VH-BPV
(2) Britten-Norman BN-2A-8
Islander
(cc/n 134)
Flown to
Australia from the Britten-Norman factory as G-AXXF, VH-BPV was
delivered to Bush
Pilots Airways, of Cairns, in June 1970 about the time David Carter
photographed it at Bankstown
in original rego (below) and as VH-BPV
(above). In October
1977 it crossed
Torres Strait to
Papua New Guinea to become P2-BPV . It returned to the
Australian register in March 1978 but
four months later was
back
in PNG as P2-ISQ with Talair. The model number
was
changed to
BN-2A-26 to signify an
increase in maximum take-off weight. The Islander
stayed in
PNG this
time and was later
registered P2-SAA with Simbu Aviation. It
was finally withdrawn from
service
in 1990.
Note: Some sources say VH-BPV was initially registered to Somerset
Airways. Somerset was a
small operator bought by BPA
in 1963. There might have been some tax advantage in initially
using this company name but the aircraft flew in Bush Pilots markings.
By 1976 it was registered
in BPA’s name.
