery at an unknown location, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-050.) |
VH-TGG. Australian Regional - in the Australian livery at an unknown airport, May 1989. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-917.) |
VH-TGG. Sunstate - in the Qantas livery at Cairns Airport, March 1998. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-836.) |