BEECHCRAFT P35 BONANZA VH-AWC
C/N D-7227

03OCT63
 Registered VH-AWC to Queensland Primary Producers Co-operative Society, Longreach, Qld. The aircraft was brand new and one of 467 P35s built.

The registration VH-AWC was derived from the initials of Alan Walter Campbell O.B.E., C.M.G. (1880-1972) who founded the Queensland Primary Producers' Co-operative Association Ltd. in 1920, coincidentally the same year that QANTAS was founded. By this time Alan Campbell's business acumen was already widely recognised so the founders of QANTAS were quick to enlist his help in setting up the new company. Sir Hudson Fysh records in his history of QANTAS:

"Looking back over the 45 years since Qantas first came into being, one's mind instinctively returns to the lounge of the Gresham Hotel, Brisbane, during the Exhibition Week of August 1920, the year that the Prince of Wales visited Brisbane. Fergus McMaster and Ainslie Templeton Western Queensland graziers, McGinness and myself returned war pilots, and Alan Campbell of the Queensland Primary Producers to assist us with business advice, sat at that now historic glass-topped round table with pencils and paper poised. The outcome was the registration on 16th November 1920 of The Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd."

Subsequently the Qantas board appointed Alan Campbell "main secretary pro tem". At a meeting of the board on 23 February 1933 it was Alan Campbell who moved that Qantas should associate itself with Imperial Airways to operate air services between Australia and England.

(Fysh, Sir Hudson 1965 Qantas Rising, Angus and Robertson, p.97)

 
22NOV66
 Photographed at Bankstown, NSW. (Source: Kevin Murphy)
04SEP67
 Registered to Hawker de Havilland, Archerfield, Qld.
21AUG68
 Registered to Dr. Alan Willis, Corryong, Vic. During 1968, Dr. Willis moved to Coonamble as the town doctor, leaving his family in Corryong so that his children could complete the year's schooling.
05DEC68
 Alan Willis and Ken Mewburn flew VH-AWC from Coonamble to Corryong so that Alan Willis could return with his family by road. Ken Mewburn ferried VH-AWC back to Coonamble. (Source: Ken Mewburn - QAM member, Nov 07)
07OCT69
 Photographed at Coonamble, NSW. At this time the aircraft was turquoise, white and black. (Source: John Hopton)
14NOV70
 Registered to Ron Muir / Port Macquarie Spares, Port Macquarie, NSW.
10FEB71
 Photographed at Bankstown, NSW. (Source: Nigel Daw)
17APR71
 Photographed at Parafield, SA. (Source: Nigel Daw)
02OCT71
 Photographed at Broken Hill, NSW. (Source: Nigel Daw)
06DEC71
 Damaged at Goulburn, NSW.
22MAR72
 Registered to Hawker de Havilland, Yagoona, NSW.
23JUN72
 Registered to Grahame Jones, St Lucia, Qld.
OCT72
 Noted at Archerfield competing in the Retailer's Warana Air Race as Race Number 23 flown by E. Felmingham. At this time the aircraft carried "Border Plumbing" titles. (Source: Richard Hitchins)
OCT73
 Noted at Archerfield competing in the Hinkler 1000 Air Race as Race Number 75 flown by E. Felmingham. (Source: Richard Hitchins)
03AUG74
 Photographed at Mount Isa, Qld. (Source: Nigel Daw)
09SEP74
 Registered to Hawker de Havilland, Lidcombe, NSW.
13FEB75
 Registered to Brisbane Flying Group, Kelvin Grove, Qld.
Brisbane Flying Group Pty Ltd (BFG) was a company established to provide low cost flying for pilots. VH-AWC was placed on the Sunland Aviation line and made available for charter operations with Sunland pilots when group members were not wanting the aircraft. VH-AWC was affectionately known as “Ave a Whiskey Charlie”. (Source: Warren Burrows, Maintenance and Security Director of BFG)
12APR75
 First flight in VH-AWC by Warren Burrows as part of his endorsement on the aeroplane. (Source: Log book of Warren Burrows)
01NOV76
 Damaged at Rockhampton, Qld. when the undercarriage collapsed after landing. It is surmised that the pilot mistakenly selected wheels up instead of flaps up after landing. A bump in the taxiway caused the undercarriage to collapse, the propellor struck the ground and the engine was extensively damaged. The aircraft was out of service for several months. (Source: Warren Burrows)
27APR79
 Flown from Archerfield to Maroochydore by Warren Burrows, his last flight in VH-AWC. (Source: Log book of Warren Burrows)
22JUN79
 Registered to Tabulana Pty Ltd, Guyra, NSW.
22MAR81
 Registered to Papa Sierra Pty Ltd / Thomas Caldwell, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
08FEB86
 Photographed at Innisfail, Qld. (Source: David Thollar)
02FEB92
 Acquired by Guy Cahill. (Source: Correspondence with Guy Cahill)
01JUN92
 Registered to BC Opals (Guy Cahill), Bowraville, NSW.
97
 Damaged in a ground incident at Coffs Harbour.
NOV02
 Noted derelict at Coffs Harbour, NSW.
27JUN06
 Registration cancelled in Part 47 purge of the Register.
08FEB07
 Donated to QAM under the Cultural Gifts Program by Guy Cahill (BC Opals).
17APR07
 Trucked from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane by QAM.
19APR07
 Trucked from Brisbane to Caloundra by QAM.

 

ISSUE
DATE
REMARKS
6
21NOV07
 Added information on use by Dr Alan Willis at Corryong and Coonamble thanks to QAM member, Ken Mewburn, who flew the aircraft during this period.
5
17MAY07
 Added references to the aircraft competing in two air races ex Archerfield in 1972/73. Thanks to Dick Hitchins.
4
03MAY07
 Warren Burrows has provided more information on the Brisbane Flying Group's use of the aircraft. Also added a 1986 photo thanks to David Thollar.
3
30APR07
 Added two images thanks to John Hopton and Kevin Murphy.
2
25APR07
 Added notes on the significance of the registration VH-AWC thanks to Rob MacIntosh. Added several sightings and images thanks to Nigel Daw.
1
18APR07
 Original issue. Thanks to Tony Arbon.