345374PD: Alex Simpson at his desk 1967

Year

1967.

Warnings and disclaimer

This image has been preserved and made available by the Historical Records Rescue Consortium (HRRC) Project supported by Lotterywest. Title supplied by cataloguer. Simpson Aviation hangar at 1 Eagle Drive, Jandakot Airport, in 1967, showing construction commencing on a new hangar alongside. Simpson Aviation was the local Cessna aircraft sales agent, aircraft maintenance company and flying school. On 30 June 1967, Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd acquired Nor’West Air Taxis Pty Ltd. Nor'West Air Taxis Pty Ltd. was renamed Trans-West Air Charter Pty. Ltd. Simpson Aviation continued to operate as a Cessna agent, aircraft maintenance company & flying school. In 1968, Trans-West's shares were acquired by Lombard Australia. Trans-West took over Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd, which was merged into the Trans-West operation, taking advantage of the better-known company's name. During 1969, Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd became Westralian Aviation (Services) Pty Ltd. On 27 August 1972, Westralian Aviation (Services) Pty Ltd was merged into Trans-West Air Charter Pty Ltd, although both continued operations out of the same office & hangar at Jandakot Airport. In 1979 Trans-West Air Charter became Trans West Airlines. Around 1979, the name 'Westralian' was removed from the hangar, and the new signage was purely 'Trans-West', although the company Westralian Aviation Pty Ltd was retained. On 8 January 1982, Skywest Airlines and Trans West Airlines merged, but operated separately until 1 April 1982, when operations were combined as Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd. The general aviation operations continued under the name Skywest Aviation, and the airline operations under Skywest Airlines. During the mid to late 1980s, the former Simpson Aviation hangars were painted with Skywest Aviation titles. In July 1996, Bodas Pty Ltd (the owners of Skywest Airlines and Skywest Aviation) sold the Skywest Aviation Pty Ltd operations to Paspaley Pearling Group, and it became Pearl Aviation Australia. By 2009, this hangar was used by Alert Aviation. 342356PD: Group photo of Simpson staff outside Simpson Aviation Hangar. Aircraft visible include VH-KPD Cessna 150G; with VH-PQC Cessna U206 Super Skywagon behind this plane, and at right is VH-DNZ Cessna 182H Skylane VH-KPD Cessna 150G (construction number 15065598): First registered in the USA in 1966 as N2498J. Registered in Australia on 3 April 1967 as VH-KPD. Damaged in an accident at Jandakot on 6 April 1969 and cancelled from the register 9 April 1969 as damaged beyond repair. Later rebuilt and registered again as VH-KPD on 9 March 1973. Withdrawn from service and cancelled from the register on 31 March 1977, but returned to the register again on 23 July 1977 as VH-KPD. Still on register in 2009. VH-PQC Cessna U206 Super Skywagon (construction number U2060407): First registered in the USA as N8007Z. Registered VH-PQC to Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd at Jandakot, WA on 5 October 1965. Registered to C.W. & B.C. Mutard (t/a Noeska Aviation Pty Ltd) on 9 October 1965. Registered to Trans-West Air Charter Pty Ltd 31 December 1968. Registered to Trans-West Air Charter (WA) Pty Ltd 13 November 1972. Registered to Westralian Aviation (Services) P/L 6 December 1972. Various other owners. Withdrawn from service and cancelled from register 29 September 1978, then registered again as VH-PQC to Hazelton Air Services Pty Ltd on 30 May 1979. It was damaged 27 January 1980 near Parkes, NSW, and again cancelled from the register. Later repaired and returned to the register on 2 October 1981 to Hazelton Air Services Pty Ltd. Registered to Nomads (1966) P/L 29 March 1983. Various owners since then. Still on register in 2009. VH-DNZ Cessna 182H Skylane (construction number 18256174): First registered in the USA as N2074X. Registered VH-DNZ to Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd 3 June 1965. Registered to B.H. Bailey, Wongan Hills, WA, 24 January 1966. Again registered to Simpson Aviation 22 March 1966. Registered to Mt.Clere Station, Meekatharra, WA, 25 May 1967. It has had various owners since then. Still on register in 2009. 345376PD: Alex Simpson and Mr R.W.C. Swartz (Federal Minister for Civil Aviation) standing on the wing of VH-DTJ Cessna 310L, at Jandakot Airport, c1967 VH-DTJ Cessna 310L (construction number 310L0047): First registered in the USA as N2247F. Registered VH-DTJ on 5 January 1967. Damaged 25 July 1981 at Merimbula, NSW, and cancelled from the register on 20 August 1981. Repaired, and returned to the register as VH-DTJ on 29 March 1982. Crashed and destroyed on 24 October 1983 at a location 27 kilometres north-east of Clermont, QLD. 345378PD: Official party inspecting aircraft at the opening of Jandakot Airport Simpson Aviation Hangar. Official party includes Alex Simpson, Bill Ferguson and Mr R.W.C Swartz (Federal Minister for Civil Aviation). Aircraft visible include (L-R): VH-KPI, VH-RBQ, and VH-DPJ. VH-KPI Cessna 150G (construction number 15065762): First registered in the USA as N2962J. Registered in Australia 2 June 1967 as VH-KPI. Still on register in 2009. VH-RBQ Cessna 172G Skyhawk (consruction number 17253996): Built in 1965. First registered in the USA as N3827L. Registered in Australia 14 July 1966 as VH-RBQ. Re-registered on 12 March 1999 as VH-IJS and still registered in 2009. VH-DPJ Cessna 182K Skylane (construction number 18258007): First registered in the USA as N3007Q. Registered VH-DPJ to Simpson Aviation Pty Ltd 26 May 1967. Registered to A.G. Charlson, Doubleview, WA, 26 September 1967. It was used by Murchison Air Charter from approximately November 1968 until it was withdrawn from service 2 March 1971. Registered to the Mandathuna Pastoral Co, Carnarvon, WA, 14 December 1972. Various owners since then. Still on register in 2009. Info courtesy of Fred Niven, Clive Lynch, and David Eyre – July 2009

Subjects

• Airports -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
• Airplanes -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
• VH-KPD (Airplane) -- Photographs.
• View more on SLWA catalogue

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