ZK-NZX. Boeing 747-219B. c/n 22724-528.

Was also registered as: 9M-MHG; G-VSSS; TF-ATW; VP-BQB.

This aircraft was built by the Boeing Company, Everett, Seattle for Air New Zealand

First flown at Everett (Paine Field) - June 12, 1981

Powered by Rolls Royce RB211-524G engines

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-NZX - June 21, 1981

Registered to Air New Zealand Limited, Auckland

Accepted by Air New Zealand at Everett (Paine Field) - June 21, 1981

This was the third Boeing 747 delivered to Air New Zealand

The aircraft was named 'Takitimu' (in company of chiefs)

Departed Everett (Paine Field) on the delivery flight to New Zealand - June 21, 1981

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the delivery flight - June 22, 1981

Flight crew: Capt B. Wyatt

Operated its first revenue service - July 1981

It was withdrawn from service and prepared for lease to Malaysian Airlines - March 1992

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - March 17, 1992

Entered onto the Malaysian Aircraft Register as 9M-MHG - March 17, 1992

Registered to Malaysian Airlines, Kuala Lumpur

It was returned to Air New Zealand at the end of the lease in Auckland - April 28, 1993

Cancelled from the Malaysian Aircraft Register - May 05, 1993

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK- NZX - May 05, 1993

Registered to Air New Zealand Limited, Auckland

Leased to Virgin Atlantic Airways, London - June 12, 1993

The aircraft was repainted into the Virgin livery for this lease

It was returned to Air New Zealand at Los Angeles at the end on the lease - November 01, 1993

The aircraft was repainted into the Air New Zealand livery before returning to service

This aircraft operated the airline's final Boeing 747-200 service - June 29, 1999

It operated this service Tokyo (Narita) - Christchurch - Auckland as NZ90

It was withdrawn from service and stored at Auckland - June 30, 1999

Ferried Auckland - Xiamen (China) for maintenance prior to being sold - December 06, 1999

During the maintenance process the aircraft underwent a major cabin upgrade

This included new side-wall paneling, new seat covers, carpets and galley upgrading

Sold to Virgin Atlantic Airways - ?

The aircraft had flown 82,183 hours with 14,820 cycles

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - May 22, 2000

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-VSSS (CofR G-VSSS/R1) - May 22, 2000

Registered to Virgin Atlantic Airways, London

Leased to Virgin Atlantic Airways as the registered operator

Accepted by Virgin Atlantic at Auckland - May 22, 2000

The aircraft was named 'Island Lady'

Departed Auckland in the ferry flight to The Netherlands - May 22, 2000

It arrived at Amsterdam (Schiphol) on completion of the ferry flight prior to entering service - May 24, 2000

Ferried London (Gatwick) - Amsterdam (Schiphol) for repainting into the new airline livery - January 20, 2002

Rolled out at Amsterdam (Schiphol) in the new Virgin livery but without titles - January 27, 2002

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - January 30, 2002

Entered onto the Iceland Aircraft Register as TF-ATW - January 30, 2002

Leased to Air Atlanta Iceland as the registered operator - February 01, 2002

Sub-leased to Virgin Atlantic Airways as the registered operator - May 01, 2002

The aircraft arrived at Hamburg to have the 'Virgin Atlantic' titles were applied - May 2002

Ferried Hamburg - Mnston (Kent) - May 10, 2002

It operated its 'last' Virgin Atlantic service - November 10, 2002

Returned to Air Atlanta Icelandic at Manchester - November 10, 2002

It was ferried Manchester - Mobile (Alabama) for storage - November 14, 2002

Sub-leased to Virgin Atlantic Airways, London - December 19, 2002

The aircraft had flown 94,269 hours - December 31, 2003

Cancelled from the Icelandic Aircraft Register - April 05, 2004

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-VSSS (CofR G-VSSS/R2) - April 05, 2004

Registered to Air Atlanta Europe, London

Leased to Virgin Atlantic Airways as the registered operator

It was withdrawn from service by Virgin Atlantic Airways - May 05, 2005

It was observed at London (Gatwick) in the basic Virgin livery without titles - May 20, 2005

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - May 28, 2005

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N703TA - May 28, 2005

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee, Salt Lake City, Utah

Sold to Transaero, Russia - June 17, 2005

Ferried to San Antonio (Texas) for maintenance and painting into the Transaero livery - June 21, 2005

Ferried San Antonio (Texas) - Moscow (Vnukovo) - July 27, 2005

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - July 29, 2005

Entered onto the Bermuda Aircraft Register as VP-BQB - July 29, 2005

Leassed to Transaero as the registered operator

The aircraft was withdrawn from service by Transaero - April 2009

Ferried to Griffiss Airpark, Rome, New York for storage - April 2009

Cancelled from the Bermuda Aircraft Register - ?

The aircraft was stripped of useful parts at Griffiss Airpark, Rome, New York

ZK-NZX. Air New Zealand - 'Takitimu' in the standard livery at Auckland Airport, May 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-652.)

ZK-NZX. Air New Zealand - 'Takitimu' in the standard livery with additional 'London' sticker at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1982.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4635-704.)

ZK-NZX. Air New Zealand - 'Takitimu' in the standard livery with additional 'London' sticker at Auckland Airport, February 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4635-729.)

ZK-NZX. Air New Zealand - 'Takitimu' in the standard livery with additional 'London' sticker at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, February 05, 1984.

(J. Baxter Copyright Image 4635-920.)