PIAGGIO P.166 VH-BHK
MSN 370
(AA000012)

 

 

The original
QAL Piaggio P.166B
VH-PQA

 

QAM thanks David Bussey for funding the acquisition of this aircraft.

 
    MSN 370 was the 19th P.166 off the Piaggio production line at Finale Ligure.
AUG60
   The Australian agent for Piaggio aircraft, The Bristol Aeroplane Company (Australia) Pty Ltd, advised the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) that they would be importing a new Piaggio P.166 (msn 370) on behalf of The Zinc Corporation of Melbourne.
29AUG60
   Bristol advised DCA that the aircraft would be operated by Essendon-based Associated Airlines Pty Ltd which was jointly owned by Broken Hill Pty and The Zinc Corporation. The registration VH-BHK was requested.
06DEC60
   The Italian CofA was issued and the aircraft was registered to The Zinc Corporation Ltd., of Melbourne.VIC. as VH-BHK.
10DEC60
   The aircraft departed Piaggio's Villanova aerodrome flown by Associated Airlines Captain Alan Polkinghorne.
24DEC60
   Arrived at Essendon on delivery to Associated Airlines. The aircraft was painted in a pale blue and white colour scheme.
05JAN61
   Name of certificate holder changed to Associated Airlines, Essendon, VIC.
61
   CofA inspection at Bankstown by The Bristol Aeroplane Company.
JUL61
   Noted at Perth on its first visit to WA.
    The aircraft was a frequent visitor to the Aeropelican Airport at Belmont near Newcastle where BHP had a steel works. Regular maintenance was carried out by Associated Airlines at Essendon.
01OCT62
   Name of certificate holder changed to Conzinc Rio Tinto Australia Ltd., Melbourne, VIC. This change reflected the merger of The Zinc Corporation and Rio Tinto.
08JAN64
   Noted in the Associated Airlines hangar at Essendon where it was based.
03APR64
   Noted outside the Associated Airlines hangar at Essendon.
64
   Name of certificate holder changed to Commonwealth Aluminium Corp. (Comalco) of Cairns, QLD. The aircraft operated regular flights between Cairns and Weipa where the company was developing a bauxite mine.
08JUL64
   Noted at Mascot, Sydney.
25AUG64
   Arrived at Mascot, Sydney from Cairns.
27AUG64
   Departed Mascot, Sydney for Cairns.
DEC66
   Noted at Essendon parked on the grass.
20JAN67
   Noted at Eagle Farm, Brisbane.
23FEB67
   Noted at Bankstown undergoing maintenance by Hawker de Havilland. The titling "Comalco Aluminium" was added to the tip tanks.
68
   Noted at Cairns with tip tank titles shortened to "Comalco" and the light blue trim replaced in pink. This inevitably led to the aeroplane being known locally as the "Pink Pig". Regular maintenance was performed in Cairns by Bush Pilots Airways who also provided a back-up aircraft when required. The aircraft operated frequent flights to Weipa and at times the flights were daily.
08JAN71
   Noted at Cairns flying regularly during the following week.
03JAN73
   Noted at Cairns, parked outside with covers.
13MAY73
   Noted at Cairns in a hangar.
JAN76
   Noted in Sydney.
01OCT77
   Advertised for sale in The Courier-Mail, Brisbane. View the advertisement here
26OCT77
   Comalco's address changed to Brisbane.
15DEC77
   Check flight by Leslie Pitt Nind before aircraft was "sold to the wreckers". (Statement by Mr Nind who visited QAM in August 1992.)
21DEC77
   Sold to Ray Causer (General Aviation Air Freighters Pty Ltd., Mascot) and ferried from Cairns to Mascot the same day.
22DEC77
   Change of ownership to General Aviation Air Freighters Pty. Ltd., Mascot. Struck off register the same day as withdrawn from use.
26JAN78
   Noted at Mascot.
20MAR78
   A severe storm struck Bankstown causing the port undercarriage of VH-BHK to collapse. At this time the aircraft was complete. Picture
JAN79
   Noted at Bankstown in a row of nine retired Piaggios.
02JUL83
   Noted at Bankstown without engines.
AUG83
   Noted at Bankstown parked on the grass with Piaggios VH-FSC, GOE and SMF.
JAN84
   Sold to John Hill.
JUL88
   Sold to David Bussey and donated to QAM.
89
   Transported from John Hill's property at Bahrs Scrub Road, Bahrs Scrub to Caloundra.
91
  

Repainted in Queensland Airlines colours but still carries the registration VH-BHK. (Represents the sole QAL Piaggio P.166B VH-PQA which was burned on the fire dump at Tullamarine).

JAN92
 Pegasus Aviation at Coolangatta donated two Lycoming engines in return for items removed from the hulk of QAM's Cessna 337 P2-ELO to be used in the restoration of Pegasus Aviation's own Cessna 337. (P2-ELO was returned to QAM in MAR92 and ultimately deaccessioned in MAY01).
30OCT19
 The correct registration VH-BHK was applied to the aeroplane.
   

 

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Piaggio VH-PQA holds a place in history as having operated the first of Australia's new "supplemental services" when it entered service with QAL on 20JAN64. The QAL schedule was as follows:

Brisbane-Kingaroy-Wondai 

5 services weekly replacing 3 DC-3 services.
Brisbane-Moree-St George  giving an extra service per week.
Brisbane-Bundaberg  providing a daily midday service.
Brisbane-Rockhampton   

providing a twice weekly connection to North Qld.

[Reference: AHSA Journal Vol XV No 5 p.72]

VH-PQA was dismantled at Essendon between 5-9 December 1977 and trucked to the fire dump at Tullamarine on 9 December 1977. (Source: personal observation by Greg Thom)

 

 

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

 



 

ISSUE
DATE
REMARKS
8
31OCT19
Added an image after application of the correct registration VH-BHK. Thanks to Angelo Calleja.
7
21DEC17
Added a reference to donated engines in JAN92.
6
25FEB17
Completely revised the history based on an article prepared for Aviation Heritage (AHSA Journal) thanks to Roger McDonald.
5
15JAN17
Added an image of the aircraft being dismantled at Bankstown.
Added an image of QAM taking delivery of the aircraft.
4
05OCT12
Added the date that VH-PQA was transported to the Tullamarine fire dump.
3
04MAR09
Added a newspaper cutting advertising the aircraft for sale. See 01OCT77.
2
01MAR02
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