* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Arriving back at Terminal 2 at 4:30pm to a water cannon salute by airport fire crews, after completing the final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight. Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jake Fox
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27 February 2016 © David Eyre (UPDATED 29 Feb 2016 – additional photos and comments from passengers on the last flight)
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines’ Fokker 50 VH-FNH landed on runway 21 at 4:27pm today, on a special charter flight to mark the end of Fokker 50 operations by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and was greeted by a water cannon salute by the airport fire crews.
End of an era
The withdrawal of Fokker 50s also marks the end of an era for Fokker turboprop operations in Western Australia; turbo-prop services commenced in Western Australia 57 years ago, when MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA) placed the first Fokker F.27 Friendship into service in WA regional services, on 27 December 1959.
The 46-seat Fokker 50s have operated in Western Australia since October 1994, when Skywest obtained them from then-parent company Ansett Airlines.
Following the collapse of Ansett in September 2001, Skywest was sold to Singaporean investors and in 2013 was acquired by Virgin Australia to become Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA). At the time, the airline indicated that the Fokker 50s would be replaced by ATR72s from August 2014, but with unprofitable regional routes and a downturn in the mining industry, the Fokker 50s were retained.
VH-FNH Fokker 50 (MSN 20113) of Skywest, named ‘City of Carnarvon’. Taxying in after landing on runway 21 at 8:01am, as flight XR114 from Geraldton.
Photo © David Eyre
Taking off runway 21 at 15:04 on a FIFO flight to Windarling iron ore mine. VH-FNA was the first Fokker 50 delivered to Australia and the only Fokker 50 to be painted in Virgin Australia livery – the rest of the fleet retained their Skywest livery until they were retired.
Photo © David Eyre
The Fokker 50s were used on regular public transport (RPT) flights to Geraldton in the Midwest, and regulated routes to Albany, Esperance and Ravensthorpe in the South West of Western Australia. They were also used on Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO) charter flights for mining companies.
As reported in AviationWA, Virgin reduced the southwest services in December 2014.
The State Government’s regulated routes were put up for tender in July 2015, as the current contracts were due to expire in February 2016. In September 2015, Virgin announced that it would not be bidding for the routes, as they were not economically viable for Fokker 50 aircraft.
Virgin confirmed in October 2015 that it would cease flights to Albany, Esperance and Ravensthorpe on 27 February 2016, when its contract with the WA government ended and that all Fokker 50s were to be withdrawn from service and sold.
Sydney-based Regional Express (Rex) won the tender for the Albany and Esperance routes using three Saab 340B aircraft, the first of which arrived in Perth on 24 February 2016.
Final services
By the final days of operations, four of the eight Fokker 50s had already been withdrawn from service (VH-FNA/FNB/FND/FSL), leaving VH-FNE/FNF/FNH/FNI in service.
VH-FNE and VH-FNI completed their final revenue flights on Friday 26 February 2016.
VH-FNA, the only F50 in Virgin Australia livery and also the first one delivered to Australia, had been in a hangar at Perth since its last service on 9 October 2015. Attempts were made to make VH-FNA serviceable again to operate the final revenue flight, including changing one of the engines. Engine runs were conducted on 26 and 27 February 2016, but it did not re-enter service.
This left VH-FNF and VH-FNH to operate the final revenue flights on 27 February 2016:
- VA2630 Perth-Esperance: VH-FNH dep 0743, arr 0903
- VA2633 Esperance-Perth: VH-FNH dep 0954, arr 1125;
- VA2522 Perth-Albany: VH-FNF dep 0816, arr 0919;
- VA2523 Albany-Perth: VH-FNF dep 1010, arr 1123;
- VA2655 Perth-Geraldton: VH-FNF dep 1229, arr 1336;
- VA2654 Geraldton-Perth: VH-FNF dep 1411, arr 1508; FINAL RPT SCHEDULED SERVICE
- VA9061 ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Rottnest, Mandurah and Perth: VH-FNH dep 1524, arr 1627. Water cannon salute on arrival. FINAL F50 REVENUE SERVICE. Arrived at Bay 205, Terminal 2. (see photos below)
Arriving on runway 03 at 11:23 as VA2523 from Albany – the final Albany service by Virgin, and 3rd-last revenue service by VH-FNF. It departed to Geraldton and back later this day, performing the final scheduled RPT flight by Virgin Australia’s Fokker 50s.
