VH-CZB Douglas DC-9-31

VH-CZB. Douglas DC-9-31. c/n 47004-081.

Was also registered as: 162391; N537MD; N947AX.

This was the second of six DC-9s ordered new by Ansett - March 24, 1965

During construction the fuselage had been distorted in the wing cut-out area on the port side

Douglas agreed to a 'lifetime guarantee' covering costs associated with any repairs to this section

First flown - February 19, 1967

This aircraft had been wired and instrumented for low-pressure tyre testing

Acceptance flight flown by Captain D. Lane (Ansett); Captain P. Patten (Douglas) - March 30, 1967

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-CZB - March 30, 1967

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

Utilised within the United States for the pilot training of Ansett crews along with 'VH-CZA'

When pilot training had been completed the aircraft was prepared for ferrying to Australia - April 04, 1967

Fitted with only 4 rows of seats and 2 x 500 gallon flexible fuel cells mounted on pallets on cabin floor

Accepted by Ansett at Long Beach - April 11, 1967

This was the first Douglas DC-9 Series 30 to be accepted by a non-United States based airline

Departed Long Beach on the delivery flight to Australia - April 11, 1967

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - April 13, 1967

Delivery route: Long Beach - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains M. Withecombe, D. Brown; Navigator W. C. Kennedy and Douglas pilot D. Wriebracht

Operated its first revenue service - April 17, 1967

Participated in the Memorial Fly-Past at the funeral of the late Sir R. M. Ansett - February 15, 1982

Flight crew: Captain F. Boomsma; F/O D. G. Cashell

Operated its final revenue service Launceston - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as AN56 - March 27, 1982

Placed in open storage at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 30, 1982

It had flown 30,184 hours to date

Sold to Marfreless Inc / Corsair for lease to the United States Navy - September 29, 1982

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) as 'N3281K' on the ferry flight to the United States - November 15, 1982

Ferry route: Melbourne - Christchurch - Nadi - Pago Pago - Hilo - Phoenix

Flight crew: Captains F. Boomsma, J. Norrish; F/E G. Dalgleish

Overhauled to the United States Navy requirements by Air International Inc

Test flown then ferried Phoenix, AZ - Millington, TN - September 29, 1982

Leased to United States Navy (U. S. Navy Reserve) as C-9B 'RT2391'

Later became BuAer 162391 'City of Millington' and based at Millington

Sold to McDonnell Douglas Corp - November 30, 1990

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N537MD - November 30, 1990

Sold to Aeronautics Leasing Inc - December 07, 1990

Sold to Airborne Express Inc - December 07, 1990

Reregistered N947AX to ABX Air Inc - January 07, 1991

Operated its first revenue service - March 15, 1991

Transferred to DHL - ?

Registered to DHL Network Operations (USA) Inc - January 02, 2006

Registered to DHL Network Operations (USA) Inc - October 02, 2009

It was observed withdrawn from use and stored at Roswell, New Mexico - November 2009

Registered to Stewart Industries International LLC - November 06, 2009

It was observed stored at Roswell, New Mexico being prepared for scrapping - November 13, 2009

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - December 03, 2009

Scrapped at Roswell, New Mexico

VH-CZB. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-124.)

VH-CZB. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-126.)

VH-CZB. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-504.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, circa 1977.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-513.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-145.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-514.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-146.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-147.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-148.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-091.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-090.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980. The aircraft is sporting a tailcone from a TAA Trans Australia Airlines DC-9.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-515.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-092.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-149.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-125.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-150.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-162.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-093.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-163.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, June 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-210.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-164.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-516.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-517.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-151.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-518.)

VH-CZB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-519.)

2391. United States Navy - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, October 1986.