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VH-FVI. Aerospatiale ATR-72-212A. c/n 955.
Second of four aircraft ordered by Virgin Australia for delivery in 2011 - February 23, 2011 Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127F turboprop engines It was observed on the production line at Toulouse - March 24, 2011 Rolled out at Toulouse in the partial Virgin Australia livery as 'F-WWEH' - June 06, 2011 It was observed at Toulouse in the standard Virgin Australia livery - June 06, 2011 First flown as 'F-WWEH' at Toulouse - July 08, 2011 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-FVI - August 12, 2011 Registered to Avation Airframe Holding Pte Ltd, Singapore Leased to Skywest Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd, Cloverdale, Western Australia as the registered operator Operated by Skywest Airlines on behalf of Virgin Australia Pty Ltd Accepted by Skywest / Virgin Australia at Toulouse - August 22, 2011 Departed Toulouse on the delivery flight to Australia as SXA1132 - August 22, 2011 The delivery flight was carried out by Southern Cross Aviation Arrived Brisbane on completion of the delivery flight - August 25, 2011 Delivery route: Toulouse - Trabzon - Al Ain - Nagpur - Penang - Koepang - Brisbane The aircraft was named 'Mission Beach' Operated a proving flight Brisbane - Port Macquarie - Brisbane - August 27, 2011 Operated a proving flight Brisbane - Gladstone - Brisbane - August 28, 2011 Operated its first revenue service Brisbane - Gladstone as DJ1715 - October 18, 2011 Virgin Australia announces its intention to acquire Skywest Airlines - October 30, 2012 Virgin Australia finalises the acquisition of Skywest Airlines - April 11, 2013 Skywest Airlines was officially renamed Virgin Australia Regional Airlines - May 03, 2013 Leased to Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd, Brisbane as the registered operator - November 30, 2015 Operated its last revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Canberra as VA646 - December 03, 2017 Ferried Canberra - Nelson as VA9946 - December 07, 2017 The aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored at Nelson It was observed at Nelson in the Virgin livery with the windows covered - May 26, 2019 Removed from storage and test flown Nelson - Nelson - January 13, 2020 Ferried Nelson - Brisbane - Cairns as VA9943 - January 15, 2020 The aircraft to undergo maintenance before return to the lessor |
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VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-003.) |
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VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-004.) |
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VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-005.) |
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VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, September 20, 2011. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-006.) |
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VH-FVI. Virgin Australia - 'Mission Beach' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, December 13, 2011. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0390-007.) |