VH-TJH. Boeing 737-476. c/n 24433-1881.

Was also registered as: N120BT; EI-STD.

 

This was the fourth on nine aircraft ordered new by Australian Airlines - July 28, 1988

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Renton - May 30, 1990

Powered by CFM International CFM-56-3C1 engines

First flown as VH-TJH - June 15, 1990

It was technically acceptanced by Australian Airlines at Renton - July 02, 1990

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TJH - July 11, 1990

Registered to Australian Airlines Ltd, Melbourne

Accepted by Australian Airlines at Seattle (Boeing Field) - July 11, 1990

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia - July 12, 1990

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the delivery flight - July 15, 1990

Delivery route: Seattle - Port Angeles - Honolulu - Nadi - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Falcon'

Operated its first revenue service - July 17, 1990

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

Australian Airlines initially continued to operate as a separate identity with some flights flown between the two carriers

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

Ownership of the aircraft was transferred to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney - December 08, 1993

Registered to Denmell Pty Ltd - August 15, 2006

Leased to Qantas Airways Ltd as the registered operator

Sold to ASI Aviation Group - 2012

ASI Aviation Group announced that this aircraft would be converted to freighter configuration - August 07, 2012

Operated final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF463 - September 10, 2012

Withdrawn from service at Melbourne and the titles removed

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States for storage as QF6027 - September 17, 2012

It arrived at Miami on completion of the ferry flight - September 19, 2012

Ferry route: Melbourne - Sydney - Apia - Honolulu - Ontario - Dallas (Fort Worth) - Miami

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 25, 2012

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N120BT - September 25, 2012

Registered to Bank of Utah Trustee, Salt Lake City

Converted to freighter configuration in Miami

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - February 26, 2013

Entered onto the Irish Aircraft Register as EI-STD - February 26, 2013

Registered to Bank of Utah Trustee, Salt Lake City

Leased to Air Contractors (Ireland) Ltd AG as the registered operator

Departed Miami on the ferry flight to Ireland in an all-white livery as ABR001P - February 26, 2013

It arrived at Dublin on completion of the ferry flight - February 27, 2013

Operated its first revenue service - February 28, 2013

The aircraft was named 'St. Fiacre'

The aircraft was damaged beyond repair following its arrival at East Midlands Airport - April 29, 2014

Aircraft was operating the freight service Paris (Charles de Gaulle) - East Midlands as ABR1748

The cargo consisted of 10 tonnes of general freight

On landing at East Midlands Airport the left main landing gear strut broke as the aircraft prepared to vacate the runway

As the gear collapsed the aircraft continued to travel forward at a slow speed causing underbelly damage

The crew were not injured

It appears that the aircraft had just undergone a maintenance check during the weekend of April 26 - 27, 2014

Fuselage transferred from East Midlands to Kemble and observed with parts missing - August 09, 2014

Cancelled from the Irish Aircraft Register - August 14, 2014

The aircraft was observed stored in pieces at Kemble - April 06, 2015

To view and download the Accident Investigation Report please click 'HERE'

 

 

VH-TJH. Australian - 'Falcon' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1991.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4621-683.)

VH-TJH. Australian - 'Falcon' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 25, 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4622-278.)

VH-TJH. Australian - 'Falcon' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, June 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4621-512.)

VH-TJH. Qantas The Australian Airline - 'Falcon' in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1994.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4621-513.)

VH-TJH. Qantas The Spirit Of Australia - 'Falcon' in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 1999.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4621-514.)