VH-TJO Douglas DC-9-31

VH-TJO. Douglas DC-9-31. c/n 47326-516.

Was also registered as: N731L; N928ML.

This aircraft was the last of three optioned DC-9s ordered by Australian National Airlines Commission for T.A.A.

The order was originally placed for 3 DC-9-20s with 3 options - April 01, 1965

It was later changed to 3 DC-9-30s with 3 options - April 24, 1965

The contract was signed with Douglas at Long Beach - November 10, 1965

Construction was complete at the Douglas Long Beach plant - June 1969

First flown as VH-TJO at Long Beach - July 03, 1969

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TJO - July 11, 1969

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Accepted by T.A.A. at Long Beach - July 11, 1969

Departed Long Beach on the delivery flight to Australia - July 12, 1969

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport on completion of the delivery flight - July 14, 1969

Delivery route: Long Beach - Honolulu - Pago Pago - Brisbane - Melbourne

This aircraft was delivered devoid of markings and was repainted in Melbourne during the preservice layup

It was named 'William Wentworth'

Operated its first revenue service - July 23, 1969

Operated its last revenue service in the old livery - December 24, 1981

Rolled out in new Trans Australia 'camel-hump' livery at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - February 12, 1982

Operated its final revenue service Launceston - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as TN500 - June 25, 1986

The aircraft had flown 43,337 hours with 47,021 cycles

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

The Trans-Australia titles and logo were removed from the aircraft - October 15, 1986

The 'A.A.S.' logo was applied to the aircraft - October 16, 1986

The 'A.S.A.' logo was removed from the aircraft as it had been applied in error - October 19, 1986

Sold to International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) - October 21, 1986

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N731L - October 21, 1986

Registered to International Lease Finance Corporation

Leased to Sunworld International Airways (U.S.A.) as the registered operator

Departed Melbourne in the basic TAA livery on the ferry flight to the United States as TN1399 - October 21, 1986

It arrived at Phoenixon completion of the ferry flight - October 23, 1986

Ferry route: Melbourne - Brisbane - Pago Pago - Hilo - Long Beach - Phoenix

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 24, 1986

Accepted by Sunworld International Airways at Phoenix - October 27, 1986

Returned to ILFC at the end of the lease - January 10, 1988

Leased to Midway Airlines - June 10, 1988

Reregistered as N928ML - June 1988

Registered to First Security Bank of Utah

Leased to Midaway Airlines as the registered operator

Returned to First Security Bank at the end of the lease - July 29, 1991

Sold and registered to CIT Leasing, New York - January 1992

Leased to Express One International Airlines as the registered operator - May 01, 1992

Returned to CIT Leasing on termination of the lease - July 1995

It was observed parked at Phoenix in an all-white livery - July 05, 1995

Leased to Spirit Airlines (U.S.A.) - August 03, 1995

Sold to Avteam Inc - February 20, 1998

Aircraft hushkitted with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7B engines

Sold to RTG Fulcrum Aircraft LLC, New York - December 23, 1998

The lease to Spirit Airlines was continued as the registered operator

Sold to Homfeld II LLC without engines - January 06, 2000

The lease to Spirit Airlines as the registered operator continued

It was observed at Toronto, Canada in service with Spirit Airlines - April 22, 2000

Registered to Homfeld II LLC, Miramar, Florida - May 12, 2000

Leased to Spirit Airlines as the registered operator

A Certificate of Airworthiness was issue by the F.A.A. - September 01, 2000

Withdrawn from use and stored at Detroit

The aircraft was scrapped at Detroit - July 2002

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - July 03, 2012

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-391.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-392.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-393.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-394.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-493.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-281.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-311.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-491.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-492.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-350.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-312.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-410.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'William Wentworth' in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-453.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Wentworth' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-612.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Wentworth' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-351.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Wentworth' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1985.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-611.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Wentworth' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-352.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - 'William Wentworth' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-309.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - in the basic 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-631.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - in the basic 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-310.)

VH-TJO. TAA Trans Australia - in the basic 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-632.)

N731L. Sunworld - in the standard livery at Tucson Airport, February 1987.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-468.)

N928ML. Spirit - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, November 1995.