VH-VQI Boeing 717-231

VH-VQJ. Boeing 717-231. c/n 55096-5093.

Was also registered as: N429TW; VH-YQJ; VH-NXO.

This aircraft was ordered new by Trans World Airlines - ?

Construction completed at the Boeing Long Beach (California) plant - November 2001

First flown at Long Beach as 'N429TW' - November 18, 2001

Aircraft powered by BMW Rolls Royce BR715-130A engines

The aircraft was configured to seat 100 passengers

Airworthiness Test Flight performed - November 18, 2001

Accepted by Trans World Airlines at Long Beach (California) - November 29, 2001

Sold to Pembroke 717 Leasing 55096 Ltd - November 29, 2001

Leased to Trans World Airlines as the registered operator

The Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued - November 30, 2001

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N429TW - November 30, 2001

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Trustee

Ferried to Victorville (California) for storage having flown 18 hours and 12 cycles - December 02, 2001

Transferred to American Airlines when the airlines merged but the aircraft did not enter service - December 02, 2001

Returned to Pembroke 717 Leasing Ltd - April 30, 2002

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - April 30, 2002

Impulse Airlines had entered into an agreement to operate services for Qantas as 'QantasLink'

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VQJ - April 30, 2002

Registered to Pembroke 717 Leasing Ltd

Leased to Impulse Airlines Pty Ltd as the registered operator

Departed Victorville (California) on the delivery flight to Australia - May 08, 2002

It arrived at Newcastle on completion of the delivery flight from the United States - May 11, 2002

Delivery route: Victorville - Seattle (Boeing Field) - Anchorage - Nome - Petropavlovsk Kamchatski - Kansai -

Manila - Darwin - Newcastle

The aircraft was delivered in an 'all-metal' livery with the 'TWA' rudder

Ferried Newcastle - Sydney (RAAF Richmond) for painting into the 'QantasLink' livery as QF6803 - May 13, 2002

Ferried Sydney (RAAF Richmond) - Newcastle after repainting - ?

Ferried Newcastle - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as QF6801 - May 23, 2002

Operated first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Coolangatta as QF1604 - May 23, 2002

Transferred to Jetstar - May 25, 2004

Repainted into the special Jetstar 'Avis / Budget' livery - July 2005

Returned to service - July 25, 2005

Reregistered as VH-YQJ - January 18, 2006

Registered to Pembroke Aircraft Leasing Australia Pty Ltd

Leased to Jetstar Airlines Pty Ltd as the registered operator

Operated its 'last' Jetstar revenue service Melbourne (Avalon) - Brisbane as JQ358 - May 08, 2006

Withdrawn from use and stored at Brisbane - June 01, 2006

Returned to service flying Brisbane - Adelaide - Brisbane - Newcastle as JQ612/611/3851 - June 07, 2006

This was to cover for the breakdown of the Jetstar Airbus A320 'VH-VQA'

Withdrawn from use and stored at Newcastle - June 07, 2006

Ferried Newcastle - Adelaide (West Beach) for storage - June 08, 2006

National Jet Systems was awarded the contract to operate services for QantasLink

Reregistered as VH-NXO - July 19, 2007

Leased to National Jet Systems Pty Ltd as the registered operator

Ferried Adelaide (West Beach) - Perth as QF6200 - August 23, 2007

Operated first 'QantasLink' revenue service Perth - Port Headland as QF1810 - August 25, 2007

Registered to Shire Aviation Australia Pty Ltd - December 20, 2007

Leased to National Jet Systems Pty Ltd as the registered operator on behalf of 'QantasLink'

Ferried Perth - Brrome - Singapore (Seletar) for planned maintenance as QF6250 - November 02, 2019

Ferried Singapore (Seletar) - Broome - Perth on completion of mainentance as QF6251 - December 14, 2019

The aircraft was named 'Wilsons Promontory National Park'

Operated its last revenue service Launceston - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF6216 - July 17, 2024

It was withdrawn from service at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Ferried Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Canberra as QJE6200 for storage - July 17, 2024

Departed Canberra (07:47 AEST) on the ferry flight to the United States as SXI2466 - August 13, 2024

It arrived at Victorville (California - 16:55 local) having completed the ferry flight from Australia - August 15, 2024

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 02, 2024

Stored at Victorville (California) awaiting sale or disposal

Current status- ?

VH-VQJ. QantasLink - in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 2002.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4660-181.)

VH-VQJ. QantasLink - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 2002.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4660-054.)

VH-VQJ. QantasLink - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 2002.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4660-055.)

VH-VQJ. QantasLink - in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2003.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4660-114.)

VH-VQJ. Jetstar - in the 'all-white' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 2004.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4660-098.)

VH-VQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Avis' livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2005.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4660-027.)

VH-VQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Avis' livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2005.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4660-051.)

VH-VQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Budget' livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2005.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4660-113.)

VH-VQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Budget' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, December 15, 2005.

(R. Brown Copyright Image 4660-513.)

VH-VQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Avis' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, December 22, 2005.

(R. Brown Copyright Image 4660-512.)

VH-YQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Budget' livery at Brisbane Airport, April 2006.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4660-014.)

VH-YQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Budget' livery at Brisbane Airport, May 2006.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4660-053.)

VH-YQJ. Jetstar - in the 'Avis' livery at Brisbane Airport, June 2006.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4660-013.)