VH-INF Bell 47J Ranger                                                (c/n  1801)

                                  

                                       For shots of this machine in the livery of its original owners, Ansett-ANA, see the entry in the
                                       Australian National Airlines sub-section.  It was sold by Ansett-ANA in March 1968 to Airfast
                                       Services Pty Ltd, a division of Helicopter Utilities.     Greg Banfield's shot above shows it at
                                       Mascot just after having been acquired by Airfast.    They did not hold it long and in November
                                       of that year it went to Rotor Works Pty Ltd.    Sometime later it was converted to a Bell 47J-2A.
                                       It was badly damaged at McDonald Downs Station, NT in July 1979.  Greg Banfield's second
                                       shot below depicts it in decline at Bankstown in May 1985 where it evidently was taken.  It was
                                       officially withdrawn from use in November 1986.   However, by August 1999 it had been restored
                                       and re-registered VH-JEY.  As such it is still current being registered to a company in Caboolture,
                                       Queensland.