JOHN HOPTON MEMORIAL COLLECTION
No. 5549. Bristol 170 Freighter 21E (A81-1 c/n 12799) Royal Australian Air Force
Photograph from RAAF

Bristol 170 Freighter 21E

03/31/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: ";This aircraft was registered G-AIMI on December 3, 1946 and serialed WB482 when it was acquired by the Ministry of Supply. Transferred to the RAAF on January 24, 1949, for use at Woomera Rocket Range, serialed as A81-1 it is seen here in an early colour scheme and very large fin flash.

In 1967, the aircraft was sold to the Australian Air Express, and subsequently flown to Archerfield, Queensland, for resale to Jetair Australia in August 1969 and registered VH-SJG in February 1970. This 170 flew charters until the end of the year, when the aircraft was sold back to Air Express, doing freight runs to Tasmania, Queensland and Papua New Guinea. The aircraft flew its last freight run on July 1, 1978.

It was sold to Malcolm Long, and ferried to Point Cook, Victoria, for restoration and repainting into RAAF colours. Flown to Coolangatta, Queensland, in 1980, it was displayed at the Chewing Gum Field Air Museum before being gifted to the RAAF in 1988. Upon its arrival at Point Cook, the aircraft was repainted by members of the Friends of the RAAF Museum and put on static display at the RAAF Museum."


Created August 12, 2006