Torres wrote
ZEEBEE. The first new Islanders were registered in the VH-IS* series in Australia. P2-ISA would have been allocated that registration when we re-structured all Talair fleet registrations in the late 1970's or early 1980's. Obviously a different aircraft to VH-ISA.
Thanks Torres. wasn't sure about that until you clarified since, as you know, some of the machines simply changed the prefix when they traveled between OZ and PNG.
We cross hired one of the 300hp Islanders from Talair for a year or so that became VH-EDI. I thought it was P2-EDI before we got it. (Looked like the biggest heap of junk ever, but it was a reliable old bus)
As an interesting footnote, I did a fair bit of flying in VH-ISA around New Britain and caused a bit of a stir with a couple of the older ATC guys whenever I forgot to call myself VSA as is required for International ops.
They must have thought it had risen again !
Even though it VSA was required, everyone always called me ISA so it was easier to respond the same way.