VH-TFJ. Fokker F.27-2002 Friendship. c/n 10135.
Was also registered as: P2-TFJ; P2-ANC; G-BLML; G-SOFS.
This was the fourth of five aircraft ordered new by Trans Australia Airlines - December 05, 1957 Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FBC (CofR681) - Ocober 05, 1959 Registered to NV Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker, Holland First flown as 'PH-FBC' - October 07, 1959 It was accepted by Trans Australia Airlines at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - October 21, 1959 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TFJ - October 21, 1959 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne Aircraft was named 'Fred Brockman' Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - October 21, 1959 It carried out a demonstration flight at Athens for Fokker - October 22, 1959 It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - October 30, 1959 Flight crew: Captains W. O. James, W .D. Young; Navigator W. A. J. Brown Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - October 30, 1959 Operated its first revenue service - November 07, 1959 Transferred to New Guinea operations - May 01, 1970 The aircraft was renamed 'Rabaul' - May 1970 Repainted into the 'blue tail' livery at Melbourne (Essendon) - May 1970 It was the 8th T.A.A. Friendship to be repainted into the new livery 'Airlines of New Guinea' titles were applied to the aircraft during the repainting Withdrawn by TAA Airlines of New Guinea at Port Moresby - October 31, 1973 Sold to Papua New Guinea National Airlines t/a Air Niugini - October 31, 1973 Registered to Papua New Guinea National Airlines, Port Moresby Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-TFJ - January 23, 1974 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 06, 1974 It had flown 27,805 hours with 27,335 cycles at date of cancellation Reregistered P2-ANC - December 02, 1975 Withdrawn from use and stored at Port Moresby - October 04, 1979 Returned to service - April 1980 Withdrawn from use and stored at Port Moresby - March 1984 Sold to Air UK - July 15, 1984 It arrived at Norwich on completion of the ferry flight - August 10, 1984 Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-BLML (CofR G-BLML/R1) - September 20, 1984 Leased to Rolls Poyce Pty Ltd for use as a testbed for the RR Dart 7 Mk-551/2 engines - May 08, 1985 Returned to Air UK at the end of the lease - July 1985 Sold to Nordic Oil Services Ltd - February 13, 1987 Sold to Department of Agriculture & Fisheries Protection Agency, Scotland - February 27, 1987 Registered to Department of Agriculture & Fisheries Protection Agency Reregistered as G-SOFS (CofR G-SOFS/R1) - February 27, 1987 Converted for maritime reconnaissance duties and rolled out - July 01, 1987 Operated by Harvest Air Ltd It operated its last flight and was flown to Southend for storage / sale - November 29, 1991 The aircraft was permanently withdrawn from use Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - December 03, 1991 Sold to Field Aircraft Services Ltd for spares - December 15, 1991 Parted out at Southend Airport by British Air Ferries Ltd - January 1992 It had flown 52,799 hours with 47,896 cycles |
VH-TFJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Fred Brockman' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (J. Hopton Copyright Image 1993-286.) |
VH-TFJ. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Fred Brockman' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-194.) |
P2-TFJ. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'Papua New Guinea National Airline' titles at Brisbane Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-577.) |
P2-ANC. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'Papua New Guinea National Airline' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1977. (G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-487.) |
P2-ANC. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'Papua New Guinea National Airline' titles at Port Moresby Airport, November 1977. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-072.) |
P2-ANC. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'Papua New Guinea National Airline' titles at Port Moresby Airport, January 1982. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-070.) |
P2-ANC. Air Niugini - in the basic livery at Port Moresby Airport, June 1984. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-071.) |
P2-ANC. Air Niugini - in the basic livery at Norwich Airport, August 04, 1984. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-488.) |
G-BLML. Air UK - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, August 1986. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-162.) |
G-SOFS. Scottish Fisheries - in the standard livery at Manchester Airport, August 1989. (G. Ditchfield Copyright Image 1999-915.) |