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VH-VBU. Boeing 737-76Q. c/n 30288-1322.
Was also registered as: N488AC.
This aircraft was ordered new by Boullioun Aviation Services Inc - ? Rolled off Boeing production line at Seattle - April 23, 2003 First flown as VH-VBU - May 02, 2003 Powered by CFM International CFM56-7B26 engines The aircraft was fitted with winglets Leased to Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd - May 2003 Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VBU - May 12, 2003 Registered to Boullioun Aviation Services Incorporated Leased to Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd as the registered operator Accepted by Boullioun Aviation Services at Seattle (Boeing Field) - May 15, 2003 Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the ferry flight to Christchurch, New Zealand - May 17, 2003 Arrived Christchuch on completion of the ferry flight - May 17, 2003 Delivery route: Seattle - Kahului - Pago Pago - Christchurch Ferried Christchurch - Brisbane on delivery to Virgin Blue as DJ9081 - May 25, 2003 The aircraft was named 'Darwin Diva' Operated its first revenue service Brisbane - Mackay as DJ919 - May 28, 2003 Registered to ACG Acquisition 30288 LLC, Newport, California Leased to Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd as the registered operator Virgin Blue was renamed Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd - May 04, 2011 Operated its final revenue service Cairns - Brisbane as VA786 - April 04, 2013 Withdrawn from service and prepared for return to the lessor Ferried Brisbane - Kuala Lumpur (Subang) for end-of-lease maintenance as VA9943 - April 07, 2013 Departed Kuala Lumpur (Subang) on the ferry flight to the United States - May 17, 2013 Arrived Victorville for return to the lessor and storage - May 18, 2013 Ferry route: Kuala Lumpur - Guam - Honolulu - Victorville Sold by Aviation Capital Acquisitions 30288 LLC to WFBN - May 19, 2013 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 21, 2013 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N488AC - May 21, 2013 Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee, Salt Lake City The intended lease to Aerolineas Argentinas did not eventuate The aircraft remained stored at Victorville - May 2013 |
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VH-VBU. Virgin Blue - 'Darwin Diva' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 2004.
(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4620-156.) |
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VH-VBU. Virgin Blue - 'Darwin Diva' in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, November 22, 2005.
(R. Brown Copyright Image 4622-693.) |
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VH-VBU. Virgin Blue - 'Darwin Diva' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, November 13, 2011.
(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4622-625.) |