VH-TGI. de Havilland Canada DHC-6-320 Twin Otter. c/n 283.
Was also registered as: N616BA; HB-LSY; SX-BVP; D-IBVP; 8Q-MBD.
This aircraft was originally ordered new by TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - ? Built by de Havilland Canada at Downsview, Ontario, Canada Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as 'N8339' - ? Rolled out at Downsview as 'N8339' - June 1970 First flown at Downsview as 'N8339' - July 1970 Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines Handed over to Air Capital International, Augusta, KS as the ferry contractor for T. A .A. - July 10, 1970 Departed Downsview on the ferry flight to Australia - July 1970 It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - August 05, 1970 Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - August 1970 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TGI - August 26, 1970 Registered to Australian National Airways Commission, Melbourne Transferred to Trans-Australian Airlines of Papua New Guinea - August 27, 1970 The aircraft was named 'Bulolo' Operated its final TAA Airlines of PNG revenue service Goroka - Port Moresby - July 03, 1973 Departed Port Moresby on the ferry flight to Brisbane - July 07, 1973 It arrived at Brisbane on completion of the ferry flight - July 09, 1973 Ferry route: Port Moresby - Cairns - Mackay - Rockhampton - Brisbane Returned to service on Trans-Australia Airlines mainland routes - September 20, 1973 The aircraft was renamed 'George Grey' The aircraft was sold to Bush Pilots Airways, Cairns - November 14, 1980 Bush Pilots Airways was renamed Air Queensland - December 01, 1981 Air Queensland was 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'Australian Regional' titles Australian Regional Airlines merged with Sunstate Airlines, Brisbane - October 01, 1993 Withdrawn from service and advertised for sale - 1998 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N616BA - October 16, 1998 Registered to Adam Schmid, Hamilton, Victoria It was observed at Brisbane as 'N616BA' - October 16, 1998 Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - no date can be found Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TGI - October 20, 1998 Departed Brisbane on the ferry flight to Malta for overhaul by NCA - October 20, 1998 It arrived at Malta on completion of the ferry flight - October 28, 1998 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 14, 1998 Entered onto the Swiss Aircraft Register as HB-LSY - December 15, 1998 Registered to Topscore Management, Geneva, Switzerland The aircraft was test flown at Malta in the 'Benavia' livery with Air Algerie titles - February 09, 1999 Transferred to Benavia Special Air Operation, Geneva, Switzerland - February 1999 Returned to Topscore Management, Geneva - January 30, 2002 Sold / leased to Pegasus Aviation t/a Air Sea Lines, Gouvia, Corfu - October 2004 Cancelled from the Swiss Aircraft Register - ? Entered onto the Greek Aircraft Register as SX-BVP - February 03, 2005 Registered to Pegasus Aviation, Corfu Ferried to Altenrhein for maintenance - April 2009 Air Sea Lines ceased all operations due to financial difficulties - July 01, 2009 The aircraft did not return to Greece Cancelled from the Greek Aircraft Register - ? Entered onto the German Aircraft Register as D-IBVP - August 26, 2010 Registered to Seaplane Holdings A/S, Vedbaek, Denmark Departed Switzerland on the ferry flight to the Maldives via Muscat (Oman) - September 06, 2010 Cancelled from the German Aircraft Register - ? Entered onto the Maldives Aircraft Register as 8Q-MBD - September 28, 2010 Registered to Seaplane Holdings A/S, Vedbaek, Denmark Leased to Maldivian Air Taxi, Male as the registered operator Maldivian Air Taxi merged with Trans Maldivian Airways, Male - August 01, 2013 Current with Trans Maldivian Airways |
N8339. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, July 1970. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-356.) |
VH-TGI. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-411.) |
VH-TGI. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-054.) |
VH-TGI. BPA - in the standard livery at Mackay Airport, January 16, 1981. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-448.) |
VH-TGI. BPA - in the standard livery at Rockhampton Airport, November 1981. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-412.) |
VH-TGI. Air Queensland - in the basic Trans Australia livery at Cairns Airport, August 1987. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-828.) |
VH-TGI. Sunstate - in the Qantas livery at an unknown airport, March 1998. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-867.) |
VH-TGI. Sunstate - in the Qantas livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1998. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-879.) |