ZK-NZV Boeing 747-219B

ZK-NZV. Boeing 747-219B. c/n 22722-523.

Was also registered as: G-VZZZ; N702TA; VP-BQE.

This aircraft was ordered new by Air New Zealand and constructed at the Boeing Everett plant

First flown at Everett - May 06, 1981

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-NZV - May 22, 1981

Registered to Air New Zealand Limited, Auckland, New Zealand

Accepted by Air New Zealand at Seattle (Paine Field) Everett - May 27, 1981

This aircraft was the first Boeing 747 delivered to Air New Zealand

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to New Zealand (Capt B. Wyatt) - May ?, 1981

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the delivery flight - May 29, 1981

The aircraft was named 'Aotea' (white cloud)

Operated its first revenue service Auckland - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - June 11, 1981

It arrived at London (Gatwick) on the inaugural Auckland - London service - August 26, 1982

Operated the inaugural Auckland - Los Angeles - London (Gatwick) service as NZ2 - April 01, 1984

It was the airline's first 'one-stop' service between New Zealand and the United Kingdom

Withdrawn from service at Auckland - early 1999

The aircraft underwent heavy maintenance and major refurbishment in preparation for its sale

This involved the installation of new cabin sidewall panels, new seat covers and carpets, upgraded galleys

The aircraft was repainted into the Virgin Atlantic livery

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - July 07, 1999

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-VZZZ (CofR G-VZZZ/R1) - July 07, 1999

Registered to Virgin Atlantic Airways, London

Accepted by Virgin Atlantic at Auckland - July 07, 1999

The aircraft was named 'Morning Glory'

Departed Auckland on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom - July 07, 1999

It arrived at London (Gatwick) on completion of the ferry flight - July 09, 1999

Withdrawn from use and ferried to Mojave for storage - February 11, 2002

Returned to service with Virgin Atlantic - February 24, 2002

Withdrawn from use and ferried to Mojave for storage - March 25, 2002

The aircraft had flown 86,254 hours - December 31, 2002

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - March 31, 2005

Sold to Transaero, Moscow, Russia - March 31, 2005

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N702TA - April 07, 2005

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee, Salt Lake City, Utah

Ferried Mojave - San Antonio for maintenance - ?

It was observed at San Antonio in the Transaero livery - March 25, 2006

Departed San Antonio on the ferry flight to Domodedovo, Moscow - April 13, 2006

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - April 17, 2006

Entered onto the Bermuda Aircraft Register as VP-BQE - April 17, 2006

Leased to Transaero as the registered operator

Withdrawn from use and stored at Moscow (Domodedovo) - May 06, 2011

The aircraft was then used as a cabin training aide - August 09, 2012

Transaero announced that it was filing for bankruptcy - December 01, 2015

Transaero ceased all operations due to bankruptcy - December 15, 2015

The aircraft was broken up at Moscow (Domodedovo) - ?

ZK-NZV. Air New Zealand - 'Aotea' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, June 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-648.)

ZK-NZV. Air New Zealand - 'Aotea' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-686.)