Parked by the fence at the northern end of the aerodrome, advertising the HARS museum. Registered new as G-APYP on 8 Mar 60. Imported into Australia for MMA and registered VH-MMP(2) 'RMA Pilbara' on 3 Feb 64. Used for charter work. In '69 it was due to charter for Ansett Airlines of PNG, but broke down at Horn Is on the ferry flight to New Guinea. After remaining there for 5 weeks, ferried to Bankstown, then Moorabbinn. Sold to Motif Air, Melbourne, 12 Jul 70. Eventually became derelict at Bankstown.

Here's the characteristic gull-wing of the 'Pig'. Registered new as G-APYP on 8 Mar 60. Imported into Australia for MMA and registered VH-MMP(2) 'RMA Pilbara' on 3 Feb 64. Used for charter work. In '69 it was due to charter for Ansett Airlines of PNG, but broke down at Horn Is on the ferry flight to New Guinea. After remaining there for 5 weeks, ferried to Bankstown, then Moorabbinn. Sold to Motif Air, Melbourne, 12 Jul 70. Eventually became derelict at Bankstown.

A rather special guest of the EHVB airshow in 1997 was this Piaggio of 303 Gruppo.

Airlines of NSW started operations with VH-PQA in the Riverina region of New South Wales in January 1967 but within the year the aircraft was parked in the Essendon graveyard. The experience hastened the licensing of third-level (commuter) airlines in Australia to take over regional DC-3 services that were not viable with Fokker F27s. Third-level airlines typically paid general aviation wages, which was not an option for Ansett-owned Airlines of NSW. -PQA would return to scheduled services in 1968 with one of the new third-level operators, the aptly named Commuter Airlines, based at Essendon.

VH-PND following its withdrawal from Papua New Guinea. It found use with an operator based in Sydney - it was seen at both Sydney International and Bankstown airports - until finally struck off the register in 1976.

VH-PND was withdrawn from use at Bankstown, New South Wales, in September 1976.

VH-PGA was withdrawn from use in 1986. It was purchased by a farmer from Tingha, New South Wales, for use as a piece of playground equipment.

Previously I-PIAS

The Piaggio proved popular in Australia despite its unconventional appearance and the relative obscurity of Piaggio in Australia. Affectionately called Pigs, 17 were imported including eight for the Ansett group. These were distributed to airlines in the group, with VH-MMP going to MacRobertson Miller Airlines. It became one of the Piaggios traded to Hawker de Havilland in 1969 on new Twin Otters. -MMP passed through a string of owners until 2002 when it was withdrawn from use, the final P.166 on the register. Now displayed at HARS at Wollongong.

VH-GOE in the bronze and white livery it wore when operated by Air Research, the company's name and logo removed but not what it did. It found further work in aerial survey into 1971 but by the end of that year was operating as a freighter. -GOE continued cargo until withdrawn from use in 1976. It was purchased in 1984 by the Papua New Guinea National Museum with a view to displaying it in its original Ansett-MAL livery. It may have since been scrapped without any work being done.

This Piaggio was first registered in Germany in December 1960. as D-INLE Enetered the Australian Register in 1964 as VH-GOE finally ending up at Bankstown in this poor condition. it was struck off the Australian register in May 1976. and now is in the National Museum and Art gallery in Boroka. PNG.

At the time the photo was taken VH-FSA was used for aerial mapping and photography. The logo on the tail is that of Forrester Stephen, a Melbourne-Essendon based charter and aerial survey company. It also represented Piaggio and several other aircraft manufacturers.

VH-GOC found use as a freighter with South Pacific Airways after its sale by Ansett. It was hauling 11,000 day-old chickens when it crashed near Marulan, New South Wales, on February 22, 1977.