VH-BZI Convair 440-61

This aircraft was ordered new by Ansett Airways at a cost of $US 750, 000 - 1957

Constructed by the Convair Division of the General Dynamics Corporation

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BZI - July 23, 1957

Registered to Ansett Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Construction completed - August 23, 1957

Departed San Diego on the delivery flight to Australia - October 05, 1957

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - October 15, 1957

Delivery route: San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Brisbane - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains J. Hassard, A. McNaughton; Navigator E. W. Adams

Operated its first revenue service - October 1957

Transferred to Butler Air Transport to replace CV-340 - August 1959

Operated last Convair service with Airlines of N.S.W. Sydney - Coffs Harbour - Casino - Oakey return - July 14, 1960

Returned to Ansett-ANA - July 15, 1960

Used to transported Reginald Ansett to Auckland (Whenuapai) Airport - March 23, 1961

This visit was to view the operations of SPANZ (South Pacific Airlines of NZ)

Withdrawn from Ansett-A.N.A. service - May 04, 1962

Sold to Allegheny Airlines Inc for $US 400,000 - May 05, 1962

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to the United States - May 05, 1962

It arrived at San Francisco on completion of the ferry flight - May 07, 1962

Ferry route: Melbourne - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco

Flight crew: Captain A. Lane, A. James, W. Hill; Navigator W. C. Kennedy

The aircraft had been fitted with canvas auxiliary fuel tanks in the cabin to assist in the ferry flight

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 09, 1962

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N8420H - May 14, 1962

Registered to Allegheny Airlines Inc

Accepted by Allegheny Airlines - May 14, 1962

It was converted to CV-580 standard by Pacific Airmotive Corp - February 07, 1966 to April 1966

Redelivered to AlleghenyAirlines - April 28, 1966

Reregistered as N5811 - ?

Sold to Commuter Airlines Inc, Binghampton, NY - June 20, 1978

Leased to Freedom Airlines Inc, Cleveland, Ohio - September 07, 1982

Sold to Air Ontario - October 16, 1984

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - October 18, 1984

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GGWF - October 18, 1984

Converted to freighter configuration

Sold to European Air Transport - January 22, 1988

Entered onto the Belgian Aircraft Register as OO-DHL - ?

Sold to DHL Worldwide Courier - February 01, 1988

Leased to Swift Air - May 2000

Entered onto the Spanish Aircraft Register as EC-HMS - ?

Operated as a freighter in full DHL livery

It was quoted that the aircraft had flown 56,957 hours with 54,559 cycles as of mid 2003

This aircraft was advertised for sale by Aviation Marketing International LLC, Las Vegas - mid 2004

It was observed based at Athens, Greece - April 24, 2005

It was operating a daily freight service Athens - Thessalonika

Withdrawn from service and stored at Athens - October 2005

The intended sale to SkyHaul South Africa did not eventuate - November 2005

Sold to Spanaway for operations by Air Tahoma Inc, Colombus, Ohio - August 17, 2006

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N589X - August 22, 2006

Registered to Spanaway, Washington State on Temporary Certificate T066204

It was observed at Madrid with registration 'N589X' on the fuselage - September 13, 2006

It arrived in the United States on completion of the ferry flight - September 2006

The temporary registration expired - September 21, 2006

The aircraft was grounded by the F. A. A. and was never operated by Air Tahoma

Registered as N589X to Spanaway, Washington State - June 19, 2014

It was observed stored at Clarke County Airport, Quitman, MS - May 2015

Current status - ?