VH-AES  'Hawdon'        c/n    6021     Previous Identity:  41-18660
                                                
                                                    Essendon, 1954
                                                                                                                            
                                                    This was the aircraft which made TAA's first scheduled flight (between Melbourne and
                                                    Sydney) on 9 September 1946.   It went to TAA Sunbird services in New Guinea in 1960
                                                    as VH-SBA.  After being withdrawn from service it returned to Melbourne and was repainted
                                                    as VH-AES for TAA's 25th Anniversary Flight.  After being stored for several years it was
                                                    hung in front of the passenger terminal at Tullamarine from December 1979 until mid 1987.
                                                    In 1988 it was restored to flying condition and registered to Hawdon Operations Ltd.

                                                    Ian Mcdonell saw it (below) at an air show at Bankstown in 1990.