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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Grumman TBF / TBM Avenger
    Latest Model:TBM-3E Avenger
    Last Military Serial:53857 USN
    Construction Number:3919
    Last Civil Registration:VH-MML
    Compressed ID:General Motors TBM-3E sn 53857 USN...
    Latest Owner or Location:Bennet Aviation Pty Ltd, Cardiff, NSW

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE    		 If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a TBM-3E by General Motors.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 53857.

    From 31 October 1960 to Circa 1976

    To Central Air Service Inc, Lewistown, MT with new c/r N7017C.

    Operated as fire service #A27.

    1975


    Photographer: Martin Kyburz

    From November 1975 to 2004

    To Forrest Protection Limited with new c/r C-GFPM.
    Purchased by FPL for $25,413.

    26 February 1976

    Civil registration, N7017C, cancelled.
    Exported to Canada.

    May 1976

    To Forest Protection Ltd, Fredericton NB with new c/r N7017C.

    25 January 1980

    To Bennet Aviation Pty Ltd, Redhead, NSW with new c/r VH-MML.

    Operated as fire service #A17.

    July 1988


    Photographer: Eric Bannwarth
    Notes: C-GFPM - TBM-3 Avenger - Forest Protection at Fredericton in July 1988

    7 November 1996

    To Forest Protection Ltd, Fredericton NB with new c/r C-GFPM (TBM-3E, 53857).

    Operated as fire service #E21.

    Operated as fire service #21.

    2001


    Photographer: Forestry Protection

    To Steve Searle, Queensland, Australia.

    21 September 2005

    To PDRL Pty Ltd, Fern Bay, NSW with new c/r VH-MML (TBM-3E, 53857).

    21 September 2005

    To Stephen Searle, Isle of Capri, QLD with new c/r VH-MML.

    21 September 2005

    To Searle Stephen, Kallangur, QLD with new c/r VH-MML.

    15 September 2011

    To PDRL Pty Ltd, Fern Bay, NSW with new c/r VH-MML.

    13 June 2013

    To Bennet Aviation Pty Ltd, Redhead, NSW with new c/r VH-MML.

    Based at Wirraway Aviation Museum, Beaudesert, Queensland.
    View the Location Dossier

    13 June 2013

    To Bennet Aviation Pty Ltd, Redhead, NSW keeping c/r VH-MML.

    2 July 2013

    To Bennet Aviation Pty Ltd, Cardiff, NSW keeping c/r VH-MML.

    By 30 April 2016

    Markings Applied: 441

    30 April 2016


    Photographer: Arthur Scarf
    Notes: Displaying at 2016 Wings Over Illawarra Airshow in New South Wales, Australia

    1 May 2016


    Photographer: Arthur Scarf
    Notes: At 2016 Wings Over Illawarra Airshow, New South Wales, Australia

    25 May 2018


    Photographer: Mick McKean

    25 May 2018


    Photographer: Mick McKean

    19 October 2024


    Photographer: Reinhard Jost
    Notes: Avenger waving its wings at Warbirds Downunder 2024, Temora, NSW
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     Canadian Warplanes by Harold A. Skaarup
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Australian Government, Civil Aviation Safety Authority
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    TBM Avengers and Forest Protection Limited
    Transport Canada
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
    Mike Henniger
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    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=16919][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman-General Motors TBM-3E Avenger, s/n 53857 USN, c/n 3919, c/r VH-MML[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=16919
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