VH-BZO. Convair CV-440-97. c/n 450.


 

Originally built for anticipated S.A.S. order but not taken up

Construction completed - July 24, 1957

Sold to General Dynamics Corporation

Entered onto the U.S. Aircraft Register as N8446H

Sold to Ansett-A.N.A. for $US 750,000

Departed San Diego on delivery flight to Melbourne - December 6, 1957

Arrived Melbourne's Essendon Airport at conclusiuon of delivery flight - December 13, 1957

Delivery route: San Francisco-Honolulu-Canton Island-Tontouta-Brisbane-Melbourne

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BZO - December 20, 1957

Registered to Ansett-A.N.A.

Chartered by Airlines of N.S.W. - 1959

Chartered by Queensland Airlines in full Ansett-A.N.A. livery - September to November 1959

Withdrawn from service & offered for sale - November 1959

Sold to Remmert Werner - November 1, 1959

Sold to Coca Cola Co - November 1959

Entered onto the U.S. Aircraft Register as N6666C - November 22, 1959

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 24, 1959

Departed Melbourne on delivery flight to St Louis - November 25, 1959

Converted to executive transport for Coca Cola

Sold to the Italian Air Force as MM61901 - January 1, 1964

Allocated serial SM-22 - January 1964

Allocated serial 31-22 - 1976

Noted in a derlict condition at Rome's Ciampino Airport - February 1978 to November 1982

Officially retired from service at Rome Airport - November 12, 1982

Scrapped at Rome Airport - November 26, 1987

 


 

VH-BZO. Ansett-A.N.A. - in the early livery at Melbourne Airport, 1958.

VH-BZO. Ansett-A.N.A. - in the early livery at Melbourne Airport, 1958.
VH-BZO. Ansett-A.N.A. - in the early livery at Adelaide Airport, circa 1958.

N6666C. Coco-Cola - in the full livery at Atlanta Airport, September 18, 1962.

N6666C. Coco-Cola - interior of the aircraft in executive configuration, circa 1962.
N6666C. Coco-Cola - interior of the aircraft in executive configuration, circa 1962.

N6666C. Coco-Cola - interior of the aircraft in executive configuration, circa 1962.

N6666C. Coco-Cola - interior of the aircraft in executive configuration, circa 1962.
N6666C. Coco-Cola - interior of the cockpit, circa 1962.