Introducing the Legendary

Kanana

Melbourne Jet Base - Kanana - Restoring a legend of the skies - Establushed

Discover one of Australia’s most treasured Douglas DC-3 aircraft, The Legendary Kanana, also known by its call sign VH-ABR.

Experience the history

A brief

History

Kanana was constructed in Santa Monica, California in 1938 as a Douglas DC-3-232A. It was transported to Australia and registered to Australian National Airways, call sign VH-ABR. It was given the name Kanana, meaning ‘quiet’ and was the third DC-3 ever to be imported to Australia.

The aircraft was charted by the Australian Government for use by the R.A.A.F. in 1939, at the start of World War II. It was returned to Australian National Airlines in 1940 and endured a number of mishaps in its ensuing years of commercial operation, including a mid-flight engine fire in 1948. No passengers or crew were harmed.

Kanana was registered to Ansett-A.N.A. in 1961, and shortly thereafter to Airlines of South Australia. In 1972, it operated its final scheduled revenue service, but still remained active in the years afterward, used for charter flights and air shows.

Kanana now resides at Melbourne Jet Base. A few years ago, in an effort instigated by Paul Little’s Melbourne Jet Base and the R.M. Ansett Historical Aircraft Society, an extensive restoration program was launched to restore an iconic Douglas DC-3 aircraft its former glory.

On 22 August 2017, Kanana took to the skies once again. A historic moment for Kanana and for Australian aviation history.  It was 9 years between flights and nearly 80 years since the aircraft was orginally built. Now meeting modern aviation standards, it’s expected that Kanana will be used for private and charity events and air shows.

1930 – 2022

Through the decades

  • 1 September 1938
  • 17 October 1938
  • 29 October 1938
  • 31 October 1938
  • 10 September 1939
  • 11 September 1939
  • 15 September 1939
  • 17 May 1940
  • 1 February 1942
  • 30 September 1943
  • 13 December 1947
  • 4 October 1948
  • 8 June 1953
  • 8 June 1953
  • 1 June 1955
  • 10 June 1961
  • 14 October 1961
  • 14 December 1961
  • 16 January 1966
  • 13 March 1971
  • 15 March 1971
  • 1 April 1971
  • 3 October 1971
  • 5 October 1971
  • 13 October 1975
  • 30 August 1981
  • 20 September 1988
  • 24 September 1988
  • 16 April 1994
  • 3 August 1996
  • 13 August 2001
  • 1 March 2007
  • 21 January 2008
  • 10 March 2009
  • 15 February 2010
  • 24 April 2012
  • 16 June 2014
  • 22 December 2014
  • 21 September 2015
  • 1 November 2016
  • 26 April 2017
  • 30 June 2017
  • 22 August 2017
  • 23 August 2018
  • 25 November 2018
Melbourne Jet Base - Kanana - Restoring a legend of the skies
Melbourne Jet Base - Kanana - Restoring a legend of the skies