i si I‘SM ■ ■ ■l I^■SSB^I, ■ ''■'llllsWS* ■ .:' ■"'^ il» ■ 5il*i ai mil k i \ m I m : *•: ■ i n a■ ismI I MP til ■I®ii* I ■I Bi» i ■■SIC liil i* The Journal of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia Inc .A0033653P ■I Volume 29 Number 2 Marcb 1998 I® I m I m IS1 m i m /aviation heritage I_____ I I____ I The Journal of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia Inc. Aoosaessp Volume 29 Number 2 March 1998 EDITORIAL EDITORS, DESIGN & PRODUCTION Today’s events are tomorrow’s history. Bill and Judith Baker Address all correspondence to; I believe that we members of the AHSA are doing a good job of The Editor, recording and telling the story of our aviation history. Part of this is AHSA, the continuing publication of Aviation Heritage. P.O. Box 2007, ‘A-H’ is designed to allow a wide variety of articles to be published, South Melbourne 3205 help us to achieve our aim by contributing. Victoria, Australia. 03 9583 4072 With this issue, you will receive the first of a series of supplements, together with 48 pages of Journal, this makes for 60 pages in total. Subscription Rates; Then on top of this. Bob Wills has put together a newsletter, not as Australia A$40. big as of yore, but nevertheless it is a newsletter. Bob of course will Rest of World A$50. Surface Mail be looking for information to publish and welcomes your A$65. Surface Airlifted participation. A$85. Air Mail While we welcome your praise, we are also interested in your Overseas payment to be in Australian criticisms which will help us to give you what you want. currency by International Money Order or Bank Draft. Overseas personal cheques cannot be accepted. The Editor’s wish list; Articles for Publication; Any facet of Australian aviation history. Compass Airlines, GAF Are to be on an Australian theme. Nomad, DHA Drover, Korea, Vietnam. The Editor reserves the right to edit any article accepted for publication. Payment is not made for articles. Cover Please include sufficient postage for the return of originals if that is required. Reg Ansett’s Fokker Universal VH-UTO with which he started his A - H and the Computer; Contributions airline. for the Journal are most welcome in any form, but if you have a computer, exported on a S’A” disc in ASSCII Contents; format (plain text), or WIN 6, would be just great! (Include hard copy also). 47 Ansett Australia - ‘Complete’ Fleet List - John Wilson Disclaimer; 1. Whilst every effort is 81 Richmond Observer - Neville F. Hayes made to check the authenticity of the 86 Interview With Captain Larkin - John Hopton material and advertising printed, the 89 Forced Landing - Paddy Heffernan Publishers, Editors, and the Aviation Historical Society of Australia and its Office Bearers cannot accept responsibility for any non-performance. 2. The views expressed in ‘Aviation Meetings of the AHSA - Heritage’ are not necessarily those of Melbourne Branch: The fourth Wednesday in every month 7.30 the AHSA or its Editors. at the Airforce Association, Cromwell Street, South Yarra. AVIATION HERITAGE Further information - Keith Meggs 9580 0140 ISSN 0815-4392 The NSW Branch: The first Wednesday in every month 7.45 at Print Post Approved PP320418/00017 Studio 1 at The Powerhouse Museum, enter from the Macarthur © 1998 By the Publishers; Street end. Further information - Gordon Lasslett 9416 7603 AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA INC., A0033653P P.O. BOX 2007 SOUTH MELBOURNE 3205, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA 46 AHSA Aviation Heritage ANSETT AUSTRALIA COMPLETE' ELEET LIST by John Wilson Ansett Australia today is the end product of a very large number of predecessors who contributed towards creating one of Australia's major airlines. This article presents a very brief history of the airlines associated with the creation of Ansett Australia and also details the fleet list, containing references to all aircraft (as can be identified by the author) which have been associated in some capacity with Ansett and its predecessors. The list does not propose to be complete. This is the first time a list has been published and it can be assumed that there will be aircraft not accounted for. The author would welcome additional information from readers. The aircraft have been listed by airline so as to give a clearer picture of the companies involved. Due to the size of the fleet list and space limitations, information such as previous identities, aircraft incidents, subsequent operators etc has not been included. ANSETT AIRWAYS ADASTRA AIRWAYS LTD 170236 Ansett Airways Pty Ltd founded by R.M.Ansett. 0830 Company formed as Adastra Flying School. 310436 Ansett Transport Industries formed. 