VH-TGF. de Havilland Canada DHC-6-320 Twin Otter. c/n 270.
It was also registered as: VH-UQR.
This aircraft was originally ordered new by TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - ? Built by de Havilland Canada at Downsview, Ontario, Canada Rolled out at Downsview - November 27, 1969 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as 'N93995' - 1969 The registration marks were incorrectly painted on the aircraft as 'N9399S' but were rectified First flown at Downsview as 'N93995' - December 06, 1969 Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines Handed over to Air Capital International, Augusta, KS as the ferry contractor for T.A.A. - December 23, 1969 Departed Downsview on the ferry flight to Australia - December 1969 Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - February 02, 1970 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TGF - February 14, 1970 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne Transferred to Trans-Australian Airlines of Papua New Guinea - February 18, 1970 The aircraft was named 'Samarai' It was badly damaged in a hard landing accident at Mount Hagen - July 26, 1971 It was repaired in New Guinea and returned to service Operated its final TAA Airlines of PNG service Mount Hagen - Lae - September 24, 1973 Ferried Lae - Thursday Island - Cairns - McKay - Brisbane - September 27, 1973 Ferried Brisbane - Dalby for maintenance - October 01, 1973 Rolled out at Dalby in the new livery - November 03, 1973 The aircraft was renamed 'John Gould' Leased to Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service, Darwin in the standard T.A.A. livery - April 30, 1975 Returned to T.A.A. at the end of the lease at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - October 1980 Leased to Bush Pilots Airways, Cairns - November 20, 1980 Bush Pilots changed its name to Air Queensland - December 01, 1981 Air Queensland was acquired and merged with Australian Airlines - April 30, 1988 The aircraft was repainted into basic Australian Airlines livery and operated with 'Australian Regional' titles Australian Regional Airlines merged with Sunstate Airlines, Brisbane - October 01, 1993 Operated its final Sunstate Airlines revenue service Lizard Island - Cairns - October 20, 1998 The aircraft was reregistered as VH-UQR - July 07, 1999 Registered to Transtate Airlines, Archerfield, Queensland Registered to Macair Airlines, Archerfield, Queensland - December 13, 2000 The aircraft was withdrawn from use and advertised for sale - 2001 Sold to Kevin McCole, Hookset, NH, United States - September 27, 2001 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 27, 2001 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-UQR - October 25, 2001 Registered to Macair Airlines, Archerfield, Queensland The aircraft remained stored at Cairns Departed Cairns on the ferry flight to the United States - April 10, 2002 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 05, 2002 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N270CM - June 18, 2002 Registered to Kevin McCole, Hookset, NH t/a Orion Aviation. Hookset, NH Departed the United States on the ferry flight to the Maldives - May 04, 2006 Arrived the Maldives on completion of the ferry flight - May 07, 2006 Ferry route: Louisburg - Sanford - St Johns - Santa Maria - Almeria - Heraklion - Maldives Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - May 25, 2006 Entered onto the Maldives Aircraft Register as 8Q-TMR - May 30, 2006 Registered to Hummingbird Island Airlines, Grand Cayman Leased to Trans Maldivian Airways, Male as the registered operator Current with Trans Maldivian Airways |
VH-TGF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1979. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-413.) |
VH-TGF. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 03, 1983. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1920-914.) |
VH-TGF. Air Queensland - in the basic Trans Australia livery at Cairns Airport, May 1986. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-874.) |
VH-TGF. Air Queensland - in the basic Trans Australia livery at Brisbane Airport, August 1987. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-827.) |
VH-TGF. Sunstate - in the basic Qantas livery at Brisbane Airport, March 1999. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-915.) |
VH-UQR. Transtate - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, September 1999. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-875.) |
VH-UQR. Macair - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, December 2001. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-851.) |