VH-TFE. Fokker F.27-1002 Friendship. c/n 10120.
Was also registered as: G-SPUD; G-OMAN; G-BLFJ.
This was the fifth of six aircraft ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - March 09, 1956 Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FAP (CofR652) - May 20, 1959 Registered to NV Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker First flown as 'PH-FAP' - May 21, 1959 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TFE - June 04, 1959 Registered to Australian National Airline Commission, Melbourne Accepted by TAA at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - June 06, 1959 Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - June 07, 1959 It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - June 16, 1959 Flight crew: Captains E. Meredith, R. R. Hickey; Navigator R. Lauchland The aircraft was originally named 'Angus McMillan' but it was renamed ' Robert Burke' one day later Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - June 22, 1959 Operated its first revenue service - June 23, 1959 Leased to Guniea Airways - August 1959 to December 1959 Operated its final revenue service - November 04, 1965 Leased to the Department of Civil Aviation - March 1966 Accepted by the Department of Civil Aviation - March 23, 1966 Operated and maintained for the Deptment of Civil Aviation by Trans-Australia Airlines for navaid calibration Sold to Department of Civil Aviation - May 05, 1971 The aircraft had flown 16,009 hours at the time of sale The Department of Civil Aviation was renamed Department of Transport - June 07, 1974 Registered to Department of Transport Air Transport Group - June 07, 1974 Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Essendon) - June 01, 1977 The aircraft had flown 20,965 hours at this date Sold to Air Anglia Ltd - July 28, 1978 Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom - August 01, 1978 Arrived Norwich on completion of the ferry flight - August 14, 1978 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 18, 1978 Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-SPUD (CofR G-SPUD/R1) - January 31, 1979 Transferred to Air UK when Air Anglia merged - January 16, 1980 Wet-leased to Nile Delta Air Services - August 19, 1981 Registered to Air UK Ltd - February 04, 1982 Returned to Air UK at the end of the lease to Nile Delta - August 1982 Reregistered as G-OMAN (CofR G-OMAN/R1) - September 29, 1982 Leased to Manx Airlines Ltd - October 1982 Delivered to Manx at Ronaldsway Airport - October 08, 1982 Returned to Air UK at the end of the lease - March 04, 1984 The intended sale to Busy Bee, Norway did not eventuate - 1984 Reregistered as G-BLFJ (CofR G-BLFJ/R1) - 1985 Traded to Fokker Aircraft BV - March 25, 1994 Withdrawn from use at Norwich on handover to Fokker Aircraft BV at Norwich Airport - November 1994 Aircraft had flown 46,396 hours with 65,689 cycles Scrapped at Norwich Airport - December 1996 Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - January 06, 1997 |
PH-FAP. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the original livery on the Fokker production line at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, circa 1959. (Fokker Heritage Trust via H. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-552.) |
VH-TFE. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Robert Burke' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-055.) |
VH-TFE. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Robert Burke' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (J. Hopton Copyright Image 1993-153.) |
VH-TFE. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Robert Burke' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown. (E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1999-419.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - 'Robert Burke' in the basic T.A.A. livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1966. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1993-465.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-924.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1967. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-299.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-123.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 26, 1967. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1993-553.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Brisbane Eagle Farm Airport, May 1968. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-193.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1972. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-582.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Civil Aviation - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1973. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-583.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Transport - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1974. (G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-466.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Transport - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 19, 1978. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1999-926.) |
VH-TFE. Department of Transport - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 19, 1978. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1999-925.) |
G-SPUD. Air Anglia - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (H. K. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-579.) |
G-SPUD. Air Anglia - in the basic livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (H. K. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-580.) |
G-SPUD. Air UK - in the basic 'Air Anglia' livery at an unknown airport, October 1980. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-777.) |
G-SPUD. Air UK - in the basic 'Air Anglia' livery at Manchester Airport, June 1981. (G. Ditchfield Copyright Image 1999-857.) |
G-OMAN. Manx - in the standard livery at Manchester Airport, March 1983. (G. Ditchfield Copyright Image 1999-160.) |
G-BLFJ. Air UK - in the old livery at an unknown airport, December 1984. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-913.) |
G-BLFJ. Air UK - in the final livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, date unknown. (D. Meijer via H. K. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-581.) |