050234 Company commenced passenger services 140437 Ansett Airways Ltd was formed to take over Ansett 240840 Routes acquired by Butler Air Transport. AinA/ays Pty Ltd. AIRCRAFTS PTY LTD - QUEENSLAND AIR LINES 010552 Barrier Reef Airways services were integrated with 050827 A.P.L. founded by R.S.Adair. Ansett Airways and Ansett Flying Boat Services was 051048 A.RL. acquired Inland Air Services Pty Ltd. established. 181048 A.P.L. changed its name to Queensland Air Lines. 200553 Trans Oceanic Airways was acquired. 121248 B.A.T. acquired control of Q.A.L. 041057 Ansett acquired Australian National Airways to form 141264 Q.A.L. became an operating division within Ansett Ansett-ANA. Transport Industries (Qperations) Pty Ltd. BARRIER REEF AIRWAYS 041266 Q.A.L. ceased operations and the company was absorbed by Ansett. 081046 A company, Poulson and Middlemiss, was formed, operating as Barrier Reef Airways. GUINEA AIRWAYS - AIRLINES OF S.A. 0450 B.R.A. changed its name to Barrier Reef Airways Pty 180526 Guinea Gold No Liability registered. Ltd. 041127 Guinea Airways registered to operate air services for 010552 B.R.A. services integrated with Ansett AinA/ays but Guinea Gold N.L. continued to operated as Barrier Reef Airways until 011227 Guinea Airways began operations. 1953 when the company was fully absorbed. 231059 A.T.I. gained control of Guinea AinA/ays Limited. 211259 Airlines of S.A. registered as the successor to G.A.L. ANSETT FLYING BOAT SERVICES 180160 Airlines of S.A. began operations. 010552 Ansett Flying Boat Services was formed to operate all 080868 Airlines of S.A. changed its name to Ansett Airlines of flying boat services for Ansett. S.A. 200553 The equipment and routes of Trans Oceanic Airways 150781 Ansett Airlines of S.A. changed its name to Airlines of were acquired. S.A.. 171259 Airlines of NSW assumed responsibility for the 270686 Airlines of S.A. ceased operations, absorbed by Ansett operation of A.F.B.S. Airlines. 110974 A.F.B.S. ceased operations. SOUTH PACIFIC AIRLINES OF NEW ZEALAND TRANS OCEANIC AIRWAYS 151260 South Pacific Airlines of N.Z. began operations. A.T.I. 240247 Trans Oceanic Airways incorporated in Sydney. held 49% of shares. 200547 Trans Oceanic Airways commenced operations. 190864 A.T.I. sold its shareholding in S.P.A.N.Z. 110752 Trans Oceanic went into voluntary liquidation. 280266 S.P.A.N.Z. ceased operations. Services were taken 200553 T.O.A's assets sold to Ansett Airways. over by N.Z.N.A.C. and Mount Cook Airlines. 230663 Trans Oceanic Airways finally dissolved. W.R.CARPENTER AIRLINES BUTLER AIR TRANSPORT - AIRLINES OF NSW 140133 W.R.Carpenter Airlines (a division of W.R.Carpenter 0434 Butler Air Transport founded by Arthur Butler. and Co. Ltd.) began operations. 210346 Butler Air Transport changed its name to Butler Air 161036 W.R.C. took over Pacific Aerial Transport to form Transport Pty Ltd. Mandated Air Lines. 170548 B.A.T. acquired New England Airways(2). PACIFIC AERIAL TRANSPORT 121249 B.A.T. acquired control of Queensland Airlines. 010834 Pacific Aerial Transport began operations. 171259 B.A.T. changed its name to Airlines of NSW and 161036 P.A.T. and W.R.Carpenter formed Mandated Air Lines. assumed responsibility for Ansett F.B.S. GIBBES SEPIK AIRWAYS oil268 Airlines of NSW changed its name to Ansett Airlines of NSW 1247 Gibbes Sepik Airways began operations. 010681 Ansett Airlines of NSW changed its name to Air New 151158 G.S.A. taken over by Madang Air Services. South Wales. 010460 G.S.A. absorbed by Madang Air Services. 010390 Air New South Wales changed its name to Ansett MADANG AIR CHARTERS-MADANG AIR SERVICES NSW.. 260553 Madang Air Charters began operations, founded by 281190 Ansett NSW changed its name to Ansett Express. Mrs J.L.Robertson and Mrs M.L.Ferguson. 311093 Ansett Express operations merged with Ansett 0956 Madang Air Charters became Madang Air Services. Australia. 151158 M.A.S. acquired Gibbes Sepik Airways. 47 AHSA Aviation Heritage 010460 M.A.S. was acquired by Mandated Air Lines. 140936 Airlines of Australia acquired R.A.S. PAPUAN AIR TRANSPORT - PATAIR NORTH QUEENSLAND AIRWAYS 200852 Papuan Air Transport founded. 221034 T.H.MacDonald began operations as N.Q.A. 280568 Patair purchased STOL Air Services from Pirns of N.G. 251038 N.Q.A. ceased operations, acquired by Airlines of 221269 STOL Commuter operations were merged with Patair. Australia. STOL COMMUTERS NEW ENGLAND AIRWAYS (2) 280568 Patair announced an agreement signed with Pirns of 290546 N.E.A. began operations. N.G. for the purchase of STOL Air Services. 170548 B.A.T. absorbed N.E.A. and began operating its 080968 STOL Air Services sold to Patair and its name routes. changed to STOL Commuters Pty Ltd. AIRLINES OF AUSTRALIA 221269 STOL Commuters were merged with Patair. 041035 Airlines of Australia founded by N.E.A.