slide scan from the NK collection. - The operator of this Fokker Friendship was Uni-Air; the aircraft was painted in the old Uni-Air colours on this visit to Munich-Riem. After 8 years of service with Uni-Air, F-BYAO was sold to ARAT ("Avion de Recherche Atmosphérique et de Télédétection") and flew as a research aircraft until 2002. It was retired at Creil and scrapped after a few years.

The one and only heavily modified Fokker Friendship ARAT conversion. ARAT stands for Avion de Recherche Atmosphérique et de Télédétection. This ARAT Friendship was an atmospheric research and remote-sensing aircraft used to perform the airborne measurements. It was acquired by IGN in 1985 as F-BYAO, and conversion to ARAT started in Feb 1986. In June 1988 it was redelivered to IGN as F-WYAO. It was reregistered back to F-BYAO in Dec 1991 and served with IGN as such until wfu on 14 Jul 2002. The ARAT was stored at Creil until sold for scrap in Aug 2007.

ARAT: Avion de Recherche Atmospherique. Only partly showing its elongated nose cone. c/n: 10127 is shown on the tail.

Final livery

Operated by Uni-Air in East-West Airlines colours. Test Reg PH-FAX before delivery to East-West Airlines as VH-EWA in 1959. To Uni-Air as F-BYAO in 1977. Converted to a series 700 with a cargo door in 1986 then to the IGN - Institut Géographique National in 1988. Converted to an ARAT (Avion de Recherche Athmospherique) version with test reg F-WYAO in 1989. Back to F-BYAO in 1989. Retired at Creil in 2004 and scrapped in 2007.

Operated by Uni Air, and still in East-West Airlines colours.

Fokker F27-100 VH-EWA arriving at Sydney Airport after a flight originating in Parkes, NSW. This aircraft was sold overseas in 1977.

Ex VH-EWA, registered 15th Nov 1977 and sold to Institut Géographique National June 1988. In this photo it had recently been returned to Uni-Air from a short lease to Air Sénégal.

Wearing her original EWA livery.

The one and only heavily modified Fokker Friendship ARAT conversion. ARAT stands for Avion de Recherche Atmosphérique et de Télédétection. This ARAT Friendship was an atmospheric research and remote-sensing aircraft used to perform the airborne measurements. It was acquired by IGN in 1985 as F-BYAO, and conversion to ARAT started in Feb 1986. In June 1988 it was redelivered to IGN as F-WYAO. It was reregistered back to F-BYAO in Dec 1991 and served with IGN as such until wfu on 14 Jul 2002. The ARAT was stored at Creil until sold for scrap in Aug 2007.

Originally VH-TFH for TAA, the aircraft is seen on the Domestic Ramp wearing the second version of the EWA livery.

Sold in France as F-BYAO in 1977