VH-VOI. Boeing 737-81Q. c/n 30786-1138.

Was also registered as: N786TA; B-5156.

 

 

This aircraft was ordered new by Tombo Aviation Incorporated - ?

Powered by CFM International CFM56-7B26 engines

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Renton) without winglets - April 30, 2002

The intended lease to Miami Air as 'N734MA' was not taken up

First flown as VH-VOI - May 08, 2002

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VOI - May 10, 2002

Registered to Tombo Aviation Incorporated

Leased to Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd as the registered operator

Accepted by Virgin Blue at Seattle (Boeing Field) - May 28, 2002

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the ferry flight to New Zealand - May 29, 2002

Arrived Christchurch on completion of the ferry flight - June 01, 2002

Ferry route: Seattle - Lihue - Pago Pago - Christchurch

The aircraft was fitted with winglets during the pre-service maintenance

Ferried Christchurch - Brisbane on delivery to Virgin Blue as DJ9073 - June 18, 2002

The aircraft was named 'Blue Bambino'

Operated its first revenue service - June 2002

Painted in special 'Gillette M3 Power' markings and rolled at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - February 26, 2005

Operated its final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as DJ888 - May 15, 2006

Ferried Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Christchurch at the end of the lease - May 15, 2006

It was observed at Christchurch in the standard China Southern livery as 'B-5156' - June 17, 2006

Departed Christchurch on the ferry flight to the United States - June 18, 2006

It arrived at Dallas (Fort Worth) for galley modifications - June 19, 2006

Ferry route: Christchurch - Apia - Honolulu - Denver - Dallas

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 20, 2006

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N786TA - June 20, 2006

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest

Departed San Antonio, Texas on the ferry flight to China as CNS126 - July 18, 2006

It arrived at Beijing on completion of the ferry flight - July 20, 2006

Ferry route: San Antonio - Los Angeles - Honolulu - Majuro - Guam - Beijing

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - July 20, 2006

Entered onto the Chinese Aircraft Register as B-5156 - July 20, 2006

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest

Leased to China Southern Airlines as the registered operator

Current status - ?

 

 

VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-177.)

VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Brisbane Airport, March 2005.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4623-324.)

VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Brisbane Airport, April 2005.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-258.)

VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, June 26, 2005.

(R. Brown Copyright Image 4621-624.)

VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 17, 2005.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4621-658.)

VH-VOI. Virgin Blue - 'Blue Bambino' in the special 'Gillette' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 17, 2005.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4623-325.)

VH-VOI. China Southern - in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, June 2006.

(G. Reid Copyright Image 4621-625.)

VH-VOI. China Southern - in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, June 2006.

(Z. Rae Copyright Image 4621-626.)