VH-TJL Douglas DC-9-31

VH-TJL. Douglas DC-9-31. c/n 47009-152.

Was also registered as: N938AX.

This was the last of three DC-9s ordered by Australian National Airlines Commission for Trans-Australia Airlines

The original order placed was for 3 DC-9-20s with 3 options - April 01, 1965

This order was subsequently changed to 3 DC-9-30s with 3 options - April 24, 1965

The contract was signed with Douglas at Long Beach - November 10, 1965

Construction was completed at Douglas Long Beach plant - June 28, 1967

First flown as VH-TJL at Long Beach - August 10, 1967

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TJL - August 19, 1967

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Accepted by Trans-Australia Airlines at Long Beach - August 20, 1967

Departed Long Beach on the delivery flight to Australia - August 25, 1967

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight from the United States - August 27, 1967

Delivery route: Long Beach - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Angus McMillan'

Operated its first revenue service - September 01, 1967

It was rolled out at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the special 'Coral Islander' livery - August 24, 1979

Returned to service in 'Coral Islander' livery - August 27, 1979

Operated its final service in 'Coral Islander' livery - March 13, 1982

Rolled out at Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the new Trans-Australia 'camel-hump' livery - April 24, 1982

Featured in an air-to-air publicity photo shoot in the new livery taken from Learjet N664CL - June 17, 1982

Transferred to Australian Airlines after the airline changed its name - August 04, 1986

Operated its final revenue service Launceston - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as TN2942 - September 29, 1986

The aircraft had flown 48,893 hours with 52,650 cycles

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (A.A.S.) - October 02, 1986

Trans-Australia titles and logo were removed from the aircraft - October 02, 1986

The 'A.A.S.' logo was applied to the aircraft at Melbourne (Tullamarine) - October 03, 1986

Sold to Airborne Express (U.S.A.) - October 03, 1986

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) in the basic 'TAA' livery on the ferry flight to the United States - October 07, 1986

Ferry route: Melbourne - Brisbane - Pago Pago - Hilo - Long Beach - Marana

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 13, 1986

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N938AX - October 15, 1986

Registered to Airborne Express

Converted to freighter configuration

Certificate of Airworthiness issued by the F.A.A. - January 06, 1987

Operated its first revenue service - January 08, 1987

Airborne Express was renamed ABX Air - 1988

The aircraft was hushkitted with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7B engines

It was observed stored on the D.H.L. ramp at Cincinnati Airport - November 17, 2003

It was observed in service with ABX Air at Albany - June 04, 2005

It was observed stored on the D.H.L. ramp at Cincinnati Airport - November 17, 2005

Withdrawn from service at Peru (Grissom Air Force Base) Indiana and stored - November 2006

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - June 18, 2007

Scrapped on site - 2007

VH-TJL. TAA T-Jet - 'Angus McMillan' in the original livery at Canberra Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-299.)

VH-TJL. TAA T-Jet - 'Angus McMillan' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-308.)

VH-TJL. TAA T-Jet - 'Angus McMillan' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 04, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-056.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Angus McMillan' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-192.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Angus McMillan' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-223.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Angus McMillan' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1978.

(G. Thom Copyright Image 1135-486.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Angus McMillan' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 17, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-224.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Angus McMillan' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 19, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-057.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-300.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-225.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-193.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-046.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-226.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 21, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-334.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1135-579.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-580.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-581.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-582.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 14, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-047.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 14, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-048.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 06, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-058.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 06, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-059.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-060.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, February 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-583.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-455.)

VH-TJL. TAA Coral Islander - 'Angus McMillan' in the promotional livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-603.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia - 'Angus McMillan' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-606.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia - 'Angus McMillan' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1985.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-607.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia - 'Angus McMillan' in the 'camel hump' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-061.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia - 'Angus McMillan' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1985.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1135-372.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia - 'Angus McMillan' in the 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-604.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia - 'Angus McMillan' in the 'camel hump' livery with additional 'Americas Cup' logo at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-605.)

VH-TJL. TAA Trans Australia - 'Angus McMillan' in the 'camel hump' livery with additional 'America's Cup' logo at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1986.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1135-062.)

VH-TJL. AAS Australian Aircraft Sales - in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-629.)

VH-TJL. AAS Australian Aircraft Sales - in the basic Trans Australia 'camel hump' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1986.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1135-630.)

N938AX. Airborne Express - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, May 1987.