Built in Canada for the USAAF as 44-34081. Civilianised for Macao Air Transport as VR-HDH. Purchased by TAA in 1962 for its New Guinea 'Sunbird' operation, re-registered with undercarriage removed as VH-SBV. Aircraft flew services around New Guinea coast until 1966 when competition from land-based aircraft made the flying boat operation uneconomic. Originally intended for a New Guinea museum but the remains were purchased in 1979 for MOTAT. The aircraft is presently at the RNZAF Museum, Wigram where it is under long-term rebuild to represent an RNZAF machine. (Jim Eames photo)

CAHS/Mike O'Grady collection

CAHS/Mike O'Grady collection

Converted the following year into a Riley Heron 2D/A1. CAHS collection 221H/71

CAHS/Mike O'Grady collection

With Singapore Airlines 747 9Q-SQF behind. CAHS/Mike O'Grady collection

Hans Bertram's 'interesting arrival' at Kalgoorlie in his Junkers W 33c D-1925 'Atlantis' (modified to W 33c3e in Mar 1934). This was after Bertram and Klausmann had been rescued from the Kimberley and their aircraft repaired. "Bertram surveys the busted piggery. 1932". Photo 3 from a series of 3.

Hans Bertram's 'interesting arrival' at Kalgoorlie in his Junkers W 33c D-1925 'Atlantis' (modified to W 33c3e in Mar 1934). This was after Bertram and Klausmann had been rescued from the Kimberley and their aircraft repaired. "Bertram finishes his run after going through two fences (cows & a piggery)". Photo 2 from a series of 3.

Hans Bertram's 'interesting arrival' at Kalgoorlie in his Junkers W 33c D-1925 'Atlantis' (modified to W 33c3e in Mar 1934). This was after Bertram and Klausmann had been rescued from the Kimberley and their aircraft repaired. "Kalgoorlie. Bertram overshoots in S-Westrer. 1932". Photo 1 from a series of 3.

Illustrative of the 'interesting' flying conditions found in PNG, this image shows the approach to the airstrip at Tapini in the Papuan highlands from Pilatus PC-6B/H2 Turbo Porter VH-PNH of airline Patair.

This is the former GAF/CAC aerodrome at Fisherman's Bend, Melbourne. The partially completed Westgate Bridge indicates this photo was taken c.1965-66. The remains of the runways can still be seen but the aircraft factories themselves are out of shot to the left. Opened in 1935, with higher performance aircraft appearing in the 1950s the Fishermans Bend aerodrome became too constrained. In 1953 Avalon aerodrome, on the Geelong road, was opened for test flying the new generation of jet aircraft. The Fishermans Bend aerodrome itself closed in 1957.

Rare image of VH-UKW being brought ashore at Lae, New Guinea following its purchase in Australia by Guinea Airways. The aircraft was written off after a crash at Narakapor, near Nadzab, on 26 August 1939.

This aircraft was one of two of these excellent STOL aircraft purchased by Patair (Papuan Air Transport) in May 1966. The aircraft was transferred to Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea in November 1970, when Patair operations were merged into theirs, thus dating the photos to the period 1966-70.

Originally G-ACKY, this aircraft was exported to Australia in 1938, becoming VH-ADV(1). Passing through a succession of owners, it was struck off after an accident in 1955. However, the following year the Royal Aero Club of New South Wales restored it as VH-RSL. Two years later it was sold and changed again to VH-BAH. Still current as of 2019.

Probably taken pre-delivery near Seattle. Registered VH-EAA(5) on 19 January 1981. Ferried into storage at Marana on 5 March 2002 and struck from the Australian register on 27 March 2002.

Undergoing maintenance in the ANA hangar at Melbourne/Essendon. This aircraft was purchased new by ANA and registered on 1 November 1945. It was sold overseas in 1958, becoming N5517V, OD-ADK(?), TR-LPU(?), TN-ACF(?) and 9Q-COK(?). It was scrapped in Zaire in 1973. (CAHS/Mac Job collection)

Undergoing maintenance in the ANA hangar at Melbourne/Essendon. This aircraft was purchased new by ANA and registered on 1 November 1945. It was sold overseas in 1958, becoming N5517V, OD-ADK(?), TR-LPU(?), TN-ACF(?) and 9Q-COK(?). It was scrapped in Zaire in 1973. (CAHS/Mac Job collection)