Photo © Steve Jaksic
Approaching runway 03 at 11:25 as flight VA2633 from Esperance, on VH-FNH’s final RPT flight. After this flight, it operated the final Virgin Australia revenue flight, a charter flight over Perth. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Steve Jaksic
Approaching runway 03 at 11:25 as flight VA2633 from Esperance, on VH-FNH’s final RPT flight. After this flight, it operated the final Virgin Australia revenue flight, a charter flight over Perth. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Steve Jaksic
Aboard the Farewell Fokker 50 Flight
Virgin Australia’s last Fokker 50 scheduled RPT flight was VA2654 from Geraldton, operated by VH-FNF, which arrived back in Perth at 3.08pm.
A special ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth, VA9061, had also been arranged, with each passenger paying $250 to be on the historic last revenue flight.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
Photo © Jimmy Leng
Photo © Jimmy Leng
As mentioned above, attempts to make VH-FNA serviceable to operate the final flight had failed, so VH-FNH was given the honour. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2, so it was still a historically significant aircraft.
As passengers walked out onto the Terminal 2 apron, VH-FNH was parked at Bay 205, with VH-FNA parked alongside at Bay 204. Passengers were allowed to take photos before boarding.
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, seen parked at Bay 205 at 2:29pm, prior to departure on the final Fokker 50 revenue flight. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, seen parked at Bay 205 at 2:46pm, prior to departure on the final Fokker 50 revenue flight. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, seen parked at Bay 205 at 2:46pm, prior to departure on the final Fokker 50 revenue flight. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Passengers board flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, at Bay 205 at 2:53pm, prior to departure on the final Fokker 50 revenue flight. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Passengers board flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, at Bay 205 at 2:53pm, prior to departure on the final Fokker 50 revenue flight. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
VH-FNH was pushed back at 3:09pm for engine start and took off from runway 21 at 3:24pm.
The aircraft headed west and crossed the coast over Cottesloe Beach.
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View north from Swanbourne, seen from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) from flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. The aircraft departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
Aboard the flight were three members of the Aviation Association of WA (AAWA).
“There was a great party atmosphere on board as most of the passengers were Skywest or Virgin Australia pilots, flight attendants, and operations people, many of them retired, so it was a reunion of sorts for them.” AAWA’s Jimmy Leng said. “Lots of champagne and happy chatter as ex-Flight Attendants got involved in serving champagne and snacks, whilst catching up with former colleagues.
As a young child in 1959, AAWA member Clyde Lannan remembered seeing the Fokker 50’s predecessor, MMA’s first Fokker F.27 Friendship, sitting on the apron at Perth, after it was delivered from Amsterdam. One Flight Attendant aboard had been working on the first MMA Fokker F.27 services to Darwin in 1961.
In discussions with ex-Skywest staff, Clyde noted that most people missed the Skywest era, as the company changed following the Virgin Australia takeover.
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Cabin view from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Champagne is being served and there is a cheerful, party atmosphere amongst passengers and crew.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
VH-FNH passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, before flying back past the city before landing again on runway 21
Clyde noted that “Over Rottnest, we saw boats in Thomson Bay involved with the Rottnest Channel Swim.”
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View southwest from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Parker Point and Porpoise Bay can be seen below the wingtip. Thomson Bay is at bottom right.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
Jimmy said that “The flight was interesting, as they flew between 2,600 and 5,100 feet throughout, including a few low-level circuits around the Perth CBD – we had great views of the city, Rottnest Island and Mandurah.”
