VH-ABR Douglas DC-3

VH-ABR. Douglas DC-3-232A. c/n 2029.

Was also registered as: A30-3.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Long Beach, California plant - September 01, 1938

It was built as a Douglas DC-3-232A with Wright Cyclone engines

Purchased new by Australian National Airways for $A 64,800

Transported to Australia as deck cargo on the ship S. S. Clydebank arriving Port Melbourne - October 17, 1938

This was the third DC-3 to be imported into Australia

It was assembled at Essendon Airport and first flown by Captain P. T. L. Taylor - October 29, 1938

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ABR - October 31, 1938

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Kanana' (quiet)

Originally configured to seat 21 passengers (7 windows) but later converted to seat 28 passengers (8 windows)

Operated its first revenue service - October 31, 1938

Chartered by the Australian Commonwealth Government for use by the R. A. A. F. - September 10, 1939

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 11, 1939

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A30-3

Issued to No 8 Squadron, Canberra - September 15, 1939

It was operated in full camouflage markings

Returned to A .N. A. - May 1940

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ABR - May 17, 1940

It was damaged during a forced landing at Forrest, W.A. when both engines failed on take-off - February 01, 1942

It was involved in a wheels-up landing at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - September 30, 1943

Damaged on take-off from Mildura Airport when engine failed and the undercarriage collapsed - December 13, 1947

It was extensively damaged in forced landing 6 km south of Browning following an engine fire - October 04, 1948

It was operating the daily Melbourne (Essendon) - Deniliquin - Griffith - Narrandera - Wagga Wagga - Sydney service

The Pilot In Command (P.I.C) Captain A. Hubbard was sacked by the airline

It was dismantled on site and trucked to Melbourne (Essendon) for rebuilding and returned to service

Registered to Ansett-ANA - June 10, 1961

Repainted into Airlines of South Australia livery at Melbourne (Essendon) - October 14, 1961

Registered to Airlines of South Australia - December 14, 1961

Operated its final A .S. A. service Adelaide (West Beach) - Kingscote - Adelaide (Captain J. O'Hagen) - March 13, 1971

The aircraft had flown 67,224 hours to date

Ferried Adelaide (Wesrt Beach) - Melbourne (Essendon) for storage - March 15, 1971

Returned to service following loss of Friendship 'VH-FNE' in the Melbourne hangar fire - April 01, 1971

Operated an A.S.A. charter service Adelaide - Bathurst - Griffith - Adelaide - October 03 / 04, 1971

Ferried to Melbourne (Essendon) for storage - October 05, 1971

Returned to service with Ansett Airlines of Australia - December 1971

Operated its final scheduled revenue service - December 27, 1972

Aircraft was then used for various charter flights - December 1972 - July 1975

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 13, 1975

Placed in storage inside Hangar 151 at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport

Transported by road to Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport - August 30, 1981

Placed on display outside the Ansett maintenance facility in the standard Ansett 'delta' livery

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ABR - September 20, 1988

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Utilised for special flight only - September 24, 1988

Repainted in A. N. A. livery but it later acquired an early Ansett Airways livery

Used for occasional special ad-hoc charter flights and visits to airshows

Had flown 67,950 hours as of August 03, 1996

Registered to R. M. Ansett Historical Aircraft Society, Melbourne - January 21, 2008

Ownership was transferred to Paul Little, owner of Melbourne Aviation Precinct (MAP) - February 2015

This agreement was predicated on the understanding that the aircraft was to be restored to its

original serviceable condition

Current status - ?

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1956.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-181.)

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1956.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-836.)

VH-ABR. Ansett-A.N.A. - 'Kanana' in the revised A.N.A. livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-535.)

VH-ABR. Ansett-A.N.A. - 'Kanana' in the revised A.N.A. livery with 'Skyliner' tail titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-534.)

VH-ABR. Airlines of South Australia - in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, December 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-515.)

VH-ABR. Airlines of South Australia - in the standard livery at Swan Hill Airport, June 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-254.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1972.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-514.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at King Island Airport, October 21, 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-510.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-767.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-498.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-255.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1973.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-497.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0250-883.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0250-882.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0250-881.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0250-884.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airlines Of Australia - 'Kanana' in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1984.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-003.)

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-001.)

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-507.)

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-509.)

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-715.)

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the original livery at an unknown airport, September 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-508.)

VH-ABR. Australian National Airways - 'Kanana' in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-002.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airways - 'Kanana' in an early style livery with additional 'ANA' logo at an unknown airport, February 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-511.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airways - 'Kanana' in an early style livery at Brisbane Airport, September 1997.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-513.)

VH-ABR. Ansett Airways - 'Kanana' in an early style livery at Brisbane Airport, September 1997.