This aircraft was built for Scandinavian Airlines but was not taken up despite the registration 'SE-BDI' being reserved

Sold to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BPG - October 29, 1948

Registered to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Ltd, Melbourne

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - December 22, 1948

The aircraft was named 'Adventure'

Used on BCPA route Sydney - Auckland - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco - Vancouver

Chartered by A.N.A. to provide extra capacity at peak times - dates unknown

B.C.P.A. was liquidated in favour of Qantas Empire Airways operating the Trans Pacific route - March 31, 1954

B.C.P.A. was absorbed by Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - April 01, 1954

Most of B.C.P.A.'s staff and the three remain DC-6s were taken over by Qantas Empire Airways

This aircraft was transferred to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - May 1954

The transfer was made in lieu of payment for TEAL's shareholding in the liquidated B.C.P.A.

Sold to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - May 1954

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-BGB - May 13, 1954

Registered to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, Auckland

The aircraft was named 'Arawhata' (bridge)

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 17, 1954

Deployed on TEAL's route from Auckland and Christchurch to Nadi (Fiji) and Bora Bora (Tahiti)

Engaged in five return charter flights Sydney - Darwin - Manila - Iwakuni - Tokyo - from July 07, 1954

These flights were to support ANZAC troops based in Japan during the Korean War

Ferried Auckland - Hong Kong for wing skin modifications to allow an increased in payload by 2,000 lbs - mid 1956

Withdrawn from service and stored at Whenuapai following the arrival of the Lockheed Electras - 1959

Returned to service to cover the upgrade of the Lockheed Electras - late 1960

Repainted into the Lockheed Electra style livery before entering service

Withdrawn from service once the three Lockheed Electras had been returned to service

TEAL announced that this aircraft would be transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force - March 21, 1961

Transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force - May 12, 1961

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - May 16, 1961

Entered onto the New Zealand Military Aircraft Register as NZ3632 - May 16, 1961

Entered service with 40 Squadron - May 25, 1961

Departed Whenuapai on first Royal New Zealand overseas flight - May 30, 1961

Route: Whenuapai - Brisbane - Darwin - Changi (Singapore)

Flight crew: Captain P. Le Couteur (TEAL), Flight Lieutenant J. H. Baylis (RNZAF)

It arrived at SAuckland (Whenuapai) on completion of its first overseas detachment - June 07, 1961

The aircraft visited Mildenhall - January 1963

To read about its incredible 21 day return flight to New Zealand please click 'HERE'

Sold to Lamm Associates Inc - April 19, 1964

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N254N - April 19, 1964

Registered to Lamm Associates, Inc

Cancelled from the New Zealand Military Aircraft Register - April 19, 1964

Departed Whenuapai on the ferry flight to the United States - April 19, 1964

Sold to Pacific Western Airlines, Canada - March 13, 1965

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as CF-PWP - ?

Sold to Lamm Associates Inc, California - January 17, 1971

Sold to Mercer Airlines - April 03, 1971

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N80MA - ?

Sold to Aerial Applicators, Salt Lake City for use as a waterbomber - May 1972

Transferred to Sis-Q Flying Services - 1982

Transferred to Macavia International, California when Sis-Q was renamed - June 1985

Sold to T. & G. Aviation, Chandler, Arizona - February 1991

Sold to Pacific Harbour Capital, Portland, Oregon - February 1993

Sold to Barron Thomas Aviation, Wilmington, Delaware - November 1993

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - June 07, 1994

Sold to Air Transport Office, Kinshasha, Zaire

Entered onto the Zaire Aircraft Register as 9Q-CPL - ?

Entered onto the Liberian Aircraft Register as EL-WNH - ?

The aircraft was allegedly involved in clandestine smuggling flights during the war in the Congo

Aircraft abandoned at Lanseria, South Africa as of September 2002

The aircraft was observed basically intact but stored in a derelict condition at Lanseria Airport - 2013

ZK-BGB. T.E.A.L. - 'Arawhata' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, circa 1955.

(V. C. Browne Copyright Image 1125-735.)

ZK-BGB. T.E.A.L. - 'Arawhata' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, circa 1955.

(V. C. Browne Copyright Image 1125-694.)

ZK-BGB. T.E.A.L. - 'Arawhata' in the original livery at Auckland Whenuapai Airport, date unknown.

(A. J. Jackson Collection Copyright Image 1125-704.)

ZK-BGB. T.E.A.L. - 'Arawhata' in the original livery at Brisbane Eagle Farm Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-335.)

ZK-BGB. T.E.A.L. - 'Arawhata' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1958.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-166.)

NZ3632. Royal New Zealand Air Force - in the standard livery at Canton Island, February 1963.

(Col. R. Dickie Copyright Image 1125-701.)

N80MA. Aerial Applicators - in the original livery at Chandler Airport, August 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-259.)

N80MA. Sis-Q Flying Service - in the standard livery at Chandler Airport, February 1985.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-261.)

N80MA. Macavia - in the standard livery at Chandler Airport, October 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-555.)

N80MA. Macavia - in the standard livery at Chandler Airport, January 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-632.)

N80MA. Macavia - in the standard livery at Chandler Airport, December 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-552.)

N80MA. Macavia - in the standard livery at Chandler Airport, December 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-260.)

EL-WNH. Air Transport Office - in the basic livery at Lanseria Airport, September 1997.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-406.)

EL-WNH. Air Transport Office - in the basic livery at Lanseria Airport, September 1999.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-628.)

EL-WNH. Air Transport Office - in the revised livery with additional 'Vusumzi - I Am, We Are' titles at Lanseria Airport, September 2006.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-485.)

EL-WNH. Air Transport Office - in the revised livery with additional 'A Step Ahead' titles at Lanseria Airport, January 2007.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-507.)