1544

DQ-REJ "Mailangi" with TURTLE AIRWAYS in Fiji.

Photo: Matthijs van Velzen © October 2019

DQ-REJ forced landing in cane field near Saweni, Lautoka.

Photo: Avinesh Gopal © 08 April 2019 - via Isabelle - scroll down for more photos.

Photo: Bob Kobzey © 07 September 2016

DQ-REJ runs up for test flight, DQ-TAM (1433) awaits a call.

Photo: Bob Kobzey © 07 September 2016

VH-YKY gets disassembled by Air-Ag experts.

I see you Johnny Land !

Photos: Lance Higgerson © 21 December 2015

VH-YKY arrives at Bankstown for shipment to Fiji.

Photos: Stewart Kedar © 11 December 2015

VH-YKY morning and afternoon trips.

Photos: Ted Larkin © 11 February 2014

VH-AQU at Hobart home base.

Photos: Michael Greenhill © 06 August 2012

VH-AQU beautifully captured by Lenn.

Photos: Lenn Bayliss © 18 March 2012

VH-AQU just arrived at her new Hobart, Tasmania home.

Phone photo: Chris Lawson © 10 January 2012

VH-AQU in her latest livery.

VH-AQU, ready, willing and able.

Photo: Lenn Bayliss © 05 February 2005

VH-AQU high and dry at Bankstown.

Photos: Lance Higgerson © 29 August 2006

VH-AQU my visit to Bankstown to say "hello".

"Happy crew" John holding a DHC-2.COM card, and Nathan in the cockpit.

Photos: Neil Aird © 20 April 2005

VH-AQU plying her trade in Sydney.

Photo: Simon Boothroyd © 15 July 2004

VH-AQU ready for revenue.

Photos: Lenn Bayliss © May 2004

Photo: Michael O'Farrell © April 2004

VH-AQU at usual haunt, Rose Bay.

Photo: Unknown photographer © August 2002 - Aird Archives

VH-AQU weathervanes at the bouy.

Photo: © Lenn Bayliss

VH-AQU heads out at Rose Bay, Sydney, NSW.

Photo: Vic Smith © 14 April 2000

Photo: © Lenn Bayliss

VH-AQU with Aquaflight at Palm Beach, NSW.

Photo: John Wegg © November 1991 - Ian MacFarlane Collection

VH-IDN wrapped up at Shute Harbour.

Photo: Peter Keating © 10 October 1989 - Ian MacFarlane Collection - Aird Archives

VH-IDN with Seair at Brisbane during "Expo '88"

Photo: Lenn Bayliss © May 1988 - Aird Archives

VH-IDN with Air Whitsunday, at Townsville, Queensland.

Photo: Unknown photographer © November 1986 - Aird Archives

VH-IDN being prepared at Bankstown, N.S.W.

Photo: Alan Flett © October 1986 - Aird Archives

VH-IDN at Bankstown, N.S.W.

Photo: Peter Keating © 19 November 1971 - Michael J. Ody Collection

Photo: Ben Dannecker Collection © via Geoff Goodall

VH-IDN hard at work with Aerial Agriculture.

1544

VH-IDN • VH-AQU • VH-YKY

DQ-REJ

Delivered to Hawker de Havilland Australia, 07-Apr-1964.

• VH-IDN Aerial Agriculture, Bankstown, NSW, 29-Jul-1964.

Note: Named “Capella” after one of the Shorts “C” class flying boats of Imperial Airways that flew passenger services between the UK and Australia from 1936 until the outbreak of WWII.

Accident: near Wee Jasper, NSW,25-May-1966 The accident on was engine failure while spreading superphosphate. The pilot Ted MacIntosh survived to fly many another day. The aircraft was rebuilt by Aerial Agriculture Pty., Ltd., at their Bankstown hangar. The cause of the engine failure was a split timing gear drive sprocket. The failed sprockets were subsequently modified and I can’t recall ever hearing of one ever failing thereafter. (This additional info from Wally Scott)

• VH-IDN Cancelled 25-May-1966 as having crashed.

• VH-IDN Aerial Agriculture, Bankstown, NSW, Australia. Regd 05-Jan-1967. Canx 16-Nov-1971.

Note: During the 1970s and 80s it was common practice to cancel aircraft from the register when they were not being used as this saved registration charges. This particularly applied to ag aircraft as they had seasonal work.

• VH-IDN Great Barrier Reef Flying Boats Pty., Ltd., Airlie Beach, QLD. Regd 09-Mar-1972. Canx 14-Jul-1975. Regd 18-Oct-1978. Canx 17-Oct-1980. Retored to register 10-Mar-1982. 13-Dec-1982 wfu

• VH-IDN Air Whitsunday in 1986.

• VH-IDN Seair, Brisbane, QLD. Regd 02-Sep-1986. Canx 02-Mar-1990.

• VH-IDN Aquatic Airways, (Aquaflight) Barrenjoey Boathouse, Palm Beach, NSW. Regd 14-Feb-1990.

• VH-AQU Aquatic Airways, (Aquaflight) Barrenjoey Boathouse, Palm Beach, NSW. Regd 02-Mar-1990.

• VH-AQU Company name change to Sydney Harbour Seaplanes, Avalon Beach, Sydney, NSW. Regd 15-Jul-1993.

• VH-AQU Company name change to Vengreen Pty., Ltd., Double Bay, NSW, 24-May-2002.

• VH-AQU Company name change to Sydney Harbour Air Taxis, Rose Bay, NSW. 07-Apr-2006.

• VH-AQU Seaplane Assets Pty., Ltd., t/a Southern Cross Seaplanes, Rose Bay, NSW. Regd 02-Aug-2006.

• VH-AQU Company name change to Sydney Seaplanes, Rose Bay, NSW. 23-Feb-2007.

VH-AQU Owned and operated by YKYMF Group Pty., Ltd., dba Tasmanian Air Adventures, Hobart, TAS. Regd 15-Nov-2011.

• VH-YKY Owned and operated by YKYMF Group Pty., Ltd., Hobart, TAS. dba Tasmanian Air Adventures. Re regd 08-Nov-2012.

Note: Company sadly in liquidation 2015.

• Arrived at Bankstown (Georges River) 11-Dec-2015, in container by 21-Dec-2015.

• DQ-REJ Turtle Airways, Fiji. Named "Mailangi". Flying by 07-Sep-2016.

• Current •

Turtle Airways Plane Lands In Cane Fields - Fiji Sun Newspaper.

Turtle Airways confirmed that the pilot conducted a successful forced landing in a cane field to the rear of The University of Fiji at Saweni.

In a statement, Turtle Airways Ltd., confirmed that at approximately 10.30 am this morning ( 8/4/19) a DHC2 Beaver aircraft, DQ-REJ, owned and operated by Turtle Airways Ltd suffered an engine malfunction during a flight from the Yasawa Islands to Nadi.

Acting Accountable Manager Ian J. Gill confirmed that the pilot conducted a successful forced landing in a cane field to the rear of The University of Fiji at Saweni.

“The four passengers and the pilot were uninjured. The passengers were airlifted by helicopter to Nadi.
The aircraft appears to be undamaged.

“The cause of the incident is yet to be determined and Turtle Airways Ltd is co-operating with the CAAF in their investigations.”