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VH-EKT. SAAB 340A. c/n 085.
This aircraft was built by Saab Aircraft AB, Linkoping, Sweden - 1987 First flown with test registration 'SE-E85' - March 04, 1987 Entered onto the French Aircraft Register as F-GGBJ - March 1987 Registered to Air Limousin Delivered to Air Limousin / Alta - March 25, 1987 Air Limousin ceased operation due to bankruptcy - April 28, 1989 The aircraft was sold to Transregional Airlines, France - May 1989 Sold to Alsavia, France and stored - May 1989 Sold to Kendell Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd - ? Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EKT - March 08, 1990 Registered to Kendell Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd, Wagga Wagga, Australia Arrived Wagga Wagga on completion of the ferry flight - March 15, 1990 Kendell Airlines was purchased by TNT / News Ltd, the parent company of Ansett Airlines - June 1990 This aircraft was named 'City of Burnie' - May 1991 It was damaged on landing at Devonport, Tasmania - July 01, 1992 During the flight the crew experienced difficulty controlling the RPMs of the starboard propeller On landing directional control was lost as severe asymmetric thrust condition developed when reverse thrust was selected The starboard propeller remained at a positive blade angle causing the aircraft to leave the runway It ran through a ditch and in to soft, muddy ground The starboard control unit was unserviceable due to an internal oil leakage across the feathering solenoid valve Aircraft was repaired and returned to service - October 1992 It was rolled out at Wagga Wagga in the standard Ansett 'Starmark' livery - February 02, 1995 It was the first Kendell aircraft to acquire this livery Ansett suspended all operations due to bankruptcy - September 13, 2001 Operated its last revenue service Devonport - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as AN6450 - September 14, 2001 Returned to service under administration Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Burnie as AN8571 - October 08, 2001 Kendell Airlines was sold to Australiawide Airlines operating as Regional Express Airlines (REX) - August 01, 2002 Operated its irst revenue service with REX - August 05, 2002 Registered to Australiawide Airlines Ltd t/a Regional Express Airlines - September 19, 2002 Registered to Regional Express Holdings Pty Ltd, Wagga Wagga - March 09, 2007 Operated its final passenger service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Wagga Wagga as ZL3258 - June 16, 2008 Withdrawn from service for conversion to freighter configuration Ferried Wagga Wagga - Albury for repainting following conversion to freighter configuration - August 06, 2008 Returned to service as freighter Adelaide (West Beach) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Adelaide - December 29, 2008 Operated by Pel-Air, Adelaide (Regional Express subsidiary) Registered to Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd, Sydney - June 28, 2012 Current with Pel-Air |
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VH-EKT. Pel-Air - in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, December 26, 2008. (R. Brown Copyright Image 1045-041.) |
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VH-EKT. Pel-Air - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, March 26, 2009. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1045-033.) |