VH-ANX Douglas DC-3

VH-ANX. Douglas C-47A-65-DL. c/n 18949.

Was also registered as: 42-100486; N99131.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Long Beach plant - October 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-65-DL

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - October 19, 1943

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-100486'

Delivered to the 5th Air Force at Brisbane (Archerfield) - December 12, 1943

Operated by 40th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) as 'Cheeky Charlie' with nose number '32'

Operated by 6th TCS with the nose number 'W514'

Operated by 67th TCS and 68th TCS before being returned to 6th TCS at Tacloban

Withdrawn from use and transferred to the United States Foreign Disposals Commission - 1945

Sold to Australian National Airways - August 17, 1945

The aircraft had flown 3,012 hours

Ferried Manila - Melbourne (Essendon) for conversion to civilian standards - ?

During the overhaul it was converted to a DC-3C with seating for 21 passengers

It had been excluded from USAAF inventory due to its sale to ANA

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ANX (CofR 853) - December 17, 1945

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Tarrana' (kangaroo)

Registered as DC-3C-G202A as it had been fitted with Wright GR-1820-G202A cyclone engines - July 31, 1950

It was utilised by Butler Air Transport for short periods but exact details are unknown

Converted to a freighter configuration - 1957

Registered to Ansett-ANA - October 1957

Commenced weekly Ansett-ANA freight services between Cairns - Port Moresby - March 10, 1966

Leased to Airlines of South Australia - 1967

Withdrawn from service at Melbourne (Essendon) - May 09, 1968

Reregistered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne - December 18, 1969

Sold to MMA - March 01, 1970

Delivered to MMA at Perth in the freighter configuration - March 03, 1970

Used by MMA to mainly transport spare engines around the state as required

By 1971 MMA had no pilots that were DC-3 rated and Ansett pilots had to be flown to Perth when needed

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd - March 12, 1972

It acquired the Australian Aircraft Sales 'logo' on the basic Ansett 'delta' livery

Ferried Perth - Melbourne (Essendon) for storage - March 12 - 15, 1972

Registered to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd, Sydney - April 19, 1972

Prepared for sale to Inter Island Transfer (Hawaii) Inc

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N99131 - June 15, 1972

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to Honolulu - August 27, 1972

It arrived at Honolulu on completion of the ferry flight - August 30, 1972

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 30, 1972

Registered to Inter Island Transfer (Hawaii) Inc - December 1973

Inter Island Transfer had contracts to carry outsized tourist's baggage to island resorts

Transferred to Honolulu Leasing - June 1975

Leased to Genavco Corp for cargo operations - April 1976

The aircraft was named 'Tyranna'

It was observed in a derelict condition at Honolulu Airport - September 1977

Registered to Genavco Corporation - March 15, 1978

It was observed undergoing restoration at Honolulu - September 1983

Operated by Aloha Airlines Inc to celebrate that airline's 40th Anniversary - April 1988

It had flown more than 51,000 hours by this date

It was observed at Honolulu with Air Venezuela titles as 'YVP-2PL4' - May 2001

Genavco was acquired by Kamaka Air Inc - 2003

Withdrawn from use and stored at Honolulu - April 2004

Registered to Kamaka Air Inc - April 11, 2004

Advertised for sale at Honolulu Airport - April 28, 2004

Operated final revenue service - ?

Withdrawn from use and stored at Honolulu - ?

Pacific Aviation Museum, Pearl Harbour expressed an interest in acquiring aircraft for preservation - September 2010

The aircraft was donated to the Pacific Aviation Museum - ?

Ownership transferred to Pacific Aviation Museum - ?

Dismantled at Honolulu Airport in preparation for road transportation to the Museum - April 2012

Towed from Honolulu Airport to Ford Island by Hawaii Military Vehicle Preservation Association - April 14, 2012

The final journey took approximately 45 minutes

The aircraft to be completely repainted into its former U. S. A. A. F. livery for display

Anticipated display date - late Spring 2013

VH-ANX. Australian National Airways - 'Tarrana' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1955.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-828.)

VH-ANX. Australian National Airways - 'Tarrana' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1955.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-799.)

VH-ANX. Ansett-ANA - in the 'Cargoliner' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-170.)

VH-ANX. Ansett-ANA - in the 'Cargoliner' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-172.)

VH-ANX. Ansett-ANA - in the 'Cargoliner' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1967.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0250-849.)

VH-ANX. Ansett-ANA - in the 'Cargoliner' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1967.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 0250-447.)

VH-ANX. Ansett-ANA - in the 'Cargoliner' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 11, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-998.)

VH-ANX. Ansett-ANA - in the 'Cargoliner' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 21, 1970.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0250-905.)

VH-ANX. A.A.S. - in the basic Ansett 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1972.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-273.)

VH-ANX. A.A.S. - in the basic Ansett 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-812.)

VH-ANX. A.A.S. - in the basic Ansett 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-008.)

N99131. A.A.S. - in the basic Ansett 'delta' livery at Honolulu Airport, October 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-995.)

N99131. Genavco - in the basic Ansett 'delta' livery at Honolulu Airport, August 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-686.)

N99131. Genavco Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Honolulu Airport, April 1985.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-564.)

N99131. TPA Aloha Airlines - in the modified 'Genavco' livery at Honolulu Airport, April 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-996.)

N99131. Genavco Air Cargo - in the modified livery at Honolulu Airport, April 1991.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-386.)

N99131. Genavco Air Cargo - in the modified livery at Honolulu Airport, November 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-384.)