VH-FNE Fokker F.27-2013 Friendship

VH-FNE. Fokker F.27-2013 Friendship. c/n 10145.

This aircraft was ordered new by Ansett-A.N.A. for Queensland Airlines - June 28, 1958

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FBK - January 20, 1960

Registered to NV Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker

First flown as 'PH-FBK' - January 20, 1960

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-FNE - February 25, 1960

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

It was configured to seat 40 passengers

Accepted by Ansett-A.N.A. at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - February 25, 1960

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - February 26, 1960

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - March 04, 1960

Ferry route: Amsterdam - Rome - Athens - Beirut - Damascus - Bahrain - Karachi - Delhi - Calcutta - Bangkok -

Saigon - Zamboanga - Biak - Darwin - Alice Springs - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains R. Stapleton, E. Schumann, W. Ives; Navigator R. Wensor

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - March 07, 1960

The aircraft was named 'Sir Henry Abel Smith' by the Governor of Queensland - March 14, 1960

Flew its first revenue service - Brisbane - Maryborough - Bundaberg - Gladstone - Rockhamptom - March 14, 1960

Registered to Queensland Airlines Pty Ltd - February 14, 1961

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne - December 14, 1964

Ferried to Melbourne (Essendon) for repainting into the Airlines of N.S.W. livery - November 24, 1966

Leased to Airlines of N.S.W.

Returned to Ansett-A.N.A. - October 31, 1968

Leased to M.M.A. - March 12, 1969 to August 31, 1969

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne - November 25, 1969

Leased to M.M.A. - April 15 - 18, 1970 and June 29 to July 02, 1970

Operated its final revenue service Canberra - Melbourne (Essendon) as AN393 - March 25, 1971

It was destroyed in a hangar fire at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - March 25, 1971

The fuselage was gutted but the wings and engines were salvaged - arson was suspected but was never proved

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 25, 1971

Fuselage presented to the Melbourne Airport Fire Services and it survived until July 1986

The remains used as land fill

This aircraft had flown 27,989 hours with 39,944 cycles at the time of its demise

VH-FNE. QAL Queensland Airlines - in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 05, 1960.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1999-776.)

VH-FNE. QAL Queensland Airlines - 'Sir Henry Abel Smith' in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, March 14, 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-144.)

VH-FNE. QAL Queensland Airlines - 'Sir Henry Abel Smith' in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, March 14, 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-048.)

VH-FNE. QAL Queensland Airlines - 'Sir Henry Abel Smith' in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, March 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-057.)

VH-FNE. QAL Queensland Airlines - in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 16, 1964.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-026.)

VH-FNE. Airlines of N.S.W. - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 01, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-236.)

VH-FNE. Airlines of N.S.W. - in the revised livery at Moree Airport, October 1967.

VH-FNE. Airlines of N.S.W. - in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1967.

VH-FNE. Ansett-ANA. - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1968.

VH-FNE. Ansett-ANA. - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 21, 1970.

VH-FNE. Ansett-ANA. - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 03, 1971.

VH-FNE. Ansett-ANA. - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 26, 1971.

VH-FNE. Ansett-ANA. - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1971.

VH-FNE. Ansett-ANA. - at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1980.