VH-OZX Boeing 747SP-27

This aircraft was ordered new by Braniff International - July 24, 1974

Braniff experienced dire financial stress when passenger numbers failed to increase following deregulation in the U.S.

Boeing proceeded to built the aircraft knowing that Braniff's fleet requirements had changed

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Everett (Paine Field) - July 14, 1980

This aircraft was the thirty-fifth Boeing 747SP to be built

First flown as 'N1608B' - December 02, 1980

Following test and certification flights the aircraft was placed in storage at Everett

The Braniff order was officially cancelled - May 13, 1982

The Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) had expressed an interest in acquiring another 747SP for their fleet

It agreed to take over the cancelled Braniff order - December 23, 1982

The aircraft was overhauled at the Boeing plant at Everett prior to delivery

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N1301E - June 1983

Accepted by C.A.A.C. at Everett (Paine Field) - June 15, 1983

This aircraft remained on the United States Aircraft Register for the next six years

Transferred to Air China when this airline took over the long haul routes of CAAC - July 01, 1988

New airline titles and tail logo were applied to the aircraft shortly thereafter

Entered onto the Chinese Aircraft Register as B-2454 - January 01, 1989

Retired from service - 1999

It was observed at Los Angeles Airport without titles - January 26, 2000

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N142SW - January 2000

It was observed at Narita Airport, Tokyo as 'N142SW' - March 18, 2000

Ferried Narita - Brisbane for storage - March 19, 2000

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-OZX - March 26, 2000

Registered to Global Air Leasing, Brisbane, Queensland

Advertised for immediate sale by Global Air Leasing

Ferried Brisbane - Chongqing (China) for overhaul and repaint - April 07, 2000

It was observed at Jakarta Airport with Global Air Leasing titles - March 28, 2001

It was observed at Chongqing without titles - July 01, 2001

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 20, 2001

Entered onto the Comoro Islands Aircraft Register as D6-OZX - July 20, 2001

Wet leased to Comores Airlines as the registered operator

It was observed at Marseille with Comores Airlines Continental Wings titles - August 01, 2001

It was observed stored at Jakarta (Halim) - April 01, 2002

The intended sale to Palace Air did not eventuate - January 18, 2004

It was noted as being offered for immediate sale having flown 52,097 hours and 12,906 cycles - June 01, 2004

Appeared on the Boeing website as being for immediate sale or wet lease - September 15, 2005

It was observed at Jakarta on a remote hardstand adjacent to the Garuda Maintenance facility - February 01, 2006

The aircraft was surrounded by withdrawn Garuda Douglas DC-10s and was in poor condition

A Supreme Court Order was issued in state of Queensland for repossession of the aircraft - June 22, 2006

The owner of Spring Hill Properties Pty Ltd sought and was granted the repossession order

Mr K. Walls, managing director of Aircraft Portfolio Management, Cayman Islands claimed to have sold the

aircraft to Orient Thai Airlines, as he was the legal owner of said aircraft - April 03, 2007

Orient Thai paid a cash deposit of $US250,000 to Portfolio Management

The aircraft could not be delivered as ownership had already been granted to Spring Hill Properties

The cash deposit was not returned to Orient Thai Airlines

The Sale Agreement between Spring Hill Properties and Orient Thai was finalised - February 29, 2008

The aircraft was to be scrapped on site for useful parts

A worker was injured when the airframe caught fire during the dismantling process - June 18, 2009

Total scrapping complete - 2009