VH-TAY. Boeing 737-376. c/n 23490-1390.

Was also registered as: ZK-JNA; VH-XMR.

 

 

This aircraft was the eleventh of twelve aircraft ordered new by Australian Airlines (T.A.A.) - May 27, 1985

Trans-Australia Airlines (T.A.A.) was renamed Australian Airlines - August 04, 1986

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Boeing Field) - April 27, 1987

Powered by CFM International CFM56-3B2 engines

First flown at Seattle as 'VH-TAY' - May 13, 1987

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAY - June 17, 1987

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Accepted by Australian Airlines at Seattle (Boeing Field) - June 23, 1987

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia as TN1399 - June 24, 1987

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the delivery flight - June 26, 1987

Delivery route: Seattle (Boeing Field) - Honolulu - Majuro - Townsville - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Valiant'

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Coolangatta as TN502 - June 27, 1987

Ownership was transferred to Australian Airlines following the company name change - July 11, 1988

Australian Airlines was sold to Qantas Airways Ltd - September 14, 1992

Australian Airlines was merged with Qantas Airways Ltd - October 31, 1993

Ownership was transferred to Qantas Airways Ltd - December 08, 1993

Operated its last service in the 'Australian Airlines' livery - August 08, 1994

Returned to service in the standard 'Qantas' livery - August 27, 1994

Operated its final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF493 - October 28, 2003

Transferred to Qantas Jetconnect, New Zealand

Ferried Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Christchurch on delivery to Jetconnect as QF6011 - November 02, 2003

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 04, 2003

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-JNA - November 05, 2003

Registered to Jetconnect (N.Z.) Ltd

Operated its first Jetconnect service Christchurch - Auckland as QF4138 - January 01, 2004

Operated the inaugural Jetconnect Auckland - Adelaide - Auckland service as QF54/53 - March 27, 2006

Operated its final Jetconnect service Auckland - Christchurch as QF4133 - June 13, 2006

Ferried Christchurch - Melbourne (Avalon) for freighter conversion by Qantas as QF6002 - June 15, 2006

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - June 16, 2006

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-XMR - June 19, 2006

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

It was damaged during the conversion when the forward jack pierced the fuselage skin - November 03, 2006

Rolled out at Melbourne (Avalon) in the standard 'Australian Air Express' livery - January 2007

The aircraft is now classified as a Boeing 737-376(SF)

Leased to Express Freighters Australia on behalf of Australian Air Express (both Qantas subsidiaries)

Test flown at Melbourne (Avalon) as QF6132 - January 30 - 31, 2007

Ferried Melbourne (Avalon) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF6114 - February 01, 2007

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Brisbane - Townsville - Cairns - February 02, 2007

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney - May 27, 2013

Leased to Express Freighters Australia Pty, Ltd, Sydney as the registered operator

Ferried Perth - Singapore (Seletar) for overhaul and repaint as QF7301 - August 08, 2014

Ferried Singapore (Seletar) - Perth in standard 'Qantas Freight' livery as QF7302 - October 16, 2014

Returned to service Perth - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF7333 - October 17, 2014

Operated its last revenue service Hobart - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF7370 - May 31, 2024

It was withdrawn from service and stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 18, 2024

Sold to Automatic Leasing, Florida, USA - ?

Currently stored in a derelict condition at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - December 2024

 

 

VH-TAY. Australian - 'Valiant' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 18, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4620-490.)

ZK-JNA. Qantas - in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, September 2004.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-574.)

ZK-JNA. Qantas - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 16, 2005.

(G. Canciani Copyright Image 4622-376.)

VH-XMR. Australian air Express - in the standard livery at Hobart Airport, June 2007.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4620-584.)

VH-XMR. Australian air Express - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, July 27, 2013.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4622-253.)

VH-XMR. Australian air Express - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, July 27, 2013.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4622-254.)

VH-XMR. Qantas Freight - in the 'New Roo' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, June 22, 2017.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4623-513.)

VH-XMR. Qantas Freight - in the 'Silver Roo' livery with additional 'Australia Post' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, August 26, 2020.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-849.)

VH-XMR. QantasFreight - in the 'Silver Roo' livery with additional 'Australia Post' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 17, 2020.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-838.)

VH-XMR. QantasFreight - in the 'Silver Roo' livery with additional 'Australia Post' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 17, 2020.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-839.)

VH-XMR. QantasFreight - in the 'Silver Roo' livery with additional 'Australia Post' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 17, 2020.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-840.)

VH-XMR. QantasFreight - in the 'Silver Roo' livery with additional 'Australia Post' titles at Adelaide West Beach Airport, April 22, 2021.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-935.)