VH-TBA. Douglas DC-6. c/n 42900-149.
Was also registered as: PH-TPW; PH-DPW; PJ-DPW; HC-AIT; N8703A.
This aircraft was built for Koninklijke Luchvart Maatschaappij (K.L.M.) Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-TPW - October 01, 1949 Leased to Trans-Australia Airlines - December 04, 1953 to March 11, 1954 This lease was to cover the withdrawal of two CV-240s for use on the Royal Tour of 1954 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TBA - December 14, 1953 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne The aircraft was named 'Abel Tasman' Operated its first revenue service - December 18, 1953 It was mainly utilised on the Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne - Launceston route Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 22, 1954 Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-DPW - April 07, 1954 Transferred to K.L.M.'s West Indies division as PJ-DPW - 1958 Returned to K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airlines - August 27, 1963 Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-DPW - August 1963 An intended sale to Linn Aeronautica S.A. did not eventuate Leased to Ecuatoriana - September 15, 1965 Entered onto the Ecuadorian Aircraft Register as HC-AIT - September 1965 Sold to Federick B. Ayer - November 1967 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N8703A - ? Sold to Miami Aviation Corp - December 26, 1967 Sold to Aircraft Modifications - January 15, 1970 Stipped of parts and scrapped - January 1970 |
VH-TBA. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Abel Tasman' in the standard livery at an unknown location, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-150.) |