VH-TFE Fokker F.27-1002 Friendship

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

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FAP (CofR652) - May 20, 1959

Registered to NV Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker

First flown as 'PH-FAP' - May 21, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TFE - June 04, 1959

Registered to Australian National Airline Commission, Melbourne

Accepted by TAA at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - June 06, 1959

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - June 07, 1959

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - June 16, 1959

Flight crew: Captains E. Meredith, R. R. Hickey; Navigator R. Lauchland

The aircraft was originally named 'Angus McMillan' but it was renamed ' Robert Burke' one day later

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - June 22, 1959

Operated its first revenue service - June 23, 1959

Leased to Guniea Airways - August 1959 to December 1959

Operated its final revenue service - November 04, 1965

Leased to the Department of Civil Aviation - March 1966

Accepted by the Department of Civil Aviation - March 23, 1966

Operated and maintained for the Deptment of Civil Aviation by Trans-Australia Airlines for navaid calibration

Sold to Department of Civil Aviation - May 05, 1971

The aircraft had flown 16,009 hours at the time of sale

The Department of Civil Aviation was renamed Department of Transport - June 07, 1974

Registered to Department of Transport Air Transport Group - June 07, 1974

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Essendon) - June 01, 1977

The aircraft had flown 20,965 hours at this date

Sold to Air Anglia Ltd - July 28, 1978

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom - August 01, 1978

Arrived Norwich on completion of the ferry flight - August 14, 1978

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 18, 1978

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-SPUD (CofR G-SPUD/R1) - January 31, 1979

Transferred to Air UK when Air Anglia merged - January 16, 1980

Wet-leased to Nile Delta Air Services - August 19, 1981

Registered to Air UK Ltd - February 04, 1982

Returned to Air UK at the end of the lease to Nile Delta - August 1982

Reregistered as G-OMAN (CofR G-OMAN/R1) - September 29, 1982

Leased to Manx Airlines Ltd - October 1982

Delivered to Manx at Ronaldsway Airport - October 08, 1982

Returned to Air UK at the end of the lease - March 04, 1984

The intended sale to Busy Bee, Norway did not eventuate - 1984

Reregistered as G-BLFJ (CofR G-BLFJ/R1) - 1985

Traded to Fokker Aircraft BV - March 25, 1994

Withdrawn from use at Norwich on handover to Fokker Aircraft BV at Norwich Airport - November 1994

Aircraft had flown 46,396 hours with 65,689 cycles

Scrapped at Norwich Airport - December 1996

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - January 06, 1997

PH-FAP. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the original livery on the Fokker production line at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, circa 1959.

(Fokker Heritage Trust via H. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-552.)

VH-TFE. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Robert Burke' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-055.)

VH-TFE. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Robert Burke' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1993-153.)

VH-TFE. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Robert Burke' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1999-419.)

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - 'Robert Burke' in the basic T.A.A. livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1993-465.)

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-924.)

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-299.)

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-123.)

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 26, 1967.

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Brisbane Eagle Farm Airport, May 1968.

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1972.

VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1973.

VH-TFE. Department of Transport - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1974.

VH-TFE. Department of Transport - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 19, 1978.

G-SPUD. Air Anglia - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

G-SPUD. Air Anglia - in the basic livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

G-SPUD. Air UK - in the basic 'Air Anglia' livery at an unknown airport, October 1980.

G-SPUD. Air UK - in the basic 'Air Anglia' livery at Manchester Airport, June 1981.

G-OMAN. Manx - in the standard livery at Manchester Airport, March 1983.

G-BLFJ. Air UK - in the old livery at an unknown airport, December 1984.

G-BLFJ. Air UK - in the final livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, date unknown.