VH-EKT SAAB 340A

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Withdrawn from service for conversion to freighter configuration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

It operated its final Pel-Air service Brisbane - Wagga Wagga as PFY98 - January 30, 2023

It was withdrawn from use and stored at Wagga Wagga

Test flown Wagga - Wagga as ZL9947 - May 26, 2023

Sold to Air Chathams, New Zealand - ?

Departed Wagga Wagga on the ferry flight to New Zealand - June 07, 2023

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the ferry flight - June 07, 2023

Ferry route: Wagga Wagga - Sydney - ? - Auckland

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 08, 2023

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-CIX - June 09, 2023

Registered to Air Chathams, Waitangi, Chatham Islands

Current with Air Chathams