VH-FNE. Fokker F27-050. c/n 20110.

Was also registered as: SE-LEL; PH-GER; 5Y-SKN.

 

This was the fifth of ten aircraft ordered new by Ansett - February 13, 1985

Ansett was the launch customer for this aircraft type

Originally allocated c/n 10700 but it was changed by Fokker when a new c/n series was introduced for the F27-050s

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-EXT with export registration 'E-908' - November 13, 1987

Registered to Fokker Aircraft BV, Amsterdam

It was discovered that the test registration 'PH-EXT' had already been allocated to another airframe

A new 'test' registration 'PH-EXF' was allocated - November 21, 1986

First flown at Amsterdam (Schiphol) as 'PH-EXF' - December 02, 1987

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - December 14, 1987

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-FNE - December 14, 1987

Registered to JL Leasing Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan

Leased to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd as the registered operartor

Accepted by Ansett at Amsterdam (Schiphol) - December 15, 1987

The aircraft was configured to seat 50 passengers

Departed Amsterdam (Schiphol) on the delivery flight to Australia as AN50 - December 15, 1987

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - December 21, 1987

Delivery route: Amsterdam - Athens - Cairo - Bahrain - Karachi - Calcutta - Bangkok - Seletar - Denpasar -

Darwin - Mt Isa - Sydney

Flight crew: Captains J. A. McEnlly, J. D. Baker, K. F. Atkinson; LAMEs C. Bodle, G. Radford, D. Paull

Leased to Air N. S. W. - December 31, 1987

Operated its first revenue service Sydney - Wagga Wagga as WX974 - December 31, 1987

Air N. S. W. was renamed Ansett N.S.W. - March 01, 1990

Ansett N. S. W. was renamed Ansett Express - November 28, 1990

Operated the inaugural Ansett Express Fokker 50 service Sydney - Tamworth - December 01, 1991

Operated its last Ansett F-50 service Sydney - Lismore - Casino - Sydney - December 19, 1992

Withdrawn from Ansett Express service at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - April 12, 1993

Ferried Sydney - Brisbane in all-white livery to be prepared for lease / sale - April 13, 1993

Ferried Brisbane - Melbourne (Tullamarine) for storage - May 07, 1993

The aircraft had flown 7,960 hours with 9,245 cycles - June 30, 1993

Repainted into the 'Rajair' livery at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in preparation for lease / sale to Rajair, India

The Indian registration 'VT-RAA' had been reserved for the aircraft

Registered to Ansett Aviation Equipment Pty Ltd, Melbourne - September 21, 1993

The intended lease / sale did not eventuate and aircraft remained parked at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne - July 26, 1994

Returned to service with Ansett Australia in basic 'Rajair' livery - September 14, 1994

Ferried Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Kalgoorlie - Perth for lease to Skywest Airlines - November 24, 1994

Registered to Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd - February 17, 1995

The lease to Skywest was terminated - August 01, 1995

Ferried Perth - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on return to Ansett Australia - August 02, 1995

Registered to Ansett Australia Ltd, Melbourne - August 18, 1995

Operated the Impulse Airlines Sydney - Cooma - Sydney service - June 21, 1996

Operated this service twice weekly for Impulse - June 26 to August 30, 1996

Operated the final Ansett Australia Ballina - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) service as AN539 - August 27, 1996

Operated its final Ansett Australia revenue service Sydney - Cooma - Sydney (Captain Booth) - August 30, 1996

Prepared for lease to Skywest Airlines

Ferried Sydney - Adelaide - Perth on delivery flight to Skywest Airlines - October 08 - 09, 1996

Registered to Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd, Perth - October 24, 1996

Operated its first Skywest revenue service Perth - Learmonth - Carnarvon as AN6579 - October 25, 1996

Operated its final Skywest revenue service Geraldton - Perth (Captain W. Slaven) as AN6570 - November 13, 1996

Returned to Ansett Aviation Equipment Pty Ltd for lease to Skyways AB, Linkoping, Sweden

Departed Perth on the ferry flight to Kuala Lumpur - November 20, 1996

Ferry route: Perth - Denpasar - Kuala Lumpur

The aircraft was overhaled at Kuala Lumpur before delivery to Skyways

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 15, 1997

Entered onto the Swedish Aircraft Register as SE-LEL - January 15, 1997

Registered to Ansett Aviation Equipment Pty Ltd

Leased to Skyways AB as the registered operator

Leased to Skyways Express AB - August 22, 2001

Sold to AeroCentury Corp, Burlingame, CA (Subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) - April 07, 2004

The lease to Skyways AB was continued

Repainted at Amsterdam (Schiphol) in the livery of low cost airline Gotlandsflyg - April 10 - 18, 2007

Placed in storage at Stockholm (Arlanda) in an 'all-white' livery - June 2009

Returned to service with Skyways - October 2009

Skyways AB filed for bankruptcy and ceased all operations - May 21, 2012

The aircraft was stored at Karlstad until returned to the lessor - June 2012

Ferried Karlstad - Jonkoping - June 2012

Ferried Jonkoping - Maastricht as SKX9204 - June 27, 2012

Cancelled from the Swedish Aircraft Register - August 24, 2012

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-GER - August 29, 2012

Registered to SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance BV

'Skyways' titles had been removed from the aircraft - October 04, 2012

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - March 07, 2014

Entered onto the Kenyan Aircraft Register as 5Y-SKN - March 2014

Registered to Rudufu Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya

It departed Maastricht on the delivery flight to Kenya - March 13, 2014

Reported to have been operated by Skytrail Air Safaris, Kenya - March 2014 - July 2015

It was observed at Nairobi (Wilson) in an 'all-white' livery with 'Atlas Air' titles - December 2015

Wet-leased to Fly Tristar Airlines, Kenya - May 2018 - January 2019

The aircraft was involved in a take-off incident at Mandera, Kenya - October 20, 2019

Whilst preparing for take-off it overran the 1,100 metre dirt runway and became stuck in thick mud

The 30 passengers and crew were unhurt and were evacuated from the aircraft to Takaba township

Efforts were made during the next few days to remove the aircraft from its stuck position

It was observed at Nairobi (Wilson) in good condition following this mishap - October 31, 2019

Current status - ?

 

 

VH-FNE. Air N.S.W. - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 06, 1988.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1997-338.)

VH-FNE. Air N.S.W. - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 12, 1988.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1997-337.)

VH-FNE. Ansett Express. - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 28, 1990.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1997-339.)

VH-FNE. Ansett Australia - in the 'all-white' livery without titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1993.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1997-053.)

VH-FNE. Rajair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1997-341.)

VH-FNE. Rajair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1993.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1997-019.)

VH-FNE. Rajair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1997-017.)

VH-FNE. Rajair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1997-342.)

VH-FNE. Rajair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1997-340.)

VH-FNE. Ansett Australia - in the 'Union Jack' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1994.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1997-265.)

VH-FNE. Ansett Australia - in the 'Union Jack' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1994.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1997-015.)

SE-LEL. Gotlandsflyg - in the standard livery at Jonkoping Airport, November 03, 2007.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1997-343.)