VH-MWE  Cessna 402                              (c/n  402-0087)

                                     

                                         VH-MWE was the aircraft which flew the first Aeropelican service from Belmont Airport, Newcastle
                                         to Sydney on 1 June 1971.   When Greg Banfield's shot above was taken at home base Belmont in
                                         October 1974 it was carrying the name 'Kim'.    -MWE was originally registered to Masling Aviation
                                         (ex N3287Q) in July 1967, and appears in the background of the second shot of VH-MWG whilst
                                         with that airline. .  It went to Aeropelican Inter City Commuter Air Service (Pty) Ltd early in 1971.
                                         This company provided (and still does) service Newcastle and Sydney.     The regional carrier is still
                                         going strong (albeit with several different corporate owners over the years) and today flies BAe Jet-
                                         stream 32s over routes now encompassing not only Sydney to Newcastle, but also to Narrabri,
                                         Mudgee and Cooma. The main base was moved from Belmont to Williamtown in 2004.  VH-MWE
                                         was withdrawn from service by Aeropelican in March 1981 and struck off the register.