RENURPP; only for a few months.
Yes , Maslings was a failing operation and Ansett wanted desperately to get there hands on Aeropelican to secure the large interstate on-carriage that "the Duck" provided.
It was nothing more than a strategic bye by Masling who saw it as a way of offloading his own failing operation; he did this by acquiring Aeropelican and immediately taking the on-carriage to the opposition, aka Australian Airlines.
He bought 3 new Otters to ensure there was no taxable profit, then went to Ansett to offer the whole operation to Ansett. To get their hands on Aeropelican, they had to bye the Masling operation also.
After the byeout, Ansett then offloaded the Masling division, very quickly - probably almost gave it away to rid themselves of it ?
The "DUCK" then became a "jewel in the crown" for Sir Peter !! He called it the "money machine".
Role on.