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VH-VOI. Boeing 737-81Q. c/n 30786-1138. Was also registered as: N786TA; B-5156. |
This aircraft was ordered new by Tombo Aviation Incorporated - ? Powered by CFM International CFM56-7B26 engines Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Renton) without winglets - April 30, 2002 The intended lease to Miami Air as 'N734MA' was not taken up First flown as VH-VOI - May 08, 2002 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VOI - May 10, 2002 Registered to Tombo Aviation Incorporated Leased to Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd as the registered operator Accepted by Virgin Blue at Seattle (Boeing Field) - May 28, 2002 Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the ferry flight to New Zealand - May 29, 2002 Arrived Christchurch on completion of the ferry flight - June 01, 2002 Ferry route: Seattle - Lihue - Pago Pago - Christchurch The aircraft was fitted with winglets during the pre-service maintenance Ferried Christchurch - Brisbane on delivery to Virgin Blue as DJ9073 - June 18, 2002 The aircraft was named 'Blue Bambino' Operated its first revenue service - June 2002 Painted in special 'Gillette M3 Power' markings and rolled at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - February 26, 2005 Operated its final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as DJ888 - May 15, 2006 Ferried Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Christchurch at the end of the lease - May 15, 2006 It was observed at Christchurch in the standard China Southern livery as 'B-5156' - June 17, 2006 Departed Christchurch on the ferry flight to the United States - June 18, 2006 It arrived at Dallas (Fort Worth) for galley modifications - June 19, 2006 Ferry route: Christchurch - Apia - Honolulu - Denver - Dallas Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 20, 2006 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N786TA - June 20, 2006 Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Departed San Antonio, Texas on the ferry flight to China as CNS126 - July 18, 2006 It arrived at Beijing on completion of the ferry flight - July 20, 2006 Ferry route: San Antonio - Los Angeles - Honolulu - Majuro - Guam - Beijing Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - July 20, 2006 Entered onto the Chinese Aircraft Register as B-5156 - July 20, 2006 Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Leased to China Southern Airlines as the registered operator Current status - ? |
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VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2002. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-177.) |
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VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Brisbane Airport, March 2005. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4623-324.) |
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VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Brisbane Airport, April 2005. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-258.) |
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VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, June 26, 2005. (R. Brown Copyright Image 4621-624.) |
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VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 17, 2005. (T. Haynes Copyright Image 4621-658.) |
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VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 17, 2005. (T. Haynes Copyright Image 4623-325.) |
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VH-VOI. China Southern - in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, June 2006. (G. Reid Copyright Image 4621-625.) |
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VH-VOI. China Southern - in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, June 2006. (Z. Rae Copyright Image 4621-626.) |