Merlin IIB VH-CAI

Purchased new (c/n T26-103) by the DCA at a cost of $394,000, Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIB VH-CAI was first registered on 18 October 1968. This aircraft was the first of four Merlin IIBs purchased to provide the Department with high speed, turbine powered utility aircraft.

This aircraft was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Civil Aviation Authority as P2-CAI on 13 August 1974 following Papua New Guinea gaining its independence. It returned to the Australian register as VH-CAI on 16 February 1979, but it is not known at this stage whether it was once again owned by the Department of Transport (as it by then was).

The registration was cancelled on 17 April 1985 and the aircraft exported to the USA as N136SP.

(Photo: CAHS collection)

Click here to see some colour photos of this aircraft

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Swearingen Merlin IIB VH-CAI

Purchased new (c/n T26-103) by the DCA at a cost of $394,000, Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIB VH-CAI was first registered on 18 October 1968. This aircraft was the first of four Merlin IIBs purchased to provide the Department with high speed, turbine powered utility aircraft. This aircraft was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Civil Aviation Authority as P2-CAI on 13 August 1974 following Papua New Guinea gaining its independence. It returned to the Australian register as VH-CAI on 16 February 1979, but it is not known at this stage whether it was once again owned by the Department of Transport (as it by then was). The registration was cancelled on 17 April 1985 and the aircraft exported to the USA as N136SP. (Photo: CAHS collection) Click here to see some colour photos of this aircraft Back to Departmental Aircraft index page