Like many Australian aircraft in its era, VH-BQM received its registration to free up its previous one for its replacement. It had been VH-RQM with the Royal Queensland Aero Club from 1959 to 1963. It was during its service with the club that it was converted from a J-2 Arrow to a J-2 Special when its 75hp Continental engine was replaced by a 108hp Lycoming. In 1999, VH-BQM was reregistered VH-BYZ