VH-AES. Douglas C-47-DL. c/n 6021.
was also registered: VH-SBA.
Construction completed at Long Beach, California - November 6, 1942 Built as a Douglas C-47-DL Allocated U.S. serial number 41-18660 Flown by 46 & 21 Troop Carrier Squadron, 5th Air Force Aircraft was named 'Shanghai Lil' During the war it used the radio callsign 'VHCJC' Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation - August 25, 1944 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AES - September 4, 1944 Operated by Australian National Airways as a freighter Substantially damaged at Sydney Airport when it overran the manoeuvring area - November 5, 1944 Repaired and converted to a passenger configuration Transferred to Trans Australia Airlines - June 30, 1946 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission - July 9, 1946 Aircraft was named 'Hawdon' Flew the inaugural Trans Australia Airlines service - Melbourne (Laverton)-Sydney - September 9, 1946 Withdrawn from use and stored pending sale - June 26, 1959 Transferred to Lae to operate T.A.A. services in New Guinea - August 12, 1960 Aircraft was repainted into the T.A.A. Sunbird Services color scheme Reregistered as VH-SBA - December 8, 1960 Aircraft was named ' Wewak' and later 'Moresby' Withdrawn from use and stored - June 7, 1970 Repainted into its original color scheme to commemorate the airline's 25th Anniversary Reregistered as VH-AES for commemorative flight - September 9, 1971 Reregistered VH-SBA - October 22, 1971 Flown to Melbourne and returned to storage - July 19, 1973 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 31, 1974 Restored to the original Trans Australia Airlines color scheme - 1979 Suspended 5 metres above the ground in front of the T.A.A. Tullamarine Passenger Terminal - December 13, 1979 Remained as a static display until mid 1987 Returned to T.A.A. Maintenance for restoration to flying condition Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AES - September 6, 1988 Registered to Hawdon Operations Ltd Returned to flying status - September 9, 1988 Since returning to flying status it has been a welcomed attraction at airshows around the country Used in the film 'Half A World Away' to represent the K.L.M. DC-2 PH-AJU 'Uiver' - 1990 Celebrated its 'Golden Jubilee' - November 6, 1992 Airworthy and remains flying today |
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VH-AES. TAA Sunbird Services - in the full livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, August 1960. (Image 0250-296. B. Colledge Photograph) |
VH-SBA. TAA Sunbird Services - in the full livery at Lae Airport, date unknown. (Image 0251-360. R. N. Smith Collection) |
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VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines at Sydney Airport, September 9, 1971 during 25th Anniversary flight. (Image 0250-730. G. Wilkes Photograph) |
VH-SBA. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1971. (Image 0250-688. P. J. Gates Collection) |
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VH-SBA. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1971. (Image 0251-344. E. D. Daw Collection) |
VH-SBA. TAA Airlines of New Guinea - in the full livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, May 1975. (Image 0250-687. R. N. Smith Collection) |
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VH-SBA. TAA - in the last livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1978. (Image 0250-726. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
VH-SBA. TAA - in the last livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1978. (Image 0250-725. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
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VH-SBA. TAA - in the last livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1978. (Image 0250-802. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1980. (Image 0250-727. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
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VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1980. (Image 0250-728. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1980. (Image 0250-729. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
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VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, June 1987. (Image 0250-679. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, June 1987. (Image 0250-008. P. J. Gates Photograph) |
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VH-AES. Painted up to represent KLM DC-2 PH-AJU for movie at Tullamarine Airport, May 1990. (Image 0250-673. R. N. Smith Collection) |
VH-AES. Painted up to represent KLM DC-2 PH-AJU for movie at Tullamarine Airport, May 1990. (Image 0251-269. E. D. Daw Photograph) |
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VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Brisbane Airport, April 2004. (Image 0250-499. P. J. Gates Photograph) |
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