VH-NLS Fokker F.27-1001 Friendship

This aircraft was ordered new by Aer Lingus - June 27, 1956

First flown as 'PH-FAA' - May 23, 1958

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FAA - June 02, 1958

Registered to NV Kon. Ned Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker (CofR 619)

This aircraft was involved in the F.27 Certification process making a total of 52 flights

Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued - November 14, 1958

Delivered to Aer Lingus - November 19, 1958

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - November 19, 1958

This was the first Fokker Friendship to be delivered to an airline

Entered onto the Irish Aircraft Register as EI-AKA - November 19, 1958

The aircraft was named 'St. Fintan'

It was badly damaged in a landing accident at Glasgow (Renfrew) - December 22, 1959

Sold to Aeroben Ltd and leased back to Aer Lingus - April 28, 1965

Withdrawn from use - June 1966

Cancelled from the Irish Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register (CofR 1209) as PH-FSF - June 08, 1966

Registered to NV Kon. Ned Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker

Ferried Dublin - Amsterdam (Schiphol) - June 12, 1966

Converted to a Fokker F.27-1113 - June 1966

Sold to National Airways Corporation, New Zealand - June 19, 1966

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-NAH - July 19, 1966

Registered to New Zealand Airways Corporation, Wellington, New Zealand

The aircraft was named ' Kawatere' (parakeet)

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - July 27, 1966

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to New Zealand - July 27, 1966

Ownership transferred to Air New Zealand - April 01, 1978

Withdrawn from use and stored at Christchurch - September 01, 1981

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd - October 24, 1981

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - November 14, 1983

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-NLS - January 12, 1984

Registered to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd, Sydney

It was placed in open storage at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Sold to Charter Cruise Air Ltd - October 31, 1984

Registered to Charter Cruise Air Pty Ltd - December 27, 1984

Commenced operations with Charter Cruise Air t/a Aircruising Australia - April 26, 1985

Leased to Eastern Australia Airlines Pty Ltd - March 25, 1993

Returned to Charter Cruise Air at the end of the lease - April 22, 1993

Withdrawn from use and stored at Brisbane - March 02, 1994

Registered to Aircruising Australia Ltd - October 31, 1995

Leased to Aircruising New Zealand - November - December 22, 1998

The rear fuselage was damaged when the aircraft collided with passenger steps at Rotorua Airport - November 11, 1999

Repaired and returned to service

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Christchurch for New Zealand Tour - November 06, 2001

Withdrawn from use and stored at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - October 30, 2004

Sold to Aviodrome / Stichting Fokker Heritage Trust (FHT) - November 26, 2004

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Holland - December 06, 2004

It arrived at Amsterdam (Schiphol) on completion of the ferry flight - December 15, 2004

Ferried Amsterdam (Schiphol) - Woensdrecht for overhaul by Fokker Services - December 16, 2004

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 23, 2005

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FHF (CofR 6768) - August 23, 2005

Registered to Stichting Fokker Heritage Trust

Rolled out at Schiphol East in the Nederlandse Luchtvaart Maatschappy (NLM) livery - September 02, 2005

The aircraft was named 'Anthony H.G. Fokker'

Certificate of Airworthiness expired - November 15, 2006

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - March 13, 2008

Aircraft remains grounded due to damaged rear tail cone - to be repaired and returned to flight status

PH-FAA. Aer Lingus - in the original livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, circa 1958.

(Fokker Heritage Trust via H. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-550.)

EI-AKA. Aer Lingus - in the original livery somewhere near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, circa 1958.

(Fokker Heritage Trust via H. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-551.)

EI-AKA. Aer Lingus - 'St Fintan' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, March 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-879.)

ZK-NAH. NAC National Airways - 'Kawatere' in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-573.)

ZK-NAH. Air New Zealand - 'Kawatere' in the 'transitional' livery at Christchurch Airport, September 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-357.)

VH-NLS. AAS - in the basic Air New Zealand 'transitional' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-630.)

VH-NLS. AAS - in the basic Air New Zealand 'transitional' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-861.)

VH-NLS. AAS - in the basic Air New Zealand 'transitional' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1984.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the 'all-metal' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1985.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1985.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 04, 1985.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1987.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, July 1991.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, July 1996.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the revised livery at Wellington Airport, February 2001.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the revised livery at Cairns Airport, March 2004.

VH-NLS. Aircruising Australia - in the revised livery at Canberra Airport, date unknown.

PH-FHF. NLM - in the standard livery at Aviodrome, Lelysted, October 2005.

PH-FHF. NLM - in the standard livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, July 2006.