DE HAVILLAND DOVE MK.I VH-MAL
C/N 04120

 

 

 

 



48
Built at Hatfield by de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd.
VP-KEJ
   
04MAR48
Delivered to East African Airways Corporation as VP-KEJ and named "Swahili" later renamed "Masai".
04MAR48
Added to Kenya Register as VP-KEJ.
31MAY51
Registration application from Mandated Airlines Ltd., Lae, PNG.
JUN51
Sold to MAL along with VP-KDG.
JUL51
Ferried from Nairobi to Lae as VP-KEJ.
28JUL51
Arrived Lae from Darwin along with VP-KDG.
JUL51
Both aircraft used for crew training in PNG still carrying VP marks prior issue of Australian CofA.
06SEP51
Australian CofA issued.
VH-MAL
   
19JUN51
(Backdated) Added to register as VH-MAL. Aircraft to be used on supplemental services ex Port Moresby to connect with Trans Oceanic Airlines flying boat service ex Sydney. Named "Rai" in MAL service.
08AUG51
Fault in nosewheel latch prevented extension of nose- wheel until the co-pilot cut a hole in the cockpit floor and pushed wheel into down-locked position in flight. Aircraft grounded for repairs.
07SEP51
Returned to service.
FEB52
Application for conversion to 18 seater for carrying natives in inwards facing seats. Not approved.
MAY52
Wingspar boom overhaul completed by Airlines (WA).
10MAY52
Total airframe time: 2287 hrs.
10AUG52
Ferried to Bankstown for CofA inspection.
16DEC52
Conversion to 18 seater approved after submission of better drawings.
17DEC52
Completion of inspection.
21MAY53
CofA suspended when wing skins found wrinkled.
06NOV53
Port engine failure after hole burnt in cylinder.
17DEC53
CofA renewed at Bankstown.
14JAN54
Delivered to Perth for Airlines (WA).
VH-AWE
   
10MAR54
Change of ownership to Airlines (WA) Ltd. Perth WA. Reregistered VH-AWE same day.
VH-GVE
   
19AUG55
Change of ownership to Southern Airlines Ltd. Essendon VIC. Reregistered VH-GVE same day.
AUG55
Delivered to Essendon late in month.
60
To Rain Air Taxis, c/- Australian Aircraft Sales, Sydney. Operated by Executive Air Services from Bankstown although little flying was done.
12JAN60
Weighed at Essendon. Owner shown as Rain Air Taxis. Aircraft in 9 passenger configuration. 
07AUG61
Owner shown as Australian Aircraft Sales.
14FEB62
Aircraft weighing summary shows owner as Executive Air Transport with maintenance by Fawcett Aviation Bankstown. 8 seat configuration. CofA (Class 1, private) valid to 12JUL71 issued to Marie Bennet, Woollara, NSW.
10SEP62
At CofA renewal for Executive Airways total time shown as 9,164 hours 25 mins. with only 16 hrs. 55 mins. since last renewal.
13JUL62
Sold to Chartwell Pty. Ltd. Gordon, NSW (Manager, Mr. D.S. McKellar)
13AUG62
Letter from Chartwell advising purchase and requesting change of registration to VH-DSM.
21SEP62
CofA still shows owner as Mrs. Bennett.
VH-DSM
   
11SEP63
Reregistered VH-DSM to D.S. McKellar trading as Chartwell P/L
16OCT63
Chartered by Notley Aviation, Camden.
17OCT63
CofA renewed to Chartwell. Total time 9,175 hrs. 55 mins. with 10 hrs. 50 mins. since last renewal.
30OCT63
Request for change of registration category to Class 3, Charter.
01NOV63
Transfer of ownership to D.S.M. Holdings Pty. Ltd., Gordon, NSW. Aircraft based at Camden.
26NOV63
de Havilland, Bankstown found a 4 inch crack in left front lower spar boom which had been missed in previous x-ray inspection by another company.
06JAN64
Flown Camden-Bankstown by pilot Gray. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
07APR64
Records to this date from 05NOV63 show a/c apparently flown only by D.S. McKellar.
23APR64
Flown only 16 hrs. 55 mins. since 18OCT63.
MAY64
Overhauled by Hawker de Havilland at Bankstown and repainted with dark blue in lieu of light blue.
VH-BCB
   
