VH-TFA. Fokker F.27-1002 Friendship. c/n 10111.

Was also registered as: PH-FAG; P2-TFA; P2-ANA; TG-AIA; 1093.

This was the first of six aircraft ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - March 09, 1956

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FAG (CofR 636) - January 07, 1959

Registered to NV Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigenfabriek Fokker

First flown as PH-FAG - January 16, 1959

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - June 11, 1959

Accepted by Trans-Australia Airlines at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - June 13, 1959

The aircraft was originally named 'Dirk Hartog'

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TFA - June 15, 1959

Registered to Australian National Airline Commission, Melbourne

This was the 13th Friendship to be delivered by Fokker

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia - June 16, 1959

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - June 24, 1959

Flight crew: Captains L. P. Lee, N. Grady; Navigator M. Darby

The aircraft was renamed 'Charles Todd' - June 24, 1959

Operated its first revenue service with Trans-Australia Airlines - July 09, 1959

Leased to Guinea Airways Ltd at various times - July 30, 1959 to January 17, 1960

Returned to Fokker for conversion to a Series 200 aircraft - November 1965

First test flight as a 200 Series aircraft - January 01, 1966

Transferred to New Guinea operations - October 1969

The aircraft was renamed 'Lae'

Repainted into the 'blue tail' livery at Melbourne (Essendon) - November 1970

Was the 15th T.A.A. Friendship to be repainted into the new livery

It had TAA Airlines of New Guinea titles applied during the repaint

Leased to Air Niugini - November 01, 1973

Sold to Air Niugini - January 31, 1974

Registered to Papua New Guinea National Airlines - February 04, 1974

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 01, 1974

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-TFA - June 01, 1974

Reregistered as P2-ANA - November 10, 1975

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd - January 18, 1977

Leased to Air Niugini

Sold to Aerolineas de Guatemala SA t/a Aviateca - March 03, 1978

Accepted by Aviateca at Port Moresby - April 28, 1978

Ferried Port Moresby - Taipai (Taiwan) for overhaul and repaint by Air Asia - May 25, 1978

Delivered to Aviateca via Miami - September 08, 1978

Entered onto the Guatemalan Aircraft Register as TG-AIA - ?

Withdrawn from use at Guatemala City - August 1979

Sold to Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca (Guatemalan Air Force) - January 01, 1983

Ferried to Fokker's Ypenburg facility via a Short Belfast for overhaul - April 02, 1984

Test flown for Guatemalan Air Force - January 16, 1985

Departed Ypenburg on delivery to Guatemalan Air Force as '1093' - January 28, 1985

Grounded at La Aurora Air Force Base following accident - December 1985

Aircraft had flown 36,284 hours with 45,382 cycles

It was observed in a derelict condition without engines at La Aurota Air Force Base - February 08, 2006

Current status?

PH-FAG. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Dirk Hartog' in the original livery somewhere over Holland, February 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-084.)

PH-FAG. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Dirk Hartog' in the original livery somewhere over Holland, February 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-569.)

VH-TFA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Dirk Hartog' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, June 1959.

(Fokker Heritage Trust Copyright Image 1993-582.)

VH-TFA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Charles Todd' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-230.)

VH-TFA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Charles Todd' in the original 'dayglow' livery at Adelaide Airport, circa 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-570.)

VH-TFA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Charles Todd' in the revised 'dayglow' livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1993-456.)

VH-TFA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Todd' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1993-475.)

VH-TFA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Todd' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-297.)

VH-TFA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Todd' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-752.)

VH-TFA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Todd' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 27, 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1999-379.)

VH-TFA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Todd' in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, October 11, 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1993-476.)

VH-TFA. TAA - 'Charles Todd' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 28, 1969.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1993-477.)

VH-TFA. TAA Airlines of New Guinea - 'Lae' in the standard livery at Mt Hagen Airport, August 04, 1973.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1999-631.)

VH-TFA. TAA Airlines of New Guinea - 'Lae' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, September 1973.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1999-417.)

P2-TFA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(H. K. Groen Collection Copyright Image 1993-583.)

TG-AIA. Aviateca - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, October 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1993-073.)