This aircraft was built by Saab Aircraft AB, Linkoping, Sweden - 1986

First flown with test registration 'SE-E52' - March 21, 1986

It was originally allocated the Australia registration 'VH-KDI' but it was not taken up

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-KDP - April 30, 1986

Registered to Kendell Airlines (Australia) Pty Ltd, Wagga Wagga, Australia

Departed Linkoping on the delivery flight to Australia - May 01, 1986

It arrived at Wagga Wagga on completion of the delivery flight - May 06, 1986

The aircraft was named 'City of Broken Hill'

Operated its first revenue service - May 16, 1986

Kendell Airlines was purchased by TNT / News Ltd, the parent company of Ansett Airlines - June 1990

This aircraft was the first Kendell Saab to acquire the Ansett 'Flag' or 'Union Jack' livery - April 1994

The repainting was carried out by VH Aviation at Albury Airport

Ansett suspended all operations due to bankruptcy - September 13, 2001

Operated its last revenue service Port Lincoln - Adelaide (West Beach) as AN5445 - September 13, 2001

Withdrawn from service and stored at Adelaide (West Beach)

Returned to service under administration Adelaide (West Beach) - Port Lincoln as AN8592 - October 03, 2001

Kendell Airlines was sold to Australiawide Airlines operating as Regional Express Airlines (REX) - August 01, 2002

Operated its first revenue service with Regional Express Airlines (REX) - August 05, 2002

Registered to Australiawide Airlines Ltd t/a Regional Express Airlines - September 19, 2002

Operated its final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Wagga Wagga as ZL304 - February 08, 2003

It was then overhauled (C-check) at Wagga Wagga

Ferried Wagga Wagga - Albury for repainting into an all-white livery - April 22, 2003

Prepared for return to Saab and observed stored at Wagga Wagga - July 2003

Registered to Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd, Bankstown, N.S.W. - August 14, 2003

It was observed parked beside the Hawker Pacific hangar at Townsville - 2004

Sold to Saab Aircraft Leasing - May 2005

Departed Townsville on ferry flight to Linkoping (Sweden) - June 05, 2005

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 09, 2005

Converted to freighter configuration at Linkoping - July / August 2005

Lease / sold to RAF Avia, Riga, Latvia

Entered onto the Latvian Aircraft Register as YL-RAG - September 2005

Rolled out at Linkoping in the RAF Avia livery - September 19, 2005

Current with RAF Avia

VH-KDP. Kendell - in the original livery at Wagga Wagga Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1045-135.)