VH-TAK. Douglas C-47A-25-DK. c/n 13338.

Was also registered as: A65-52.

 

Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - May 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-25-DK

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - ?

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-108949'

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the lend / lease agreement - June 04, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-52

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCIJ'

Allocated to No 38 and No 34 Squadrons during the war

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - September 25, 1946

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAK - December 05, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Evans' but it was later renamed 'Burke' and then 'Cobb'

The entrance door was modified to permit mail and supplies to be dropped in flight - December 1957

This requirement was especially useful during the Queensland wet season

It was one of four aircraft modified for this role with the test flights carried out at Mangalore, Victoria

Chartered by the Victorian Department of Lands & Survey on an 'ad hoc' basis from August 05, 1961

Utilised to drop 100,000 poisoned baits in the forest areas of North East Victoria

Known crew: Capt K. V. Lynch; First Officer D. B. Porritt

It was converted to 'Viewmaster' configuration and transferred to Papua New Guinea - 1966

Registered to Trans-Australia Airlines - March 08, 1971

Operated its final T.A.A. revenue service - August 16, 1971

Withdrawn from use and stored pending sale but considered uneconomical to restore to airworthy status

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 20, 1974

Sold to Forrestair Cargo Pty Ltd

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAK - January 06, 1975

Registered to Forrester Stephen Pty Ltd, Victoria

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 08, 1975

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAK - April 04, 1975

Registered to Forrester Stephen Pty Ltd, Victoria

Commenced services with Forrestair Cargo as a freighter

The aircraft was named 'Peter Sleigh'

Withdrawn from use due to the high operational costs shortly before the company ceased flying

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 14, 1978

Sold to A. Encell - October 1979

It was intended to be operated by Cranways Pty Ltd trading as General Cargo Australia

The aircraft did not return to service and was scrapped

 

 

VH-TAK. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Evans' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. College Copyright Image 0250-630.)

VH-TAK. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Evans' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. College Copyright Image 0250-670.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-823.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-337.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Wagga Wagga Airport, January 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-278.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, December 29, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-276.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-277.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-741.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-457.)

VH-TAK. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0250-985.)

VH-TAK. TAA - 'Cobb' in the basic livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1975.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-323.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - 'Peter Sleigh' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-801.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - 'Peter Sleigh' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 1975.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-182.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - 'Peter Sleigh' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 1975.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-799.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - 'Peter Sleigh' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1976.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-181.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - 'Peter Sleigh' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-463.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair Cargo - 'Peter Sleigh' in the revised livery with additional 'On Charter To Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1977.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-183.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair Cargo - 'Peter Sleigh' in the revised livery with additional 'On Charter To Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 11, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-743.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair Cargo - 'Peter Sleigh' in the revised livery with additional 'On Charter To Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 12, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-800.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair Cargo - 'Peter Sleigh' in the revised livery with additional 'On Charter To Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 12, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-744.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair Cargo - 'Peter Sleigh' in the revised livery with additional 'On Charter To Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-184.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - in the partial livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-742.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - in the all-metal livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-185.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - in the all-metal livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 24, 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-186.)

VH-TAK. Forrestair - the few remains at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-187.)