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VH-CLT. de Havilland DH-114-2E Heron. c/n 14071.
This aircraft was built at Chester as a Heron 2E for the Indian Airlines Corporation Accepted at Chester by Indian Airlines - July 1955 It was configured to seat 14 passengers Entered onto the Indian Aircraft Register as VT-DHI - July 15, 1955 Sold to Banwarilal, India - May 1961 Sold to Connellan Airways - March 27, 1963 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-CLT - March 29, 1963 Registered to Connellan Airways Ltd, Alice Springs Arrived Alice Springs on completion of the ferry flight - April 05, 1963 Used initially for crew training The aircraft was named 'John McEwen' Ferried Alice Springs - Sydney (Bankstown) for overhaul and mandatory modification work - July 06, 1963 This work was carried out by Hawker de Havilland Australia Converted to Heron 2E/A1 standard by having Lycoming engines installed - November - December, 1969 It was the first Connellan Heron to be converted taking some 2,000 manhours and costing approx. $100,000 Registered to Connair Pty Ltd following company's change of name - July 11, 1970 It was on the ground at Darwin Airport when Cyclone Tracy struck - December 24, 1974 It suffered only minor damage and was returned to operations the next day Registered to Northern Airlines following the purchase of Connair by East West Airlines - June 02, 1980 Commenced operations under this title - June 09, 1980 Northern Airlines ceased operations - February 06, 1981 The aircraft was stored at Alice Springs Airport Sold to Southern Airlines Pty Ltd - August 05, 1981 Southern Airlines ceased operations due to financial difficulties - 1983 Sold at auction to Airlines of Tasmania - 1983 Ferried Adelaide (Parafield) - Melbourne (Essendon) - Launceston on delivery to Airlines of Tasmania - March 19, 1983 The aircraft was named 'Spirit of Bass Strait' - March 29, 1983 Withdrawn from use and stored at Launceston Airport - June 1989 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 22, 1989 Scrapped on site with cabin reportedly used as a 'hunting lodge' in the hills west of Woodbury, Tasmania |
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VH-CLT. Connellan Airways - 'John McEwen' in the standard livery at Darwin Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-810.) |
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VH-CLT. Connair - in the standard livery at Alice Springs Airport, August 1971. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-944.) |
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VH-CLT. Connair - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, June 1976. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-809.) |
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VH-CLT. Southern - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, December 1982. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-005.) |
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VH-CLT. Airlines of Tasman - 'Spirit of Bass Strait' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1984. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-943.) |
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VH-CLT. Airlines of Tasman - 'Spirit of Bass Strait' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1985. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1920-895.) |