Last Piston Engine RPT Aircraft into YMML
 

One for all the experts on PPrune, when wasthe last RPT flight operated into Melbourne with a piston aircraft?
Was it Kendalls Herons in the late 70's or was there a few operators past that time?

How about the Titans for QF?

Piston ops into Tullamarine is what we need to know to solve the bet.

Cant give any dates but Southern Australia Airlines operated 2 C404 Titans out of Tullamarine, well after the 70's.

Weren't the Titans aeromed aircraft?

I think they used the 404's for both ops. Remember seeing one at Broken HIll painted in Australian colours. Think it was VH-UOP.

Last operator would have had to be Kendal, as most of the 402/PA31 rpt happened out of YMEN.

Flinders Island Airlines/Airways were operating Chieftains out of ML as late as 1990.

What about O'Connors?

They used to lob a piston twin in when the J32 was unavailable - does that count?

I can't recall the last piston RPT into YMML, but do recall a few oddities that others may have forgotten.

Anybody remember OK Airlines (Ovens & King - as in the rivers) that ran a tired looking Aztec from Wangaratta?

Gawne Airlines ran from Shepparton; was it a Baron?

Pacific Aviation ran a Chieftain from Sale to YMML, mid 80's.

Geelong Air Travel operated a Chieftain and Islander, and sometimes a Partenavia.

For info last Kendell Heron ops were early 1981, so I suspect they were not the final piston operators.

As mentioned above, Southern in Mildura operated 2 Titans on RPT, (additional to the Air Ambulance Titans) VH-DLF/UOP mainly on the MQL-RMK-ADL and MQL-BHQ runs. They did provide some 'back-up' to the Shorts and then the Dash-8 to MEL from time to time until they were sold around 96 or 97. They were painted in TN colours then full QF colours when QF took over TN.

I don't recall any other piston types operating to MEL at that time.

Bit off the topic, but if I remember correctly, before the Titans wore the full QF tail, they had a smaller red area on the bottom corner of the tail, and no kangaroo. Something to do with QF having an aversion to advertising there were pistons in the fleet possibly? Can anyone shed some light on this?

PK... you are correct.

The first paint scheme for the Titans was QF white with a Red flash up the tail. Looked crap and did not last long before it went to standard QF tail with roo. Yes, it was an aversion to piston engines that drove that fwd in the first place.

TKFS. The colours went from full TN to QF white with red flash then full QF.

Photos: Cessna 404 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

I ran this past a fellow historian who is an authority on third level airlines. He comments:

Any other comments or suggestions will be welcome.

Rgds