VH-EXW  Aero Commander 500A                          (c/n  1031-41)

                            

                                  VH-EXW joined the Executive Air Services fleet in May 1964.     It had formerly been PI-C848
                                  in the Philippines and N6204X before that  . Executive Air Services was a major operator of Aero
                                  Commander aircraft, both new and used, based at Essendon airport.      David Carter’s picture of
                                  –EXW above was taken on 9 January, 1971, when it was at Mascot.   The aircraft was withdrawn
                                  from service in May 1978, possibly as a consequence of  inspections for wing spar fatigue and
                                  corrosion that saw several early model Aero Commanders withdrawn around that time    . Twenty
                                  years later its remains were reported  at Melton aerodrome, near Melbourne, along with an airworthy
                                  Commander 500A, VH-IOE.   That aircraft was still part of the Melton Air Services fleet in July 2017.