VH-SBL  Douglas DC-3CS1C3G                     (c/n  12056)

                                

                                     Well, even as VH-TAE this aircraft had always been a freighter with TAA.    However, when
                                     converted in 1960 (by Hawker de Havilland) for use in Papua/New Guinea it was given a mix-
                                     ed freighter/passenger interior.    When Greg Banfield saw it at Mascot (above) in December
                                     1963 it was still looking pretty much like a dedicated frieghter..   It was sold to Air Nuigin in
                                     1973 becoming P2-SBL, and then re-registered P2-ANR a couple of years later. It re-entered
                                     the Australian register in 1976 still as VH-SBL for Forrestair Stephen Pty Ltd of Melbourne and
                                     used on freighter services across the on Bass Straight.  After a period of open storage from 1978-
                                    1981 it reappeared in the markings of  General Cargo Airways as as seen in the imagwe immed-
                                     iately below from the Barry Maclean collection.   It was then refurbished with plush seats and flew
                                     around entitled "DC-3 Australia" as seen in another (albeit somewhat washed out) image from
                                     Barry's collection (photo no. 3).    Finally, Phil Vabre took the shot on the foot of the page (no 4)
                                     at the Narromine Airshow in 2005.  The old lady is now used on ad hoc commemorative flights.
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