VH-RME Boeing 767-277

VH-RME. Boeing 767-277. c/n 22693-28.

Ansett Airlines placed an order with Boeing for five Boeing 767-200s - March 17, 1980

It was built with a 'three-man' cockpit although it was designed to be operated by 'two crew' members

Construction completed at Seattle - May 1983

First flown as N8292V - May 20, 1983

Configured to seat 48 First Class and 153 Economy Class passengers

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-RME - June 13, 1983

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Accepted by Ansett at Seattle (Boeing Field) - June 13, 1983

Departed Seattle on the elivery flight to Australia - June 14, 1983

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the delivery flight - June 16, 1983

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Nadi - Melbourne

Ansett flight crew: Captain A. James; F/E J. Crago. Boeing flight crew: Captain S. Davis; F/E M. Eggleston

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne - Sydney (Captain B. Porter) as AN8 - June 28, 1983

Operated two '2-day' charter flights for Polynesian Airlines for the Pacific Games - July 30 / 31, 1985

Route: Sydney - Nadi - Apia return (Captain B. Porter; F/O M. Ellis; F/E J. Jansen)

Had distinction of being the last aircraft to depart from the old Brisbane Airport - March 20, 1988

Inaugurated Ansett's first full international service (Captain J. Duff) as AN219/220 - September 11, 1993

Route: Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Denpasar - Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Conversion from a '3-man cockpit' to the standard '2-person cockpit' completed - March 06, 1998

Configured to seat 12 First Class, 18 Business Class and 181 Economy Class passengers

Grounded by CASA at Melbourne (Tullamarine) for non-compliance with airworthy directives - April 12, 2001

Returned to service on Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Launceston - May 09, 2001

The intended sale and lease back from GECAS did not eventuate - May 2001

Operated its final service Sydney - Melbourne (Captain L Johnston; F/O P. Collison) as AN47 - September 10, 2001

The aircraft was undergoing heavy maintenance when Ansett ceased all operations - September 13, 2001

Stored in the Ansett hangar at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Offered for immediate sale by Ansett Trading - October 2001

The aircraft had flown 51,757 hours and 36,073 cycles as of September 10, 2001

Removal of parts began - August 20, 2003

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 06, 2003

Broken up at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - November 10, 2003

VH-RME. Ansett - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 21, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4650-567.)

VH-RME. Ansett - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 09, 1984.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4650-653.)

VH-RME. Ansett - in the 'Southern Cross' livery with additional 'Official Sponsor Olympic Games Bid' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, June 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4650-628.)

VH-RME. Ansett - in the 'Southern Cross' livery with additional '150 Years Victoria' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 12, 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4650-568.)

VH-RME. Ansett - in the 'Southern Cross' livery with additional 'Bi-Centennial' decal at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, February 1988.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4650-629.)

VH-RME. Ansett - in the 'Southern Cross' livery with additional 'Bi-Centennial' decal at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1989.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4650-630.)

VH-RME. Ansett Australia - in the 'Flag' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 21, 1990.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4650-570.)

VH-RME. Ansett Australia - in the 'Flag' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1990.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4650-663.)

VH-RME. Ansett Australia - in the 'Flag' livery at Brisbane Arport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4650-025.)

VH-RME. Ansett Australia - in the 'Flag' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 27, 1990.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4650-184.)

VH-RME. Ansett Australia - in the 'Flag' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 30, 1991.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4650-246.)