VH-BRI. Sikorsky S-61N. c/n 61242. Was also registered as: VH-BHO; N116AZ. |
This aircraft was purchased new by Ansett-ANA - May 01, 1964 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BRI - September 10, 1964 Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne It was configured to seat 26 - 27 passengers It arrived aboard the ship S. S. Capo Blanco at the Melbourne Docks - November 02, 1964 This was the first twin-engined helicopter either civil or military to arrive in Australia It was transported by road to Melbourne (Essendon) for assembly Test flown at Melbourne (Essendon) in the Ansett-ANA livery (Captain Max Holyman) - November 27, 1964 Demonstration flights were made at Melbourne (Moorabbin) (Captain M. Holyman) - January 03, 1965 Ferried Melbourne (Essendon) - Brisbane - February 23 - 24, 1965 It was named 'Golden Islander' at Brisbane Airport by Qld Minister for Tourism Mr Herbert - March 01, 1965 Ferried Brisbane - Proserpine - March 01, 1965 Operated its first revenue service Proserpine - Hayman Island - March 06, 1965 Ansett-ANA changed its name to Ansett Airlines of Australia - November 01, 1968 Following its sister aircraft 'VH-BRH' entering service it was flown to Melbourne for upgrading and repainting Chartered to Bristow Helicopters (WA) Pty Ltd for oil exploration work near Wyndham - November 26, 1977 Returned to Ansett at the end of the lease - April 01, 1978 Ansett Airlines of Australia changed its name to Ansett - April 13, 1981 Operated its final revenue service Hayman Island - Proserpine - July 21, 1984 Departed Proserpine on the ferry flight to Melbourne (Tullamarine) - August 02, 1984 It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) for storage - August 03, 1984 It had flown 13,175 hours to date Test flown at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in an all-white livery - April 1986 The intended sale to Grecoair did not eventuate despite the aircraft acquiring the registration marks 'N116AZ' Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - May 08, 1986 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BHO - October 30, 1986 Registered to Barrack Aviation Services Pty Ltd, North Fremantle Officially sold to Barrack Aviation Services Pty Ltd - November 01, 1986 Used for passenger services Fremantle - Rottnest Island during the 'America Cup' regatta Had 'Island Hopper' titles applied to the uselage Withdrawn from use at Perth - March 1988 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 22, 1988 Sold to Carson Helicopters Inc, Perkasie, PA - April 1988 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N116AZ - ? Registered to Carson Services Inc, Jacksonville - October 05, 1994 Used by Helicopters Victoria for fire-fighting duties during the 2003 / 2004 bushfire seasonReturned to Carson Helicopters at end of lease It was observed at Banning, California - July 18, 2006 Registered to Aviation Worldwide Services LLC, Camden, NC - April 17, 2009 Registered to EP Aviation LLC, Wood Dale, Illinois - April 28, 2010 Observed at Banning, California - July 18, 2006 Current status - ? |
VH-BRI. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the standard 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1979. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1040-138.) |
VH-BRI. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the standard 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1979. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1040-266.) |
VH-BRI. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the standard 'delta' livery at Proserpine Airport, January 15, 1981. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-234.) |
VH-BRI. Ansett - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at an unknown airport, August 1983. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1040-235.) |