The temporary registration 'PH-EXB / E-003' was requested by Fokker - May 28, 1970

The temporary registration 'PH-EXB' was painted on the aircraft - July 10, 1970

First flown as 'PH-EXB' - July 15, 1970

The temporary registration ' PH-EXB / E-003' was removed from the aircraft - July 29, 1970

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TQR - July 29, 1970

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Accepted by Trans-Australia Airlines at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - July 29, 1970

This aircraft had been painted in the 'blue tail' livery by Fokker before the aircraft was delivered

This was the 11th T.A.A. Friendship to acquire the new livery

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - July 1970

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - August 1970

The aircraft was named 'William Hovell'

Operated its first revenue service - August 14, 1970

Ownership was transferred to Australian Airlines - August 04, 1986

Operated its final revenue service - October 10, 1986

Ferried Brisbane - Melbourne (Tullamarine) and placed in open storage - October 14, 1986

Sold to Air Queensland - December 11, 1986

Ferried Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Brisbane on delivery to Air Queensland - December 11, 1986

Entered service with Air Queensland in the basic Trans-Australia livery - December 12, 1986

Registered to Air Queensland Ltd - January 26, 1987

Withdrawn from service - 1988

Sold to Conair Aviation Ltd, Canada for use as a fire-bomber

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 09, 1988

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-FBDY - March 11, 1988

Converted to tanker configuration for fire-fighting

Sold to Securite Civile - March 1991

Entered onto the French Aircraft Register as F-ZBFG - ?

Withdrawn from service and stored Dinard, France - March 2003

Cancelled from the French Aircraft Register - December 2004

It was observed at Marseille / Marignane with test registration F-WQVG - January 14, 2005

Registered to Fira Sarl

It was observed stored at Bergamo as 'F-WQVG' - March 04, 2005

Sold to Miniliner for spare parts - November 01, 2005

The aircraft had flown 43,804 hours with 43,925 cycles

Scrapped

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 25, 1976.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-325.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 25, 1976.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-326.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Albury Airport, October 02, 1977.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 1999-445.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1993-186.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 05, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1993-074.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 17, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1993-075.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-327.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-328.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'William Hovell' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 06, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1993-077.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Hovell' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-329.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Hovell' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-330.)

VH-TQR. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Hovell' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 1993-610.)

VH-TQR. Air Queensland - 'William Hovell' in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Brisbane Airport, April 06, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-651.)

VH-TQR. Air Queensland - 'William Hovell' in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Brisbane Airport, May 1987.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-331.)

VH-TQR. Air Queensland - 'William Hovell' in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Cairns Airport, October 1987.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1993-332.)

VH-TQR. Air Queensland - 'William Hovell' in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-076.)

VH-TQR. Air Queensland - 'William Hovell' in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-310.)

C-FBDY. Conair Aviation - in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-001.)

C-FBDY. Conair Aviation - in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-057.)

C-FBDY. Conair Aviation - in the standard livery at Abbotsford Airport, June 1990.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-056.)

C-FBDY. Conair Aviation - in the standard livery at Abbotsford Airport, July 1990.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-058.)

F-ZBFG. Securite Civile - in the 'Conair Aviation' livery at Marseilles Airport, August 1991.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-104.)

F-ZBFG. Securite Civile - in the revised livery at Marseilles Airport, May 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-510.)

F-ZBFG. Securite Civile - in the revised livery at Marseilles Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-208.)

F-WQVG. Fira SARL - in the 'Secutite Civile' livery at Marseilles Airport, February 2005.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-105.)