This aircraft was ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - November 10, 1964

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FIB (CofR1083) - September 24, 1965

Registered to NV Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker

First flown as 'PH-FIB' - September 27, 1965

Accepted by Trans-Australia Airlines at Amsterdam (Schiphol) October 11, 1965

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TFL - October 11, 1965

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - October 12, 1965

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - October 12, 1965

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - October 19, 1965

The aircraft was originally named 'Robert Burke' but it was renamed 'William Lawson'

Operated its first revenue service - November 14, 1965

Repainted into the 'blue tail' livery at Melbourne (Essendon) - January 1971

It was the 17th T.A.A. Friendship to be repainted into the new livery

Transferred to New Guinea operations in 1972 but moved back to the mainland - July 13, 1973

It was chartered by the Queensland Branch of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia - June 10, 1979

Used to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the first trans-Pacific flight by Charles Kingsford Smith

It re-enacted the first Australian landfall of the 'Southern Cross' over Ballina, N.S.W.

Sold to East-West Airlines as VH-TFL - November 22, 1981

Delivered to East-West at Tamworth - November 30, 1981

Registered to East-West Airlines (Operations) Pty Ltd - February 26, 1982

Withdrawn from service at Tamworth - September 11, 1984

Sold to Fokker BV

Departed Tamworth on the ferry flight to The Netherland - September 27, 1984

It arrived at Amsterdam (Schiphol) on completion of the ferry flight - October 03, 1984

Ferried Amsterdam (Schiphol) - Ypenburg for storage - October 04, 1984

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 02, 1984

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FIB - November 08, 1985

Registered to Fokker BV

Sold to Fokker Aircraft USA, Inc - November 19, 1985

Sold to Mesaba Aviation, Inc - November 19, 1985

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N268MA - November 20, 1985

Export Certificate of Airworthiness (E887) was issued - November 21, 1985

Departed Ypenburg on the delivery flight to Mesaba Aviation t/a Northwest Orient Airlink - November 22, 1985

Withdrawn from use and stored at McCarran Field, Las Vegas - April 01, 1994

Ferried to Hamilton Airport, Tucson, AZ for storage - October 24, 1994

Sold to Airways Aviation Centre - July 31, 1995

Sold to Eagle Jet Charter inc - July 29, 1996

Parting out commenced at McCarran Field, Las Vegas - July 31, 1996

It was used as a source of spare parts for the airline's other Friendships

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - September 10, 1997

It had flown 53,946 hours with 60,602 cycles

The fuselage was donated to the Fire Academy, Elko, Nevada - 1997

VH-TFL. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'William Lawson' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-259.)

VH-TFL. TAA - 'William Lawson' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 1993-038.)

VH-TFL. TAA - 'William Lawson' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 1999-423.)

VH-TFL. TAA - 'William Lawson' in the revised livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, October 13, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-624.)

VH-TFL. TAA - 'William Lawson' in the revised livery at Mt Isa Airport, January 03, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1999-994.)

VH-TFL. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Lawson' in the final livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1999-993.)

VH-TFL. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Lawson' in the final livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1978.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-485.)

VH-TFL. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Lawson' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1999-961.)

VH-TFL. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Lawson' in the final livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, June 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-634.)

VH-TFL. East-West - in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, January 24, 1982.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 1999-437.)

VH-TFL. East-West - in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, January 24, 1982.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 1999-438.)

VH-TFL. East-West - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-486.)

VH-TFL. East-West - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-315.)

N268MA. Northwest Orient Airlink - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, May 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-006.)

N268MA. Northwest Orient Airlink - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-337.)

N268MA. Northwest Orient Airlink - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, June 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-007.)

N268MA. Northwest Airlink - in the standard livery at McCarran Field, November 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-533.)