NORD 262A-32 / MOHAWK 298 VH-HIX
MSN 42
(AA000033)

 

F-WOFD
    
30NOV67
   First flown. Registered to Nord Aviation as F-WOFD.
F-BPNY
    
JUN68
   Re-registered F-BPNY to Nord Aviation.
24MAR69
   To Air Comores as F-BPNY.
17AUG71
   To Rousseau Aviation as F-BPNY.
N26228
    
AUG75
   To Ransome Airlines as N26228.
N29811
    
12MAR76
   To Allegheny Airlines as N29811.
JUN76
   Converted to a Mohawk 298 by Frakes Aviation with the substitution of two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 engines in place of the original Turbomeca Bastan engines. N29811 was one of nine aircraft converted for Allegheny Airlines between 1975 and 1978.
14JUN79
   Leased to Ransome Airlines as N29811.
JUL85
   Registered to Ransome Airlines Inc. as N29811 having previously been registered to USAir.
MAR87
   To Pan Am Express as N29811.
SEP87
   Cancelled from US Register.
09SEP87
   Noted at Brisbane after trans Pacific delivery flight.
09SEP87
   Arrived Adelaide on delivery to Lloyd Aviation.
VH-HIX
    
30SEP87
 Registered VH-HIX to Lloyd Aviation, Adelaide.
25NOV87
 Ferried Adelaide-Tamworth-Brisbane for services to Bundaberg and Gladstone.
NOV88
 Lloyd sold its Queensland operation along with the four Mohawks to Queensland Pacific Airlines (part of the Norfolk Group).
03DEC88
 Lloyd Air (Queensland) operations ceased.
04DEC88
 Queensland Pacific Airlines commenced operations. Ports served at various times included Brisbane, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Blackwater, Thangool, Coolangatta and Newcastle.
05NOV89
 Various Mohawks (including VH-HIX) were leased periodically to Par Avion, Tasmania for services between Launceston, Devonport and Essendon. The aircraft carried Queensland Pacific livery. These leases ceased on 09FEB90.
01MAR91
 Queensland Pacific Airlines ceased operations.
01APR91
 To Southern Pacific Regional Airlines as VH-HIX.
08APR91
 Various Mohawks (including VH-HIX) were leased periodically to Ansett Express, Sydney for services between Sydney, Dubbo and Tamworth. These leases ceased in October 1992.
10APR91
 Southern Pacific Regional Airlines commenced operations between Brisbane, Bundaberg and Gladstone.
25JUN91
 Noted stored at Brisbane with Southern Pacific titles.
27OCT91
 Noted at Brisbane in service with Southern Pacific.
14DEC91
 VH-HIX commenced operating under lease to Ansett Express on services between Sydney, Dubbo and Tamworth. Various Mohawks were leased periodically to Ansett Express from 08APR91. The aircraft were operated with Southern Pacific Regional Airlines titles and either SPRA livery or QPA livery. These leases were terminated the day after VH-HKS lost a propeller blade in flight on 01FEB93. (Source: 1)
21DEC91
 VH-HIX completed operations for Ansett Express. (Source: 1)
05APR93
 Southern Pacific Regional Airlines ceased operations and VH-HIX was withdrawn from service at Bundaberg.
08DEC93
 Auctioned in Sydney by Pickles Aviation Division. Total Time 34,475 hrs. Purchased by the UK based Majestic Group.
JAN94
 Registered to Rick Wright, Kangaroo Point, Queensland as VH-HIX.
03MAY94
 Majestic Airways commenced operations between Brisbane and Hervey Bay.
MAY94
 Registered to Majestic Airways, Albany Creek, Queensland as VH-HIX.
14JUN94
 Majestic Airways commenced services between Bundaberg and Brisbane with VH-HIX.
OCT94
 Majestic suspended flights to Bundaberg.
01FEB95
 Last flight in VH-HIX for Capt Ian Millard. (Source: 2)
18FEB95
 Majestic Airways ceased operations.
19FEB95
 Withdrawn from service at Bundaberg.
27FEB95
 Last flight by a Mohawk in Australia, Brisbane-Bundaberg by VH-HEI flown by Capt Ian Millard. (Source: 2)
28FEB95
 Noted at Bundaberg in full Majestic Airways colours.
JUL95
 Advertised for sale by Majestic Airways ex Bundaberg.
13NOV95
 Struck off Australian Register.
FEB96
 Sold to Queensland Air Museum.
22FEB96
 Arrived at QAM Caloundra by truck. The aircraft was later painted in Queensland Pacific Airlines colours as VH-HIX.
VH-HIX is the sole survivor of four Mohawk 298s imported into Australia by Lloyd Aviation in 1987.

 

The Australian Certification of the Mohawk

 

SOURCES
1
 Scott A. Casson, The Yellow Canary, 2014
2
 Ian Millard.

 

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

 


 

ISSUE
DATE
REMARKS
8
16MAR22
 Added an image of the aircraft in service with Rousseau Aviation as F-FPNY.
7
14APR20
 Added two references from Source:2.
6
04NOV18
 Added an article on the Australian Certification of the Mohawk which was written by Jim Thorn and published in Australian Aviation of January 1989.
5
27NOV16
 Added an image of the four Mohawls withdrawn from service at Bundaberg. Also added an image of the cockpit of sister-ship VH-HEI. Thanks to Shaun Ryan.
4
02MAR16
 Added an image of the aircraft as F-BPNY with Rousseau Aviation in 1971.
3
08MAY15
 Added precise dates of the lease to Ansett Express after reference to Source:1
2
23APR15
 Added an image of the aircraft in Allegheny Commuter livery.
1
02JAN02
 Original issue.