DCA purchased five current model Beechcraft Bonanzas commencing in 1964 including S35 VH-CAB (c/n D-7376). This particular Bonanza spent most of its Departmental career based at Brisbane, where it is seen in the shot above at the old Eagle Farm Airport on 27 April 1982 wearing Department of Transport livery.

VH-CAB was later registered to the Department of Aviation, then the Civil Aviation Authority, but was disposed of in 1992 as part of a round of cost-cutting.

The aircraft in the background is a TAA Airbus A300, one of five operated by that airline (later merged with Qantas). The A300 was the first wide-body aircraft operated by the domestic airlines, entering service in 1981.

(Photo: Roger McDonald collection)

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