VH-TAA Airbus A300B4-203

VH-TAA. Airbus A300B4-203. c/n 134.

Was also registered as: D-AITA; P2-ANG; N370PC; A6-MDF.

This was the first of four aircraft ordered new by Trans Australia Airlines (T.A.A.) - December 10, 1974

First flown at Toulouse as 'F-WZEJ' - May 06, 1981

Ferried Toulouse - Hamburg (Lemwerder) for the interior fitout - May 09, 1981

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAA - June 29, 1981

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Accepted by Trans-Australia Airlines at Toulouse - July 01, 1981

Departed Toulouse on the delivery flight to Australia - July 10, 1981

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the delivery flight - July 13, 1981

Delivery route: Toulouse - Bahrain - Madras - Kuala Lumpur - Perth - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'James Cook'

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as TN534 - July 22, 1981

Due to a downturn in traffic the airline sought an overseas lease for this aircraft

Withdrawn from use at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - February 15, 1984

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 16, 1984

Leased to Condor Airways (Lufthansa subsidiary) - March 19, 1984

Entered onto the German Aircraft Register as D-AITA - March 19, 1984

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to Germany (Hamburg) as LH1282 - March 19, 1984

Withdrawn from use and prepared for return to Trans-Australia at the end of the lease - October 1994

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the ferry flight as LH6690 - October 30, 1984

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAA - November 07, 1984

The aircraft was prepared for lease to Air Niugini - November 1984

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 23, 1984

This aircraft was repainted in the distinctive Air Niugini 'Bird of Paradise' livery

Leased to Air Niugini - November 27, 1984

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-ANG - November 27, 1984

Operated its first Air Nuigini revenue service Sydney - Brisbane - Port Moresby as PX4 - November 28, 1984

Trans-Australia Airlines was renamed Australian Airlines - August 04, 1986

Operated its last Air Nuigini revenue service - March 11, 1989

Returned to Australian Airlines at Melbourne (Tullamarine) after being overhauled in Singapore - June 08, 1989

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAA - June 15, 1989

Re-entered service with Australian Airlines Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - June 16, 1989

Operated its first service in the standard Qantas livery Melbourne - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - July 29, 1993

Australian Airlines was officially merged with Qantas Airways - October 31, 1993

Ownership was transferred to Qantas Airways following the merger of both airlines - December 08, 1993

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom as QF6000 - August 30, 1994

The aircraft underwent heavy maintenance with British Aerospace at Bristol

Ferry route: Melbourne - Darwin - Singapore - Colombo - Bahrain - Larnaca - Bristol (Filton)

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on return to Qantas after maintenance - October 03, 1994

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) to undergo maintenance with British Aerospace as QF6024 - February 21, 1996

Ferry route: Melbourne - Nadi - Honolulu - Vancouver - Montreal (Mirabel) - Bristol (Filton)

Operated its final Qantas revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) - August 13, 1998

Withdrwan from use and stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine) having flown 34,927 hours with 24,395 landings

Sold to Pinnacle Air Cargo Enterprises LLC / Pace Cargo - September 08, 1998

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N370PC - September 08, 1998

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 08, 1998

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to Germany (Dresden) - September 10, 1998

Stored at Dresden pending conversion to freighter configuration by DASA

Ferried Dresden - Bristol (Filton) after freighter conversion - March 10, 1999

Ferried Bristol (Filton) - Bangor - Roswell - May 1999

Leased to Express.net, Florida - May 1999

It was observed at Miami in the standard Express.net livery operating for Emery Air Freight - May 21, 1999

Ferried Sacremento - Marana on return to the lessor as XNA9370 - June 30, 2006

Placed in storage at Marana, Arizona

Ferried Marana - Tucson - December 06, 2007

Ferried Tucson - Gander - Pais (Orly) for storage - December 08, 2007

Reportedly to be leased to Midex Airlines Ltd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Accepted by Midex Airlines at Paris as N370PC - December 09, 2007

It was observed at Aubu Dhabi as 'N370PC' being operated by Midex - April 28, 2009

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - June 01, 2009

Entered onto United Arab Emirates Aircraft Register as A6-MDF - June 01, 2009

Registered to Pace Cargo Enterprises IV LLC

Leased to Midex Airlines, Abu Dhabi as the registered operator

It was observed at Dubai being operated by Midex Airlines - November 14, 2010

Withdrawn from service at Nadia International Airport, Abu Dhabi - ?

Parting out commenced shortly after the aircraft was withdrawn from service

Fuselage now derelict at Abu Dhabi - 2011

F-WZEJ. TAA Trans-Australia - in the standard livery at Toulouse Airport, May 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-093.)

F-WZEJ. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Toulouse Airport, June 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-094.)

VH-TAA. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1981.

(W. Spargo Copyright Image 0310-173.)

VH-TAA. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-095.)

VH-TAA. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 18, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-174.)

VH-TAA. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-096.)

VH-TAA. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 08, 1982.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-134.)

VH-TAA. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-097.)

VH-TAA. TAA Trans-Australia - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 06, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-009.)

D-AITA. Condor - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-087.)

D-AITA. Condor - in the standard livery at Hamburg Airport, April 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-029.)

D-AITA. Condor - in the standard livery at Hamburg Airport, May 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-030.)

D-AITA. Condor - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-088.)

P2-ANG. Air Niugini - in the 'Bird of Paradise' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-084.)

P2-ANG. Air Niugini - in the 'Bird of Paradise' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 28, 1984.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-027.)

P2-ANG. Air Niugini - in the 'Bird of Paradise' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 14, 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-007.)

P2-ANG. Air Niugini - in the 'Bird of Paradise' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 18, 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-008.)

P2-ANG. Air Niugini - in the 'Bird of Paradise' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, June 1987.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-085.)

P2-ANG. Air Niugini - in the 'Bird of Paradise' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 18, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-086.)

P2-ANG. Australian - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, June 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-006.)

VH-TAA. Australian - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1990.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-098.)

VH-TAA. Australian - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 10, 1991.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-031.)

VH-TAA. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery with additional 'Sydney 2000 Olympic Games' logo at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-032.)

VH-TAA. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery with additional 'Sydney 2000 Olympic Games' logo at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1993.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-099.)

VH-TAA. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-033.)

VH-TAA. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1993.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-100.)

VH-TAA. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery with additional '75 Years' decal at Brisbane Airport, June 15, 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-048.)

VH-TAA. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery with additional '75 Years' decal at Brisbane Airport, June 23, 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0310-049.)

VH-TAA. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 08, 1997.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0310-034.)

VH-TAA. Qantas - in the basic livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1998.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-035.)

VH-TAA. Qantas - in the basic livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1998.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-150.)

N370PC. Pinnacle Air Cargo - in the basic Qantas livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1998.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0310-090.)

A6-MDF. Midex - in the 'all-white' livery at an unknown airport, December 2009.