Queensland DC-3s Live On

Queensland Gooneys Live to Fly Another Day

When word began to filter through the industry that Air Queensland were selling their four DC-3s that had become legendary in North Queensland, some wild and wonderful stories also began to circulate. “They’re definitely going offshore”, “Ansett have bought them”, “they’re going to be cannibalised for spares”, and so on.

The truth is that while these predictions were being proffered, the owners of one of Australia’s premier coach companies, Mr Don Nugent and his partners, were quietly bidding for the aircraft to complement their extensive coach operations. Australian Rambler Coaches were successful with their tender and a new name was created – DC-3 Queensland.

Once Don Nugent and his colleagues found themselves the unexpected, but gratified, owners of the DC-3 fleet (VH-EDC, -PWN, -BPL, -BPN), they immediately went ahead and purchased a fifth aircraft! The latter, VH-SBL, was owned by Rob Poynton of Aero Vandee Pty Ltd of WA. At the time of the purchase, however, it was operating out of Cairns, under charter to North East Airlines.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details