TAA Friendship F27: A Remarkable 1984 Ferry Flight

A FRIENDSHIP BOUND FOR EUROPE

TAA Friendship F27‑6152

The Fokker F27 Friendship was one of the most successful regional airliners of the 20th century. Designed in the Netherlands as a modern replacement for the Douglas DC‑3, the Friendship F27 introduced pressurisation, turboprop efficiency, and exceptional short‑field performance — features that made it ideal for Australia’s vast regional network.

TAA operated a fleet of F27 Friendships from the late 1950s onward, using them extensively on regional and commuter routes. By the 1980s, several of these aircraft were sold to overseas operators as newer types entered the fleet. This page tells the story of the second major ferry operation involving two TAA F27s — VH‑TQN and VH‑TQP — delivered to Busy Bee Airlines of Oslo, Norway, in 1984.

Before delivery, both aircraft were flown to Norwich, England, where they underwent inspections and modifications to meet Busy Bee’s operational requirements. The two Friendships were scheduled to depart Australia on 28 June 1984, beginning a long and carefully planned multi‑stage ferry flight to Europe.

For more detailed information about the Friendship F27 fleet, please click here.

TAA Friendship F27 VH-TQN departing on its 1984 ferry flight

A PROVEN REGIONAL WORKHORSE

VH‑TQN — Fokker F27‑6152 Friendship

VH‑TQN was one of TAA’s later‑build F27‑600 series aircraft, featuring improved avionics, higher take‑off weight, and upgraded Rolls‑Royce Dart turboprop engines. Like many TAA aircraft of the era, it carried the name of a notable Australian historical figure.

Construction Number: 10385

Aircraft Name: John Batman

VH‑TQN Technical Details:

Accepted by Trans‑Australia Airlines at Amsterdam (Schiphol) — 06 December 1968.

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH‑TQN — 06 December 1968.

Registered to the Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne.

VH‑TQN served reliably across TAA’s regional network for more than 15 years before being selected for sale to Busy Bee Airlines, a Norwegian carrier specialising in commuter and charter operations.

A DEPENDABLE FRIENDSHIP BOUND FOR EUROPE

VH‑TQP — Fokker F27‑6152 Friendship

VH‑TQP was delivered shortly after VH‑TQN and shared the same upgraded F27‑600 series configuration. Like its sister aircraft, it was named after a prominent Australian pioneer.

Construction Number: 10387

Aircraft Name: John McKinley

VH‑TQP Technical Details:

Accepted by Trans‑Australia Airlines at Amsterdam (Schiphol) — 24 December 1968.

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH‑TQP — 24 December 1968.

Registered to the Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne.

VH‑TQP also enjoyed a long and dependable career with TAA before being prepared for its ferry flight to Europe in 1984.

A TRANSCONTINENTAL JOURNEY BY TURBOPROP

Ferry Flight Delivery Route

The ferry route from Australia to the United Kingdom was a demanding journey for a turboprop aircraft. Although the Friendship F27 was renowned for its reliability and range, the trip required careful planning, favourable weather, and multiple fuel stops across remote regions.

The delivery route was:

Melbourne → Alice Springs → Broome → Denpasar → Singapore → Bangkok → Calcutta → Karachi → Bahrain → Luxor → Cairo → Athens → Milan → Norwich.

This route avoided long over‑water sectors and ensured access to maintenance support and fuel supplies along the way. For the crews, it was a rare opportunity to fly a classic turboprop across continents — a type of journey seldom undertaken in modern airline operations.

THE CREWS BEHIND THE JOURNEY

TAA Flight Crew

Each aircraft carried a crew of three, consisting of two captains and one Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME). This ensured that both flight operations and technical issues could be managed independently throughout the long ferry journey.

VH‑TQN

Captain Keith Schriver (Tour Leader)

Captain Liam O’Moore

LAME Bill McGuinness

VH‑TQP

Captain John Cleary

Captain Mace Denholm

Captain Lionel Jeffries

These crews were highly experienced in Friendship F27 operations and were selected for their technical knowledge, long‑range navigation skills, and ability to manage the unique challenges of a multi‑stage international ferry flight.

AN INSIDER’S ACCOUNT OF THE JOURNEY

The Full Story of the TAA Friendship F27 Ferry Flight

The complete account of the ferry flights of VH‑TQN and VH‑TQP — from pre‑departure preparations in Melbourne to their arrival in Norwich — was compiled by LAME Bill McGuinness, who served on the VH‑TQN crew. His detailed recollections provide a rare insight into long‑distance turboprop ferry operations during the 1980s.

Read the full story in PDF format

The TAA Fokker F27 Friendship remains one of the most important regional aircraft ever operated by TAA. Its reliability, versatility, and performance helped connect communities across Australia for more than two decades — and its final journeys overseas marked the end of an era in Australian regional aviation.

TAA Friendship F27

TAA Friendship F27‑6152

VH‑TQN — Fokker F27‑6152 Friendship

VH‑TQP — Fokker F27‑6152 Friendship

Ferry Flight Delivery Route

TAA Flight Crew

VH‑TQN

VH‑TQP

The Full Story of the TAA Friendship F27 Ferry Flight

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