VH-CZD. Douglas DC-9-31. c/n 47065-269.

Was also registered as: N3281R; RS2392; N534MD; N948AX.

 

This aircraft was the fourth of the six original DC-9s ordered new by Ansett - March 17, 1964

First flown - February 27, 1968

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-CZD - March 03, 1968

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Accepted by Ansett at Long Beach - March 10, 1968

Departed Long Beach on the delivery flight to Australia - March 10, 1968

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - March 12, 1968

Delivery route: Long Beach - Honolulu - Pago Pago - Nadi - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains A. Lane, W. E. Brooks, A. A. Lake; Navigator B. S. McEwen

Operated its first revenue service - March 16, 1968

Ansett entered into an agreement with the Vanuatu Government to provide its airline services - mid 1981

This aircraft was selected to be the flagship of the new airline to be known as 'Air Vanuatu'

Rolled out at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the standard 'Air Vanuatu' livery - October 14, 1981

Operated its first revenue service for Air Vanuatu (Captain F. Boomsma) - October 31, 1981

Operated its final revenue service for Air Vanuatu - May 23, 1982

Operated its final revenue service Canberra - Sydney (Captain R. Nunn) - May 23, 1982

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) for storage having flown 36, 294 hours - June 21, 1982

Flight crew: Captains N. Day, B. King; Engineer R. Baldwin

It was placed in open storage at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Sold to Corsair Inc for lease to the United States Navy via the United States Defence Department - July 09, 1982

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N3281R - August 1982

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 30, 1982

Test flown at Melbourne (Captain F. Boomsma; Captain Harpham - Republic Airlines) - September 16, 1982

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States - September 17, 1982

Ferry route: Melbourne - Nadi - Pago Pago - Hilo - Phoenix

Ferry crew: Captain N. Day, B. King; LAME R. Baldwin

Converted to the United States Navy specification as a C-9B by Air International Inc

Work included rear pressure bulkhead modifications, installation of GPWS, UHF and TACAN radio equipment

The aircraft was certified to United States FAR 21 standard

Sold to Marfreless Inc for lease to the United States Navy - September 18, 1982

Leased to the United States Navy as 'RS2392 / Bu 162392'

The aircraft was named 'City of Seattle' and based at Whidbey Island

Sold to McDonnell Douglas - October 1990

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N534MD - October 1990

Sold to Airborne Express - October 1990

Reregistered as N948AX - November 16, 1990

Registered to ABX Air Inc, Wilmington, Ohio

Operated its first revenue service - January 29, 1991

Withdrawn from use and stored at Cincinnati, Ohio - December 2005

It was observed stored at Cincinnati, Ohio in ABX livery - July 2006

It was officially withdrawn from use at Cincinnati Airport - November 06, 2006

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - January 16, 2009

Scrapped at Cincinnati - 2009

 

 

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-264.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-265.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-171.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-266.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-267.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-132.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-133.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-506.)

VH-CZD. Ansett-ANA - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-507.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-270.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-172.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-173.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-174.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1979.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-525.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-134.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-524.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-177.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-175.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-135.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-136.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-176.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-178.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-526.)

VH-CZD. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery with additional 'Official Carrier Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-179.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Canberra Airport, October 1981.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 1135-009.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-043.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-031.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-033.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-180.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1982.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-528.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, February 1982.

(G. Thom Copyright Image 1135-527.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1982.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-050.)

VH-CZD. Air Vanuatu - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, June 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-529.)

162392. United States Navy - 'City of Seattle' in the standard livery at Atlanta Airport, December 1987.

(J. E. Bernhard Copyright Image 1135-022.)