VH-CJY  de Havilland D.H.104 Dove 1B                  (c/n  04404)

                               

                                    This was another of the RNZAF Devons (Dove 1B when in civilian guise) brought into Australia
                                    in the early 1970s by Murchison Air Services of Perth.  This one was formerly NZ1818 and
                                    received its Australian CofA in October 1972.   In the event, Murchison went out of business
                                    and were taken over by Trans Air Charter.  In fact, this Dove should have become VH-RTX
                                    but it was sold to Altair Pty Ltd of Jandakot before civil conversion was complete.   The two
                                    images on this page are both by Geoff Goodall and show the aircraft (above) at Narrogin, WA
                                    in January 1973 wearing Altair titling, and (below) after it had been sold to Coveair Pty Ltd at
                                    Adelaide in May of 1975.  Coveair operated it on passenger services from Adelaide to several
                                    South Australia towns, although mainly to Kangaroo Island.   Doves were very expensive to own
                                    and operate and really were not an ideal airline or commuter aircraft.   VH-CJY was withdrawn
                                    from use in 1976.