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VH-TAP. Convair 240-5. c/n D42. Was also registered as: AP-AHO; PH-NHZ; N557R; N503; N196N. |
This aircraft was part of an original order for 20 airframes placed by Western Airlines but was not taken up Convair offered these aircraft to other interested airlines providing they accepted the Western specifications Trans-Australia Airlines agreed to purchase five of these aircraft for $US 260,000 This aircraft was constructed at the San Diego plant Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAP - March 24, 1948 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne Construction completed - September 21, 1948 Handed over to Trans-Australia Airlines at San Diego - October 08, 1948 The aircraft was named 'Matthew Flinders' Operated its first revenue service - January 26, 1949 Operated its final revenue service - May 21, 1956 Withdrawn from service and stored at Melbourne (Essendon) pending its sale Sold to Pakistan International Airlines - June 19, 1956 Entered onto the Pakistan Aircraft Register as AP-AHO - ? Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 20, 1956 Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to Pakistan - June 23, 1956 Sold to Fokker NV as a trade-in on a Friendship - October 17, 1959 Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-NHZ - ? Sold to Remmert Warner - June 30, 1960 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N557R - ? Sold to Falstaff Brewing Company - 1964 Reregistered as N503 - ? Sold to Alaska Coastal Ellis Airlines - 1966 Reregistered as N196N - ? Ownership was transferred to Alaska Airlines Inc - April 01, 1968 Withdrawn from service and placed in storage - October 1969 Sold to Pacific Nevada Airlines - January 1973 Repossessed by Alaska Airlines Inc - May 1973 Returned to Pacific Nevada Airlines - December 1973 Ownership was transferred to Pacific Coastal Airlines - 1975 Repossessed by Crocker National Bank, San Francisco - January 01, 1976 The aircraft was scrapped at Long Beach, California - June 1979 |
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VH-TAP. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Matthew Flinders' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (B. Colledge Copyright Image 1029-130.) |
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VH-TAP. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Matthew Flinders' in the original livery at Brisbane Eagle Farm Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-087.) |
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N196N. Alaska - in the 'Coastal Airlines' livery at Juneau Airport, November 1969. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-161.) |
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N196N. Alaska - in the basic 'Coastal Airlines' livery at Juneau Airport, August 1973. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1029-265.) |