10MAY64
Noted at Sydney (KSA) painted as VH-BCB. It was reported that the Australian representatives of Donald Campbell arranged to charter the aeroplane and reregister it VH-BDC (Bluebird Donald Campbell) for use in connection with his world land speed record attempt on Lake Eyre. However on his arrival, Campbell chose the Avis Aero Commander VH-AVT and the Dove charter fell through.
VH-DSM
   
MAY64
Repainted as VH-DSM in last week of May.
30JUN64
Still idle at Flight Facilities Sydney having only made a brief flight to Bankstown in early June.
64
Change of ownership to DSM Holdings, Sydney. Reported to be operating under the name Scenic Airways.
20SEP64
Chartered by the NSW Branch of the Aviation Historical Society of Aust. for a trip to RAAF Williamtown for an air display. Passengers included Chris O'Neill, Steve Gibson and Peter Ricketts. Cost was £5.0.0 return. Pilot was Doug McKellar.
26SEP64
Landed at Longreach with a nosewheel problem. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
30SEP64
Flown Mornington Island-Burketown (or Bourke?) by pilot McKellar. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
01NOV64
Flown Sydney-Forster. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
06NOV64
CofA renewal by Notley Aviation for Chartwell in charter category.
27OCT65
Flown Scone-Sydney. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
04JAN66
Flown Khancoban-Sydney by pilot McKellar. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
13SEP66
Flown Rockhampton-Brisbane by pilot Moss. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
11DEC66
Nosewheel tyre deflated on landing at Sydney. Pilot McKellar. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
AUG67
Not flown until NOV67
09NOV67
Permit to fly issued for Harry Purvis to ferry a/c from Port Macquarie to Camden for major inspection and reweighing.
31DEC67
Photographed at Camden NSW in two tone blue and white colour scheme with Chartwell titles.
JAN68
Flown Sydney-Port Macquarie by pilot K. Oram. (DCA files via G. Goodall)
19SEP68
Test flight at Camden.
30OCT68
To Nicholson's Air Service, P.O. Box 55, Toowong, Qld.
12JUN69
Change of ownership to Nicholson's Air Service Wee Waa, NSW.
JUN70
Total hours 9,580.
SEP71
Major inspection until OCT71
05MAY72
Reweighed by East-West Airlines, Tamworth.
27MAR74
CofA reissued for Nicholson's, Wee Waa.
28OCT74
Registration category changed from Class 3 (Charter) to Class 1 (Private).
22FEB77
Change of ownership to Swiftair Aviation Services Pty. Ltd., Lismore, NSW.
11JUN80
Owner shown as Roydit Pty. Ltd. trading as Swiftair Aviation Services.
20OCT80
Last flight (Lismore/Evans Head?). Total time 10,310 hrs. 40 min.
From JAN78 to OCT80 the aircraft was flown only by Cec Swift as pilot-in-command. (Source: Peter Swift, son of Cec Swift)
Aircraft stored at Evans Head.
16OCT81
Removed from the register w.e.f. 28SEP81.
OCT86
Sold to Queensland Air Museum.
10MAY87
Arrived at Caloundra on trucks.
VH-MAL
   
89
Painted in Mandated Airlines colours as VH-MAL "Rai".
28OCT89
Pilots' reunion at Caloundra. Present were Capt Jack Stammer and his wife Lillian. Capt Jim Perry and his wife Olga and Capt Ray Harris.



 



 


ISSUE
DATE
REMARKS
4
04APR09
Added several references sourced from DCA files by Geoff Goodall. Also added several new images by Geoff Goodall.
3
28JUN08
Added an image of Sir Reginald and Lady Maureen Barnewall with the Dove.
2
25JUN08
Added 25 new images. Also added confirmation from Cec Swift's son, Peter, that his father was the only person to fly VH-DSM as pilot-in-command during the period JAN78 to OCT80.
1
02JAN02
Original issue