VH-SJQ. Bristol 170-21 Freighter. c/n 12807.


 

First flown - 1946

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-AIMR

Registered to the Ministry of Civil Aviation - December 3, 1946

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - January 24, 1949

Allocated by the Ministry of Supply to the R.A.F. as WB484 - February 14, 1949

Acquired by the Royal Australian Air Force - May 5, 1949

Allocated the R.A.A.F. serial number A81-3

Withdrawn from R.A.A.F. use and stored - July 1967

Stuck off charge - August 1968

Sold to Jetair Australia Ltd

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-SJQ - March 19, 1970

Sold to Air Express Ltd - August 16, 1971

Aircraft crashed during night freight service to Tasmania, in Bass Strait - May 10, 1975

Was not able to maintain height when port engine failed, despite turning back to Melbourne

The two crew members drowned before rescue

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 10, 1975

 


 

A81-3. Jetair Australia - in basic RAAF livery at Orange Airport, September 1968.

VH-SJQ. Jetair Australia - in an all-metal livery at Sydney Airport, December 1969.

VH-SJQ. Jetair Australia - in an all-metal livery at Sydney Airport, December 1969.

VH-SJQ. Jetair Australia - in an all-metal livery at Sydney Airport, January 1970.

VH-SJQ. Air Express Ltd Comet - in the full livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1972.

VH-SJQ. Air Express Ltd Comet - in Air Express livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1972.
 

VH-SJQ. Air Express Ltd - in the full livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1974.

VH-SJQ. Air Express Ltd - in the full livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1974.