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View southwest from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Taken at 4:11pm whilst the aircraft circled the city. The recently-opened Elizabeth Quay inlet is visible. Hay Street runs from left to right along the lower part of the photo. Mitchell Freeway and Kings Park at upper right.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View southwest from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Taken at 4:13pm whilst the aircraft circled the city.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View east from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Taken at 4:13pm whilst the aircraft circled the city. In this view, Perth Airport is at the top, with the former Maylands Aerodrome, Belmont Racecourse and Langley Park visible – all formerly used as airports.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View southwest from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Taken at 4:15pm whilst the aircraft circled the city.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View northwest from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Taken at 4:15pm whilst the aircraft circled the city.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View southeast from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) on flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Taken at 4:16pm, whilst the aircraft circled the city.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Approaching runway 21 at 4:27pm as flight VA9061, a Farewell Fokker 50 charter flight over Perth and surrounds. The aircraft departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Keith Anderson
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Approaching runway 21 at 4:27pm as flight VA9061, a Farewell Fokker 50 charter flight over Perth and surrounds. The aircraft departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Keith Anderson
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Approaching runway 21 at 4:27pm as flight VA9061, a Farewell Fokker 50 charter flight over Perth and surrounds. The aircraft departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Keith Anderson
On landing, everyone cheered.
Clyde Lannan said “As we taxied in to Terminal 2, the fire trucks did a water cannon salute and the aircraft was drenched!”
Jimmy Leng said “Receiving the water canon from the inside was interesting. I could not get many pictures because of water running down the windows!”
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Arriving back at Terminal 2 at 4:30pm to a water cannon salute by airport fire crews, after completing the final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight. Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jake Fox
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Arriving back at Terminal 2 at 4:30pm to a water cannon salute by airport fire crews, after completing the final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight. Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jake Fox
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * View from seat 12G (window seat in last row on right side) as flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, taxies in. Taken at 4:30pm as the local fire crews welcomed the aircraft with the traditional water cannon salute.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Arriving back at Terminal 2 at 4:30pm to a water cannon salute by airport fire crews, after completing the final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight. Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jake Fox
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Arriving back at Terminal 2 at 4:30pm to a water cannon salute by airport fire crews, after completing the final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight. Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jake Fox
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Arriving back at Terminal 2 at 4:30pm to a water cannon salute by airport fire crews, after completing the final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight. Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm. VH-FNH was the first F50 delivered to Skywest, in 1994, and in 2013 was the first aircraft to arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 2.
Photo © Jake Fox
A number of Virgin Australia and other staff were there to greet the aircraft at the terminal.
Passengers stayed with the aircraft on the tarmac for 20 minutes after arrival, chatting and taking photos of crews and the aircraft, including visiting the flight deck.
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Virgin Australia staff welcome flight VA9061 at 4:36pm, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after its arrival and shutdown at Bay 205.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after arrival.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after arrival.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after its arrival and shutdown.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after its arrival and shutdown.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Rear cabin, showing the flight attendant’s seat and galley, after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Passengers deplane as Virgin Australia staff watch, after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. Standing nearby is VH-FNA Fokker 50 (MSN 20106) of Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, named ‘Rockingham Beach’, which was the first F50 delivered to Australia.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Pilots in the cockpit after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Cockpit, seen after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Pilot shows the flight log, which shows the final revenue flights by VH-FNH that day – flights from Perth to Esperance and flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds. It also shows the aircraft has now completed 47,601 flying hours and 40,975 landings.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after arrival.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Seen after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Seen after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Seen after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Seen after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight * Seen after flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after arrival.
Photo © Will Carvolth
* Final Virgin Australia Fokker 50 revenue flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight over Perth and surrounds, after arrival.
Photo © Will Carvolth
“It was an enjoyable and historic experience, especially since I’ve flown on many Skywest F50s since the late 1990s,” Clyde Lannan said.
All passengers received a commemorative ‘Last Virgin Australia F50 flight’ certificate and a Skywest showbag, which included a new Fokker 50 Safety Card.
Flight VA9061, a ‘Farewell Fokker 50’ charter flight, departed Perth Airport’s runway 21 at 3:24pm and headed west. It passed over Rottnest Island three times, then headed south, over Mandurah and Peel Inlet, before heading north for three orbits around Perth’s city centre, then back past the city before landing again on runway 21 at 4:27pm.
