VH-TJA Boeing 727-76

VH-TJA. Boeing 727-76. c/n 18741-72.

Was also registered as: N91891; N40AF; N18480.

This aircraft was the first of two aircraft ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - February 01, 1963

Aircraft rolled out at the Boeing Seattle plant - July 24, 1964

First flown - August 25, 1964

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TJA - September 01, 1964

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - October 16, 1964

Delivery route: Seattle - San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

Known flight crew: Captains D. A. Winch and K. J. Fox

The aircraft was named 'James Cook'

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as TN534 - November 02, 1964

Involved in a collision with CP Air DC-8 whilst taking-off from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport - January 29, 1971

To read the ATSB report on this accident please click 'HERE'

Aircraft repairs were undertaken at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) by a Boeing crash crew - February 28, 1971

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Essendon) - March 01, 1971

It underwent a 'D' check and thorough inspection

Some fuselage seems were separated and inspected for damage resulting from the accident

This was the first time such work had been undertaken away from the Boeing plant

Returned to service - April 11, 1971

It operated its final revenue service - February 14, 1976

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport having flown 37,643 hours with 28,013 cycles

The titles and logos were removed from the aircraft - September 11, 1976

Sold to International Air Leases - October 07, 1976

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States - November 11, 1976

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 19, 1976

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N91891 - November 1976

Registered to International Air Lease

Leased to Air Florida as the registered operator - December 13, 1976

The aircraft was reregistered N40AF - January 16, 1977

Returned to International Air Leases oat the end of the lease - July 1977

Sold to Continental Airlines - July 19, 1977

Reregistered as N18480 - July 1977

It was withdrawn from service and stored at Mojave - July 19, 1991

The aircraft was crapped - August 03, 1993

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - October 08, 1996

VH-TJA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Seattle Boeing Field, October 1964.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-623.)

VH-TJA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 16, 1964.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-249.)

VH-TJA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-492.)

VH-TJA. TAA T-Jet - 'James Cook' in the experimental 'silver tail' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-274.)

VH-TJA. TAA T-Jet - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-142.)

VH-TJA. TAA T-Jet - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 09, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-867.)

VH-TJA. TAA T-Jet - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 20, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-311.)

VH-TJA. TAA T-Jet - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 23, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-324.)

VH-TJA. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 13, 1971.

This was taken after its collision with the CP Air DC-8.

(E. S. Favelle Copyright Image 4610-959.)

VH-TJA. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 13, 1971.

This was taken after its collision with the CP Air DC-8.

(E. S. Favelle Copyright Image 4610-960.)

VH-TJA. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 13, 1971.

This was taken after its collision with the CP Air DC-8.

(E. S. Favelle Copyright Image 4610-961.)

VH-TJA. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 04, 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-493.)

VH-TJA. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, February 1974.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 4610-143.)

VH-TJA. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'James Cook' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1976.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4610-605.)

VH-TJA. International Air Lease - in the basic 'TAA' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-606.)

VH-TJA. International Air Lease - in the basic 'TAA' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4611-007.)

VH-TJA. International Air Lease - in the basic 'TAA' livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1976.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 4610-241.)

N91891. Air Florida - in the original livery at Miami Airport, December 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-183.)

N91891. Air Florida - in the original livery at Miami Airport, December 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-624.)

N91891. Air Florida - in the original livery at Miami Airport, December 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4611-014.)

N40AF. Air Florida - in the original livery at Miami Airport, February 04, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-119.)

N18480. Continental - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, February 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-293.)

N18480. Continental - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, December 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4610-446.)

N18480. Continental - in the revised livery at an unknown airport, May 1987.