In 1960 the Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH started the development of the
HFB-320. In the development of the Hansa they have co-operated with
several other companies, the Dutch Fokker concern being responsible for
the typical forward-swept wing and the Spanish CASA concern for the rear
fuselage and tail. The first pre-production prototype D-CHFB made its
first flight on 21-04-1964. In the second part of 1968, after three
HFB-320 were ordered for the RLS, the Hansajet became well known at
Groningen-Eelde. HFB directed a number of brand-new HFB-320 Hansa jets
to Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands for test flying and training.
One of the Hansa Jets which came in at Eelde in this period was the D-CERE.
The D-CERE made its first flight on 10/12/1968, was delivered on 10/01/1969
as the PH-HFA to the RLS and officially handed over on 17/01/1969.
The Beech D-18S in service with the RLS at Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands was
succeeded by the HFB-320 Hansa. Due to
their noise the three HFB-320 Hansa Jets had a short live in RLS-service: delivered in 1969; they
were already phased out in 1976. The PH-HFA and PH-HFB were sold on February 15, 1977 to European
Aircraft Comp. Only the PH-HFC remained in service with the RLD till 1985 as a calibration aircraft.
The registration PH-HFA was cancelled on November 23, 1976 after this Hansa Jet was sold in the
USA and registered N132MW (N130MW ntu) on April 14, 1977 with Midwest Air Charter. After it was
converted to a cargo-configuration the N132MW was declared airworthy on June 4, 1977. The Hansa
was transferred to Airborne Express Inc. on August 9, 1977. The N132MW was withdrawn from use in
1984 at Monterey Airport in California where it was scrapped and ended at the fire-service.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