Screenshot from FlightRadar 24
Seen parked at Terminal 2 at 4:34pm, after arrival from Geraldton at 3:08pm as flight VA2654 – this was the final RPT scheduled service for Virgin Australia’s Fokker 50s.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
VH-FNA, the only F50 in Virgin Australia livery and also the first one delivered to Australia, had been in a hangar at Perth since its last service on 9 October 2015. Attempts were made to get it serviceable again to operate the final revenue flight, including changing one of the engines. Engine runs were conducted on 26 and 27 February 2016, but it did not re-enter service, and it was parked next to VH-FNH, the aircraft which flew the final revenue flight.
Photo © Will Carvolth
VH-FNA, the only F50 in Virgin Australia livery and also the first one delivered to Australia, had been in a hangar at Perth since its last service on 9 October 2015. Attempts were made to get it serviceable again to operate the final revenue flight, including changing one of the engines. Engine runs were conducted on 26 and 27 February 2016, but it did not re-enter service, and it was parked next to VH-FNH, the aircraft which flew the final revenue flight.
Photo © Jimmy Leng
VH-FNA, the only F50 in Virgin Australia livery and also the first one delivered to Australia, had been in a hangar at Perth since its last service on 9 October 2015. Attempts were made to get it serviceable again to operate the final revenue flight, including changing one of the engines. Engine runs were conducted on 26 and 27 February 2016, but it did not re-enter service, and it was parked next to VH-FNH, the aircraft which flew the final revenue flight.
Photo © Will Carvolth
Skywest Airlines/Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Fokker 50 fleet history
Registration |
MSN |
Ex Reg |
Delivered to Skywest |
Last revenue service |
Comments |
| VH-FNA | 20106 | PH-EXG | 1 Aug 1995 | 9 Oct 2015 Geraldton to Perth. | First F50 delivered to Australia, on 10 Sep 1987 to Ansett Australia.
Previously named ‘City of Albany’ with Skywest. Repainted in April 2013, the only F50 to wear Virgin Australia livery. Withdrawn from service 9 Oct 2015 and stored in hangar at Perth, having flown 54,185 hours with 48,355 cycles. Was to have re-entered service to operate the final F50 service. An engine was replaced and it completed engine runs 26 and 27 Feb 2016, but did not re-enter service. To be flown to Melbourne for preservation at the Ansett Museum? 24 April 2016 – Flown from Perth to Alice Springs for storage. |
| VH-FNB | 20107 | PH-EXF | 30 Dec 1995 | 23 Oct 2015, Esperance to Perth | Delivered to Ansett 3 Nov 1987.
3rd F50 delivered to Skywest. Later named ‘Shire of Esperance’. Aircraft withdrawn from service 23 Oct 2015 and stored at Perth, having flown 51,449 hours with 46,425 cycles As this aircraft required a costly heavy maintenance check, it was withdrawn from use and is being broken up for parts. |
| VH-FNC | 20108 | PH-EXP | 31 Mar 1996 | 3 May 1996 | Delivered to Ansett 1 Dec 1987.
Leased by Skywest during 1996. Returned to Ansett, then leased to Skyways (Sweden) as SE-LEH, later PH-MUJ, last noted at Maastricht. |
| VH-FND | 20129 | PH-EXB | 8 Dec 1995 | 9 Jan 2016, Esperance to Perth | Originally ordered by Corsair (France) but not taken up, so delivered to Ansett as a replacement for MSN 20109, which was not accepted due to delays and faults
Last F50 delivered to Ansett, on 3 Sep 1988. Last F50 to be repainted in Skywest livery – Sep 2005. Later named ‘Shire of Shark Bay’. Aircraft withdrawn from service 9 Jan 2016 and stored at Perth. 19 April 2016 – Flown from Perth to Alice Springs for storage. |
| VH-FNE | 20110 | PH-EXL,
VH-FNE, (VT-RAA) |
24 Nov 1994 (lease)
9 Oct 1996 (lease) |
2 Aug 1995 (end of lease)
13 Nov 1996 (end of lease) |
Delivered to Ansett 21 Dec 1987.
