by Steve Mackenzie

This time in my continuing Twin Otter series, I am going to continue my look at some more of the small, often short lived local operators (most of these are long gone), sometimes making it difficult to find background info (a further five operators were covered last issue). One area to closely look at in photos of these aircraft and the accompanying drawings is the aerial fit which varies enormously between different operators and in some cases individual machines in the same company. Another thing to watch for is that some machines may have an additional window in the airstair door on the Port side. If so you will have to cut and glaze a window to match.

Seeair Pacific

Seair Pacific operate out of the Gold Coast with various types. Twin Otter Msn 90, Rego VH-BVS has operated on the Gold Coast, QLD - Lady Elliot Island, QLD. route since 1916. According to online info, it is owned by Kaut Pty., Ltd., Runaway Bay, QLD. Leased to Istlecote Pty., Ltd for operation by Seair Pacific.

VH-BVS has also at one stage had the company name on the fuselage rather than the simpler version I drew.

Profile of VH-BVS in a fairly simple scheme of Gloss White overall with Dark Blue areas on the engine cowls, flaps and horizontal tail plane tips. Black rego on fuselage. Spinners are Silver.

East West Airlines

VH-EWM was owned by East West from Dec 1967 to May 1972 but never operated on their services. It was acquired to be leased to the CSIRO for a rain making project in Tasmania from Dec 1967 to Oct 1967. Background info and images of this airframe can be found on the 'Twin Otter Archive' at https://twinotterarchive.com/DHC-6_71.html and also https://www.aussieairliners.org/dhc-6/vh-ewm/vhewm.html.

4 more references images for the scheme can be found at https://twinotterarchive.com/DHC-6_71.html.

After the CSIRO lease ended it was supposed to be leased to the NSW Aerial Ambulance Service, but although marked with their logo it did not proceed. Later again it was leased to MMA in 1971-72 then sold to Canada on 29 Nov 1972. See the two reference websites listed above for details.

Profile of VH-EWM in a the scheme of Gloss White fuselage with Metallic Grey areas on the engine cowls, lower fuselage and flying services. Black upper cowls, ant-glare panel, spinners and regos. Yellow and Black fuselage stripes, and Yellow rudder and cowl stripe. Black/White CSIRO and East West logos. The round arrow like logos appear to be Dark Blue and White.

Eljohn International

Eljohn International, Balcatta WA appear to have been the operator of VH-AHI in 1999-2000. See https://twinotterworld.com/msn-659.

Profile of VH-AHI in a scheme of Gloss White overall with Red and Black stripes on the fuselage. Black upper engine cowls, regos, spinners and horizontal tail endplates.

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