VH-TBJ Boeing 727-276A

VH-TBJ. Boeing 727-276A. c/n 20555-1056.

Was also registered as: XA-SDR.

This aircraft was the last of four aircraft ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - ?

Rolled out at the Boeing Seattle plant - June 20, 1974

First flown - July 12, 1974

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TBJ - July 24, 1974

Departed Seattle (Renton) on the delivery flight to Australia - July 25, 1974

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the delivery flight - July 27, 1974

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Pago Pago - Brisbane - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Joseph Banks'

It operated its first revenue service - August 01, 1974

It operated its last service in the original livery - October 09, 1981

Rolled out at Melbourne (Tullamaerine) in the Trans-Australia 'camel-hump' livery - October 30, 1981

Returned to service - November 02, 1981

The airline changed its name to Australian Airlines - August 04, 1986

Rolled out at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the 'Australian' livery - April 01, 1988

It was officially transferred to Australian Airlines - July 11, 1988

It operated its final revenue service - January 06, 1992

Withdrawn from use and stored Melbourne (Tullamarine)

The aircraft had flown 51,020 hours with 38,857 cycles

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States - June 06, 1992

It arrived at Greenwood (Mississippi) on completion of the ferry flight - June 09, 1992

It had flown 51,035 hours with 38,861 cycles

Sold to Memphis Group - June 09, 1992

Sold to Aero Ejecutivos - June 09, 1992

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 23, 1992

Entered onto the Mexican Aircraft Register as XA-SDR - December 1992

Transferred to AeroExo - May 01, 1993

Leased to Aviacsa - December 1994 to December 1995

Withdrawn from use and stored Mexico City - December 1998

Used as a source for spare parts

It was observed at Mexico City in old Aviacsa livery with many parts missing - October 2000

Scrapped at Mexico City - ?

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 04, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-505.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 22, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-506.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, March 21, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-507.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 11, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-508.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 03, 1979.

(W. Spargo Copyright Image 4611-022.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 16, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-526.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 14, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-265.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 15, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-509.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 13, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-547.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 16, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-548.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 07, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-527.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 07, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-510.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 15, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-549.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia - 'Joseph Banks' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 05, 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-528.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia - 'Joseph Banks' in the 'camel hump' livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1985.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-083.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia - 'Joseph Banks' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 23, 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-551.)

VH-TBJ. TAA Trans Australia - 'Joseph Banks' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4611-023.)

VH-TBJ. Australian - 'Joseph Banks' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-550.)

VH-TBJ. Australian - in the basic livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-529.)

XA-SDR. AeroExo - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, July 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-710.)

XA-SDR. AeroExo - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, August 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-533.)

XA-SDR. Aviacsa - in the hybrid livery at an unknown airport, February 1997.