Leased to Skywest twice. Returned to Ansett, then leased to Skyways (Sweden) as SE-LEL, later PH-GER, last noted at Maastricht. |
| VH-FNE (2) | 20212 | PH-PRJ | 27 Sep 2006 | 26 Feb 2016, VA2521 Albany to Perth | Previously leased by Philippine Airlines, Denim Air, Air Nostrum, Trans Travel Airlines, Aer Arann Express, EuroManx in the period 1991-2006.
Aircraft withdrawn from service 26 Feb 2016 and stored at Perth. 21 April 2016 – Flown from Perth to Alice Springs for storage. |
| VH-FNF | 20111 | PH-EXV
VH-FNE VT-RAB |
24 Nov 1994 (lease) | 1 Aug 1995 (end of lease) | Delivered to Ansett 14 Jan 1988.
Leased to Skywest. Returned to Ansett, then leased to Skyways (Sweden) as SE-LED, later PH-AMP, then 5Y-MIS Skyward International Aviation (Kenya) then Haajara Airlines. |
| VH-FNF (2) | 20200 | PH-PRH | 20 Dec 2006 | 27 Feb 2016:
|
Leased to Philippine Airlines, Denim Air, Air Nostrum, European Air Express, EuroHopper, Aer Arann Express, British Airways City Express, Loganair, VLM Airlines in 1996-2006.
Operated final RPT scheduled service, flight VA2654 from Geraldton to Perth (not the final F50 revenue service). Aircraft withdrawn from service 27 Feb 2016 and stored at Perth. |
| VH-FNG | 20112 | PH-EXW
VH-FNG OE-LFX |
26 Jan 1995 (lease) | 15 Dec 1995 (end of lease) | Delivered to Ansett 27 Jan 1988.
Leased to Austrian Air Services as OE-LFX ‘Kranebitten’ during 4 Oct 1990 – 13 Sep 1994. Returned to Ansett as VH-FNG. Leased to Skywest. Returned to Ansett, then leased to Skyways (Sweden) as SE-LEC, later PH-KPB, last noted at Maastricht. |
| VH-FNH | 20113 | PH-EXY
VH-FNH (VT-RAC) |
8 Oct 1994 (lease)
30 Apr 1996 |
28 Jan 1996 (end of lease)
27 Feb 2016:
|
Delivered to Ansett 17 Feb 1988.
First F50 delivered to Skywest. Later named ‘City of Carnarvon’. First aircraft to arrive at Terminal 2, Perth Airport– 2 Mar 2013. Operated final revenue service, a charter flight from Perth Airport over Perth, Rottnest and Mandurah and return. Welcomed by a water cannon salute on arrival. Aircraft withdrawn from service 27 Feb 2016 and stored at Perth. 17 April 2016 – Flown from Perth to Alice Springs for storage. |
| VH-FNI | 20114 | PH-EXZ | 23 May 1996 (lease)
7 Sep 1996 |
28 Jun 1996 (end of lease)
26 Feb 2016: VA2639 Esperance – Perth |
Delivered to Ansett 2 Mar 1988.
Operated final Ansett Australia service operated by a propeller-driven aircraft, also final Ansett Australia service by a Fokker 50, as AN539 Ballina – Sydney on 30 Aug 1996. Leased to Skywest in 1996 but acquired later in 1996. Later named ‘City of Geraldton-Greenough’. Operated first Fokker 50 service using VA flight number, as VA9990 Perth – Geraldton on 2 Aug 2013. Aircraft withdrawn from service 26 Feb 2016 and stored at Perth. |
| VH-FSL | 20249 | PH-KXH
G-UKTC PH-KXH |
26 Feb 2010 | 18 Jan 2016, Esperance to Perth | Sale to Libyan Arab Airlines blocked by United Nations boycott, stored at Woensdrecht – 15 Nov 1993.
Leased to KLM Cityhopper, Air UK, – May 1994 Last Fokker 50 delivered to Skywest. Operated final Skywest service under the XR flight number, as XR148 Esperance – Perth on 1 Aug 2013. Aircraft withdrawn from service 9 Jan 2016 and stored at Perth. 27 April 2016 – Flown from Perth to Alice Springs for storage. |
