Purchased new (c/n T26-119) by DCA at a cost of A$394,000, Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIB VH-CAJ was registered on 24 February 1969 and delivered to Australia via Shannon, Ireland, arriving on 9 July. This aircraft was the third of four Merlin IIBs purchased to provide the Department with high speed, turbine-powered utility aircraft. It was powered by two Garrett Airesearch TPE 331-1-151G turboprops.

This aircraft was actually VH-CAJ(2), the previous one being a DCA Auster.

The photos on this page were taken at the Flying Unit's Melbourne/Essendon base on 19 August 1979. The Department of Transport's 'Irish compass' logo can be clearly seen on the aircraft.

This aircraft's registration was cancelled on 27 September 1983 and it was exported to the USA as N4468M. As of January 2009, the aircraft's registration status is officially listed as "in question".