VH-VOP Boeing 737-8FE

VH-VOP. Boeing 737-8FE. c/n 33797-1389.

Was also registered as: ZK-PBB; VH-RQC.

This aircraft was ordered new by Virgin Blue Airlines - ?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Boeing Field) with winglets - September 11, 2003

First flown as 'N5573L' - September 19, 2003

Entered on the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VOP - September 09, 2003

Leased to Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd as registered operator

Accepted by Virgin Blue at Seattle (Boeing Field) in the Pacific Blue livery - October 09, 2003

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia as DJ9081 - October 14, 2003

It arrived at Brisbane on completion of the delivery flight - October 16, 2003

Delivery route: Seattle (Boeing Field) - Kahului - Noumea - Brisbane

The aircraft was named 'Whitney Sundays'

Operated its first revenue service Brisbane - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as DJ342 - October 24, 2003

Operated its final Virgin Blue revenue service Cairns - Brisbane as DJ876 - January 30, 2005

Ferried Brisbane - Christchurch as DJ9082 - January 30-31, 2005

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 31, 2005

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-PBB - January 31, 2005

Leased to Pacific Blue (N.Z.) Pty Ltd, Christchurch the registered operator

Operated its first Pacific Blue revenue service Christchurch - Coolangatta as DJ057 - February 05, 2005

Pacific Blue was renamed Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ) - December 2011

The aircraft was repainted into new Virgin Australia livery at Christchurch - May 2012

Returned to service Christchurch - Melbourne as DJ61 - May 17, 2012

The aircraft was renamed 'Indian Head'

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - February 10, 2015

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VOP - February 10, 2015

Registered to Virgin Australia 2013-1 Issuer Co. Pty Ltd, Spring Hill, Queensland

Leased to Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd as the registered operator

Withdrawn from service by Virgin Australia - March 28, 2020

Virgin Australia entered voluntary administration due to financial problems - April 21, 2020

To read more about the collapse of Virgin Australia please click 'HERE' and 'HERE'

Reregistered as VH-RQC - November 13, 2020

Registered to UMB Bank National Association, Salt Lake City, Utah

Leased to De Lore & Associates Pty Ltd, Balmoral, Queensland

Ferried Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta) - Brisbane in the REX livery - December 23, 2020

Registered to Aircraft Leasing VII Limited, London, United Kingdom - January 15, 2021

Leased to Regional Express Pty Ltd, Sydney as the registered operator

Performed an overfly of Sydney for 'Australia Day' as ZL1962 - January 26, 2021

Engaged in pilot training Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as ZL1959 -January 29, 2021

Operated inaugural Melbourne (Tullamarine 07:21) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith 08:25) service as ZL18 - March 01, 2021

Operated inaugural Sydney (Kingsford Smith 10:30) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) service as ZL33 - March 01, 2021

REX Regional Express entered voluntary administration due to financial difficulties - July 30, 2024

Operated its final service Melbourne (Tullamaine) - Adelaide (West Beach) as ZL489 - July 30, 2024

It was withdrawn from use and stored at Adelaide (West Beach) pending return to the lessor

Current status - ?

VH-VOP. Pacific Blue - 'Whitney Sundays' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 21, 2003.

(R. Brown Copyright Image 4622-702.)

ZK-PBB. Pacific Blue - 'Indian Head' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 02, 2005.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-323.)

ZK-PBB. Virgin Australia - 'Indian Head' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, June 24, 2012.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-719.)

VH-VOP. Virgin Australia - 'Indian Head' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 18, 2015.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4620-979.)

VH-VOP. Virgin Australia - 'Indian Head' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 24, 2015.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4620-958.)

VH-VOP. Virgin Australia - 'Indian Head' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 24, 2015.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4620-959.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 01, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-866.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 01, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-867.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 01, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-868.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, April 02, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-888.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, April 26, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-887.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, May 05, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-886.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 26, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4623-381.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 18, 2023.

(F. McGuire Copyright Image 4623-207.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, June 06, 2024.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4623-375.)

VH-RQC. REX - in the standard livery with additional 'Our heart is in the country' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, August 11, 2024.