First of two aircraft ordered new by Ansett-ANA - February 1963

First flown - September 21, 1964

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-RME - September 1, 1964

Departed Seattle on delivery flight to Australia - October 13, 1964

Arrived Melbourne at conclusion of delivery flight - October 16, 1964

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

Ansett Flight crew: Capts A. Lovell, J. McRobbie, A. McNaughton; Navigator W. C. Kennedy;

F/Es M. Perry & A. Williams; Boeing Flight crew: Capts S. L. Wallick, B. Allsop & E. Hartz

This flight was the first tri-motor aircraft to cross the Pacific Ocean since Charles Kingsford-Smith &

Charles Ulm's flight in the Fokker 'Southern Cross'

Operated first revenue service Melbourne-Sydney - November 2, 1964

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd - November 25, 1969

Operated final revenue service Brisbane-Melbourne as AN55 - September 12, 1978

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport

Aircraft had flown 43,110 hours

Sold to International Air Leases - January 1979

Departed Melbourne on delivery flight to Miami - January 18, 1979

Delivery route: Melbourne-Tontouta-Pago Pago-Hilo-Los Angeles

Arrived Miami at conclusion of ferry flight - January 20, 1979

Flight crew: Capts M. Wheaton & E. Mackay; F/E J. Crago; Navigator B. S. McEwen

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 25, 1979

Entered onto the Mexican Aircraft Register as XA-MEG - June 6, 1979

Leased to Compania Mexicana de Aviacion SA (Mexicana) - June 6, 1979

Returned to International Air Leases - November 6, 1981

Leased to Transbrasil SA Linhas Aereas - December 20, 1981

Entered onto the Brasilian Aircraft Register as PT-TCE

Sold to Transbrasil - April 1, 1986

Sold to Corsair Inc - May 16, 1989

Entered onto the U.S. Aircraft Register as N8140V

Leased to Toros Airways, Turkey (Torosair) - May 30, 1989

Entered onto the Turkish Aircraft Register as TC-AJT

Aircraft was named 'Imre Hong'

Returned to Corsair when Torosair ceased operations - January 1990

Entered onto the U.S. Aircraft Register as N143CA

Transferred to Avengair - June 1990

Leased to Aerolineas Centrales de Colombia SA (t/a ACES Colombia) - 1991

Entered onto the Colombian Aircraft Register as HK-3651X

Returned to Avengair - April 1992

Intended sale to Hanair, Haiti did not eventuate - April 1992

Aircraft had been fully painted in Hanair livery at Miami but not delivered

Leased to Servicios Aereos Rutas Oriente SA (t/a SARO) - July 17, 1992

Entered onto the Mexican Aircraft Register as XA-SDH

Returned to Avengair - July 1993

Leased to Quassar de Mexico SA - August 1, 1993

Reregistered as XA-SIR

Returned to Avengair and withdrawn from service at Miami - October 22, 1994

Entered onto the U.S. Aircraft Register as N8140V

Stored at Opa Locka, Florida - October 1994

Sold to Florida National Air Sales & Services - May 26, 1995

Scrapped at Opa Locka, Florida - 1995

The complete history of VH-RME is available as a book. This book explores the background

of the Boeing 727 program including the D.C.A.s interference in the Australian requirements for this aircraft

before presenting the history of VH-RME in text and photos. To purchase a copy of this book - click HERE.

VH-RME. Ansett-ANA - in the full livery over Washington State, September 1964.

VH-RME. Ansett-ANA - in the full livery arriving at Essendon Airport, October 16, 1964.

VH-RME. Ansett-ANA - in the full livery at Essendon Airport, October 16, 1964.

VH-RME. Ansett-ANA - in the full livery at Essendon Airport, October 1964.

VH-RME. Ansett-ANA - in the full livery Essendon Airport, June 1967.

VH-RME. Ansett-ANA - in the full livery at Perth Airport, date unknown.

VH-RME. Ansett-ANA - in the full livery Essendon Airport, April 1968.

VH-RME. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, January 1973.

VH-RME. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, January 1973.

VH-RME. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, May 1977.

VH-RME. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, September 1978.

PT-TCE. Trans Brasil - in the full livery at Sao Paulo irport, March 1988.

HH-JEC. Hanair - in the full livery at Miami Airport, May 1992.

XA-SIR. Quassar - in the basic livery without titles at Miami Airport, October 1994.