VH-BZE  Convair 340-51       (c/n  171)

                           

                               VH-BZE was originally ordered by a Mexican entrepreneur but was never delivered (he died
                               whilst the aircraft was being made ready).  It was to have been XB-TUQ but was stored and
                               subsequently sold to Ansett early in 1955.   After a period under lease to Butler Air Transport
                               in 1958 (during which it was painted in full Butler livery) it was sold in the US in 1959 becoming
                               N5511K for Hawiain Airlines.   The lovely color shot below was taken by Barrie Colledge in
                               1956.  Interesting that I did not run into him since we were both there at the same time!  At the
                               foot of the page is an image of -BZE in Butler titling, taken by Ben Dannecker at Sydney in 1959.
                               The Butler name disappeared the following year as Ansett's Sydney based intra-state services
                               were renamed Airlines of NSW.