Twin Otter Colours Part 3 - AeroPelican P.3

by Steve Mackenzie

In July 1994 Ansett unveiled a new livery and corporate trademark to replace that which featured the Australian flag on its aircraft tails. The new design retained the Southern Cross and incorporates a seven-pointed star to be known as the "Ansett Star" and a stylised gold letter "A". This change also impacted on Aeropelican as they were at that stage a subsidiary of Ansett. The subsequent design was widely used on all four Twin Otters in service (VH-KZN, O, P & Q). It was a quite attractive design as can be seen on the profile below.


VH-KZN c/n 652, late 1990s. Gloss White fuselage and wings. The tail markings consist of a Dark Blue rear portion with a Lighter Blue forward portion, the same Lighter Blue is used on the engine cowlings. The five stars making up the 'Southern Cross' are White with Orange outlines, the larger seven point star is plain White. The stylised gold letter "A" is shaded, appearing darker on the upper part. The spinners are polished metal. Black regos VH-KZN either side of the fuselage, below port and above starboard wing (standard positions). Horizontal tailplanes are the same Dark Blue as used on the vertical tail. Aeropelican logo on the nose is White/ Black. 'Aeropelican' titling and narrow cheat line running below the titling are Black, as is the wing deicing boots. Refs: https://www.twinotterworld.com/msn-652 for photos.

On 14 September, 2001 the parent company Ansett Australia's operations were suspended when it went into liquidation, Aeropelican, as it was a subsidiary company was also affected. Its aircraft were grounded at their Belmont base. Limited operations recommenced on 21 September, 2001. On 07 March, 2002, it was announced that Aeropelican had been sold to the I.A.P. Group, by the Ansett Administrators. The main effect of these changes is that the Ansett logos were removed from the airframes. The scheme reverted to a plain Dark Blue tail with the stars of the 'Southern Cross' in White and Dark Blue engine cowlings and horizontal tail planes.


VH-KZQ c/n 759 2001-2. Gloss White fuselage and wings. Dark Blue engine cowlings, vertical and horizontal tail planes. Stars of the 'Southern Cross' in White. Spinners are polished metal. Aeropelican titles and regos in Black. Note it has Black deicing boots on the Wings. Ref : https://www.twinotterworld.com/msn-759 and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-6-320_Twin_Otter,_Aeropelican_Air_Services_AN0308174.jpg

In the period 2003-2005 the Twin Otters used by Aeropelican were sold overseas and replaced by three Handley Page Jetstream 32s and a Bandierante at one stage. After a distastrous merger with Brindabella Airlines, Canberra in November 2011 (cut short by Brindabella being put out of operation by CASA due to irregularities in maintenance procedures in 2013), Aeropelican found itself in administration again. An employee buyout resulted in Aeropelican being reconstituted under the 'Fly Pelican' brand which still operates the three Jetstream 32 airframes on various routes, based now at Newcastle Airport. Before the Twin Otters were disposed of there was one final change in the colour scheme whereby the 'Aeropelican' titles on the fuselage were expanded into www.aeropelican.com.au (thus advertising the company's website - now defunct).


VH-KZQ c/n 759. Overall Gloss White, with Dark Blue areas on the tail, horizontal tailplanes and the engine cowlings to conceal the exhaust effluxes. The spinners were polished metal. Black regos either side of the fuselage, below port and above starboard wing (standard positions). Aeropelican logos on the tail and forward fuselage were now Black/ White. 'Aeropelican' titling now expanded to 'www.aeropelican.com.au' in Black. Stars of the 'Southern Cross' in White, outlined Orange again. Ref: VH-KZN in this scheme - http://www.yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?p=99919

If modelling any of these airframes note such things as aerials and anti collision beacons carefully. They differ a lot at times between similar airframes.

Use the index button to return to the main issue 36/4 index.