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VH-INA. Douglas DC-6B. c/n 44893-647. Was also registered as: N37569; B-2003; C-GHCB. |
This aircraft was delivered new to United Airlines Inc as N37569 - January 11, 1956 It was named 'Mainliner Diamond Head' Sold to United States Overseas Airlines - June 02, 1960 The intended sale to Compania Dominicana de Aviacion SA (C.D.A.) did not eventuate - September 1963 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-INA - November 15, 1963 Registered to Ansett-ANA, Melbourne Accepted by Ansett-ANA and departed Los Angeles on the delivery flight to Australia - November 18, 1963 It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - November 22, 1963 Delivery route: Los Angeles - Honolulu - Nadi - Melbourne Entered service with Ansett-ANA - December 13, 1963 Was originally configured with 58 seats but this was later increased to 60 seats Was involved in mid-air emergency whilst operating the Melbourne - Adelaide service as AN216 - April 14, 1964 Just after lift-off a blade from No.3 engine detached, wrenching engine from its upper mountings Pilot (Captain Keith Hants) was advised that a landing with the engine hanging down was not safe The dmaged engine was subjected to various air-loads to dislodge it over Port Philip Bay which were successful Flight crew: Captain K. Hants; F/O R. Gordon; F/E B. Clarke; F/O M. Bax; Hostesses J. Murphy, M. Harper The aircraft was carrying 57 passengers The aircraft was repaired and returned to service Chartered by the Royal Australian Air Force - December 28 - 30, 1965 Operated final revenue service - May 29, 1966 Placed in open storage at Melbourne (Essendon) Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport (FEAT) via Australian Aircraft Sales - December 16, 1966 Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to Taiwan - March 10, 1967 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 12, 1967 Entered onto the Taiwanese Aircraft Register as B-2003 - March 1967 Leased to Air Vietnam - dates unknown Sold to Bellomy-Lawson Aviation - July 1973 Converted to DC-6BF configuration - November 1973 Sold to Conair Aviation, Canada for use as a water-bomber - December 20, 1973 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N62876 - January 07, 1974 Registered to Richard E. Froy Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - January 11, 1974 Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GHCB - January 11, 1974 Registered to Conair Aviation Limited, Abbotsford, British Colomobia, Canada Registered to Conair Group Limited, Abbotsford, British Colombia - September 24, 1991 Conair was contracted to undertake aerial spraying in New Zealand under the name 'Operation Evergreen' - 1996 Contract was to eradicate white spotted tussock moth over Auckland's suburbs over a 6 week period Aircraft was fitted with seven 2,020 litre tanks that had been salvaged from former USAF KC-97 tankers Was also fitted with a differential GPS system to provide accurate navigation whilst spraying This system showed if pilots strayed off course by as much as one metre Aerial spraying was to be carried out only 150 feet above the ground at a speed of 200 knots It arrived at Auckland on completion of the ferry flight - September 29, 1996 Ferry route: Abbotsford - Oakland - Honolulu - Pago Pago - Auckland Ferried Auckland - Abbotsford - ? Flown to Abbotsford (Slave Lake) by Captain D. Fair and F/O D. Trachsel for storage - August 30, 1999 Withdrawn from use and stored at Abbotsford having flown 33,726 hours It was observed at Abbotsford with No. 3 and 4 engines missing - April 09, 2002 Aircraft was used to supply spare parts to keep Conair's other DC-6s airworthy Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register – July 21, 2009 Broken up shortly there after at Abbotsford, British Colombia |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-049.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 14, 1964. The aircraft is missing the Number 3 engine. (A. Fraser Copyright Image 1125-312.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 14, 1964. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-052.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 14, 1964. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-050.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 14, 1964. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-051.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 14, 1964. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-053.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 14, 1964. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-054.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of the damaged engine bay. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-716.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of the damaged engine bay. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-717.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of the broken engine mount. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-718.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of some of the engine parts. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-719.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 The destroyed propellor hub. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-720.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of one badly damaged engine. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-721.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of one badly damaged engine. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-723.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of one badly damaged engine. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-724.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1964 A close-up view of some of the broken engine parts. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-722.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-108.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Launceston Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-163.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-419.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-420.) |
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VH-INA. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 14, 1966. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-106.) |
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C-GHCB. Conair Aviation Ltd - in the original livery at Abbotsford Airport, April 1976. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-254.) |
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C-GHCB. Conair Aviation Ltd - in the revised livery at Abbotsford Airport, September 1982. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-253.) |
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C-GHCB. Conair - in the final livery at Abbotsford Airport, September 1988. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-255.) |
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C-GHCB. Conair - in the final livery at Abbotsford Airport, May 1989. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-256.) |
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C-GHCB. Conair - in the final livery at Abbotsford Airport, date unknown. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-405.) |
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C-GHCB. Conair - in the final livery at Abbotsford Airport, December 1996. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-404.) |