This aircraft was originally ordered by American Airlines as 'N988AM' but it was not taken up

The order was taken over by Qantas Airways Ltd and officially announced - October 28, 2001

It was allocated the Boeing Block Number 'YC887'

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VXJ - April 15, 2002

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Boeing Field) - May 27, 2002

First flown as VH-VXJ - June 06, 2002

Powered by CFM International CFM56-7B26 engines and fitted with winglets

Accepted by R. Leplaw for Qantas Airways at Seattle (Boeing Field) - June 21, 2002

This was the 127th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

It was the 13th Boeing 737 delivered to Qantas

The aircraft was named ‘Coober Pedy’

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia as QF6020 - July 03, 2002

Arrived Sydney (KIngsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - July 05, 2002

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as QF429 - July 11, 2002

Registered to Naples Leasing Ltd - June 23, 2006

Leased to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney as the registered operator

Registered to Qantas Airways Limited, Sydney - January 29, 2016

Current with Qantas Airways

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the original livery at Perth Airport, March 17, 2010.

(R. Shaw Copyright Image 4620-565.)

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the original livery at Perth Airport, March 17, 2010.

(R. Shaw Copyright Image 4620-566.)

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the original livery at Perth Airport, March 17, 2010.

(R. Shaw Copyright Image 4622-126.)

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the original livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4622-446.)

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the 'New Roo' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, February 10, 2014.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4621-759.)

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the 'New Roo' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, August 25, 2019.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-574.)

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the 'New Roo' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, September 07, 2019.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-572.)

VH-VXJ. Qantas Spirit of Australia - 'Coober Pedy' in the 'New Roo' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, September 25, 2019.

(T. Haynes Copyright Image 4622-566.)