ZK-SUH. Boeing 747-475. c/n 24896-855.

Was also registered as: PP-VPI; N891LF.

 

This aircraft was built by The Boeing Company, Everett, Seattle, Washington

First flown with the Boeing test registration 'N6009F' - May 08, 1991

It was built for Canadian Airlines International but the order was not taken up

Sold to International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC),  Beverley Hills, California - May 31, 1991

Entered onto the Brazilian Aircraft Register as PP-VPI - May 31, 1991

Registered to International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC),  Beverley Hills, California

Leased to Varig, Brazil as the registered operator

Due to financial issues the aircraft was withdrawn from use by Varig and returned to ILFC - August 12, 1994

Cancelled from the Brazilian Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N891LF - ?

Registered to International Lease Finance Corporation, Beverley Hill, California

Returned to Boeing at Everett (Paine Field) where a major cabin refit was carried out by Tramco Inc

This was in preparation for lease of the aircraft to Air New Zealand

Leased to Air New Zealand - November 07, 1994

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-SUH - November 08, 1994

This registration was selected in honour of ILFC Chief Executive Officer, Steven Udvar Hazy

Registered to Air New Zealand Limited, Auckland, New Zealand

It arrived at Auckland on completion on the delivery flight - November 09, 1994

The aircraft was later named 'Dunedin' (A city in the South Island of New Zealand)

Following the September 2001 terrorism activities in New York City, international airline patronage slumped

Air New Zealand withdrew the aircraft from use and it was placed in storage at Auckland - January 22, 2002

It was observed at Auckland with two engines removed - March 28, 2002

Air N Z announced it had reached agreement with ILFC to extended the lease for at least 7 years - May 02, 2002

The aircraft remained in storage at Auckland

It returned to service Auckland - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as NZ103 - August 04, 2002

It operated a charter flight Christchurch - Perth - Capetown as NZ1761 - June 14, 2006

It departed Capetown on the return flight as NZ6062 - June 15, 2006

It arrived at Auckland - June 16, 2006

It operated its final revenue service San Francisco - Auckland as NZ007 - July 15, 2014

It was withdrawn from service at Auckland

The aircraft was sold to Aviation Concepts Inc. USA - ?

Ferried Auckland - Los Angeles as NZ6074 - July 28, 2014

It was ferried Los Angeles - Victorville for storage and breaking-up - July 29, 2014

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - July 29, 2014

The aircraft had flown a total of 92,445.21 hours 11,524 cycles

General Electric announced that this aircraft which had been destined to be scrapped would be rescued

It was intented to become their fuel test-bed jet - August 2014

The aircraft was observed at Victorville minus all engines and other parts - October 24, 2015

It was observed at Victorville with many parts missing but still basically intact - September 27, 2016

It was observed in a derelict condition at Victorville - January 04, 2021

 

 

PP-VPI. Varig - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, December 1991.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-889.)

PP-VPI. Varig - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, January 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-664.)

N891LF. Air New Zealand - in the original livery at Everett Paine Field, November 04, 1994.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 4635-819.)

ZK-SUH. Air New Zealand - in the original livery at Everett Paine Field, November 1994.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 4635-468.)

ZK-SUH. Air New Zealand - in the original livery at Auckland Airport, February 1996.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 4635-727.)

ZK-SUH. Air New Zealand - in the original livery at Frankfurt Airport, September 1997.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-657.)

ZK-SUH. Air New Zealand - in the 'Pacific Wave' livery at London Heathrow Airport, May 1998.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-658.)

ZK-SUH. Air New Zealand - in the modified 'Pacific Wave' livery at Christchurch Airport, November 02, 2013.

(G. Reid Copyright Image 4635-787.)