Sold to Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Albion Park Regional Airport, Wollongong. Ferried to Australia in August 2016. Repainted in 1950's Trans Australian Airlines colours.

This is a VC-131D acquired from Rovos Rail in South Africa, ferried to HARS in August 2016. Built in 1954 as a 44-passenger transport for the USAF, it was effectively a militarised CV-340 and was allocated 54-2820. Stored at MASDC from 1988, it later became CP-2237 and YV-914C before sale as ZS-ARV in 2001. On acquisition by HARS, painted at Wonderboom in the colours worn by TAA CV-240 VH-TAQ in from 1948 to 1954, although there was never a long-nose Convair in Australian airline use. This is the fifth time reg VH-TAA has been used. Absolutely splendid it looks anyway.

First flown in November 1954 as N8453H and delivered to the USAF as 54-2820 in February 1955. Stored as Davis Monthan in February 1998, registered briefly as N43895 in July 1992 before onward sale, the same month, to Bolivia. Leased briefly to Caribbean Flights of Venezuela as YV-914C from July 1996 to June 1997. Sold to Rovos Air as ZS-ARV in August 2001 and flew with them until they ceased operations in 2009. Acquired by HARS in 2015, ferried to Australia in August 2016 and registered as VH-TAA in November 2016

became VH-TAA with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in period Trans Australia Airlines colors - photographer unknown

This Convair is actually in a flyable condition but unfortunately can't as HARS currently doesn't have qualified pilots to fly her.

Detail image of the nose markings of this Convair restored to represent a Trans-Australia Airlines scheme from the 1950s.

The aircraft was sold to the Historical aircraft Restoration Society in Australia in 2016.

Ex CP-2237, registered Aug 2001 and ferried to Australia Aug 2016 for preservation as VH-TAA

Washington ANG C-131D departing March AFB

This 1954 Convair has had a long history. Built as a VC-131D Samaritan for the USAF (serial 54-2820), it was civilianised in the USA as N43895. It later moved overseas, becoming in turn CP-2237, YV-914C, CP-2237, ZS-OTE, ZS-BRV and ZS-ARV. Purchased from South Africa by HARS, it flew to Australia and became VH-TAA(5) on 14 November 2016. Currently airworthy but non-flying with HARS.