First of four aircraft ordered by Qantas Airways Ltd

Built by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd, Downsview, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Powered by Pratt and Whitney R.1340 Wasp engines

Aircraft plus amphibian kits shipped from St. Johns, Canada on S.S. Port Adelaide - March 1, 1958

Delivered by de Havilland Canada to de Havilland Australia at Bankstown - April 14, 1958

Purchased from de Havilland Australia, Bankstown by Qantas

Accepted by Qantas in joint handover ceremony with VH-EAX - May 27, 1958

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAW - May 27, 1958

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd

Aircraft was named ‘Kikori’ (Papua) at Port Moresby - June 4, 1958

Delivered for operations in Papua New Guinea as an amphibian

Sold to Trans Australian Airlines (T.A.A.) - September 1, 1960

Reregistered as VH-SBQ - December 8, 1960

Aircraft retained name ‘Kikori’ (Papua)

Aircraft forced to ditch into sea 10 miles west of Samari, Papua New Guinea - April 14, 1961

Engine lost power due cylinder problems, 2 crew and 7 passengers were uninjured

The aircraft subsequently drifted onto rocks and was damaged beyond repair

Salvaged and reduced to spares

VH-EAW. Qantas - in the full livery at Sydney's Bankstown Airport, May 1958.

VH-EAW. Qantas - in the full livery on a test flight over western Sydney, May 1958.

VH-EAW. Qantas - in the full livery on a test flight over western Sydney, May 1958.

VH-EAW. Qantas - in the full livery somewhere in New Guinea, date unknown.