VH-TBH Boeing 727-276A

VH-TBH. Boeing 727-276A. c/n 20553-991.

This aircraft was the second of four Boeing 727 series 200 aircraft ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - ?

Rolled out at Seattle (Renton) - October 22, 1973

First flown as 'N1787B' - November 18, 1973

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TBH (CofA 7842) - November 20, 1973

Registered to Trans-Australia Airlines, Melbourne

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the delivery flight - November 23, 1973

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Pago Pago - Brisbane - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Freeman Cobb'

It operated its first revenue service - December 01, 1973

It operated its last service in the original livery - April 29, 1983

The aircraft underwent an overhaul and repaint into the 'Australian Airlines' livery at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

During this lay-up major corrosion was found in the aircraft centre section and it was partially repaired

Boeing deemed that this aircraft could not operate beyond its next major overhaul due August 1991

It was decided that the aircraft would be permanently withdrawn from service before then

Rolled out at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the new 'camel-hump' livery - June 21, 1983

Returned to service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - ? - July 13, 1983

Trans-Australia Airlines changed its name to Australian Airlines - August 04, 1986

Rolled out at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the Australian Airlines livery - September 23, 1987

Returned to service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - ? - September 30, 1987

It was officially transferred to Australian Airlines - July 11, 1988

It operated its final revenue service - March 06, 1991

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

The aircraft had flown 50,617 hours with 38,877 cycles

Sold to Memphis Group - June 08, 1991

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States - June 08, 1991

Ferry route: Melbourne - Nadi - Pago Pago - Honolulu - San Diego - Greenwood (Mississippi)

The aircraft was then ferried to Greenwood in the 'Australian Airlines' livery

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 13, 1991

Scrapped for parts at Greenwood, Mississippi - June 1992

It was observed at Greenwood with major parts missing - October 15, 1993

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 12, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-456.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 12, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-457.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 13, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-458.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 20, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-316.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 07, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-459.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 03, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-460.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 03, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-470.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 11, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-497.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 15, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-461.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 16, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-498.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamaine Airport, November 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-578.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 29, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-462.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-471.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 07, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-472.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-116.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4611-018.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia - 'Freeman Cobb' in the 'camel hump' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-278.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia - 'Freeman Cobb' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 17, 1984.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-473.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia - 'Freeman Cobb' in the 'camel hump' livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-474.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia - 'Freeman Cobb' in the 'camel hump' livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-592.)

VH-TBH. TAA Trans Australia - 'Freeman Cobb' in the 'camel hump' livery with additional 'Americas Cup' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 04, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-475.)

VH-TBH. Australian - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 17, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-452.)

VH-TBH. Australian - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-476.)

VH-TBH. Australian - 'Freeman Cobb' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, December 30, 1989.