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Fleet History

TAA Aircraft Fleet 1961-1972

The TAA aircraft fleet 1961-1972 captured a unique operational duality: conquering remote frontiers with the Bristol Freighter while launching into the modern Jet Age with the Boeing 727.

Historical Fleet Journey

Explore the TAA Aircraft Fleet, 1961-1972

Spanning from 1961 to 1972, this era captured TAA's unique operational duality: conquering remote frontiers and launching into the modern Jet Age. In the early 1960s, heavy-lift specialists like the Bristol Type 170 Freighter opened up the rugged New Guinea Highlands by hauling bulky machinery and equipment. By mid-decade, competitive pressures and rising demand ushered in pure-jet travel with the introduction of the Boeing 727 'Whispering T-Jet' in October 1964, the versatile DHC-6 Twin Otter in 1966, and the short-to-medium-range Douglas DC-9-30 in 1967.

Bristol Type 170 Freighter Mk 31
1961 Fleet Era

Bristol Type 170 Freighter Mk 31

The Heavy-Lift Workhorse

Deployed for heavy-lift cargo operations to conquer the rugged terrain of the New Guinea Highlands, transporting bulky freight such as trucks, bridge girders, bulldozers, and heavy machinery that exceeded the capabilities of the Douglas DC-3. The aircraft were eventually withdrawn in 1967 after the completion of major infrastructure projects and sold to Air Express.

Read Full Freighter History →
Aircraft Specifications
Cruising Speed
264 km/h (164 mp/h)
Cruising Altitude
1,500 m (5,000 ft)
Range
1,320 km (820 mi)
Capacity
7 Tonne (16,000 lbs)
Engine Type
Bristol Hercules Radial Engines
Engine Rating
4,000 hp
Maximum Take-off Weight
20 Tonne (44,000 lbs)
TAA / Australian Airlines Fleet (Owned)
Tail Number Model Name Serial Number Entered Service Retired Hours Landings
VH-TBA B170 Mark 31 Leahy Brothers 13176 12/08/1961 06/01/1967 — —
VH-TBB B170 Mark 31 William MacGregor 13187 21/09/1961 24/02/1967 — —
Boeing 727
1964 & 1972 Fleet Era

Boeing 727

Ushering in the Domestic Pure-Jet Era

Promoted as the "Whispering T-Jet," TAA introduced the Boeing 727 in October 1964, dramatically cutting travel times between capital cities. The stretched 727-200 Advanced variant joined in the 1970s, solidifying the jet age for Australian travelers.

Read Full 727 History →
Aircraft Specifications
Cruising Speed
920 km/h (572 mp/h)
Cruising Altitude
9,144 m - 12,192 m (30,000 ft - 40,000 ft)
Range
4,020 km (2,500 mi)
Capacity
94 Passengers
Engine Type
Pratt & Whitney JT8D7B
Engine Rating
6.35 Tonne (14,000 lbs) Thrust
Maximum Take-off Weight
77 Tonne (169,000 lbs)
TAA / Australian Airlines Fleet (Owned)
Tail Number Model Name Serial Number Entered Service Retired Hours Landings
VH-TJA 727-100 James Cook 18741 02/11/1964 14/02/1976 37643 28013
VH-TJB 727-100 John Forrest 18742 29/11/1964 01/02/1980 47227 37112
VH-TJC 727-100 Arthur Phillip 18843 24/08/1965 26/12/1976 37982 27836
VH-TJD 727-100 Gregory Blaxland 19254 13/08/1966 31/03/1979 40402 30735
VH-TJE 727-100 Matthew Flinders 20228 02/11/1969 04/06/1979 31350 23744
VH-TJF 727-100 William Dampier 20371 18/07/1970 15/01/1979 27762 21204
VH-TBG 727-200 Charles Sturt 20552 07/01/1973 — — —
VH-TBH 727-200 Freeman Cobb 20553 01/12/1973 — — —
VH-TBI 727-200 McDouall Stuart 20554 10/04/1974 — — —
VH-TBJ 727-200 Joseph Banks 20555 01/08/1974 — — —
VH-TBG 727-200 Central Australian 20950 08/11/1974 22/11/1986 37164 28361
VH-TBG 727-200 John Eyre 20951 07/05/1975 11/04/1957 35879 28404
VH-TBM 727-200 Albert Namatjira 21171 26/11/1976 — — —
VH-TBN 727-200 Caroline Chisholm 21479 07/07/1978 — — —
VH-TBO 727-200 Arthur Phillip 21646 06/02/1979 — — —
VH-TBP 727-200 John Macarthur 21696 05/06/1979 — — —
VH-TBQ 727-200 Lawrence Hargrave 22017 26/01/1980 — — —
VH-TBR 727-200 Bert Hinkler 22069 26/09/1980 — — —
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
1966 Fleet Era

de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter

Outback & Island Flying Pioneer

Introduced in 1966 for service in Papua New Guinea, outback Queensland, and island resort routes, the rugged Twin Otter proved indispensable. Its short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability brought vital links to remote communities and unsealed airstrips.

Read Full DHC-6 History →
Aircraft Specifications
Cruising Speed
378 km/h (173 mp/h)
Cruising Altitude
4572 m - 6706 m (15,000 ft - 22,000 ft)
Range
1,415 km (880 mi)
Capacity
19 Passengers
Engine Type
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27
Engine Rating
680 hp
Maximum Take-off Weight
5.6 Tonne (12,500 lbs)
TAA / Australian Airlines Fleet (Owned)
Tail Number Model Name Serial Number Entered Service Retired Hours Landings
VH-TGF DHC6-320 John Gould 270 28/02/1970 01/12/1970 8395.5 16006
VH-TGG DHC6-320 William Wills 277 04/03/1970 01/12/1980 8343 15795
VH-TGH DHC6-320 Charles Grimes 281 25/07/1970 01/12/1980 7701.45 18092
VH-TGR DHC6-100 Not Named 006 11/11/1966 28/04/1970 3903 6760
VH-TGS DHC6-100 Not Named 008 13/12/1966 15/02/1972 5743 9739
VH-TGT DHC6-200 Not Named 084 05/04/1968 29/12/1973 5082 9554
VH-TGU DHC6-200 Not Named 088 19/04/1968 28/09/1973 5409 9673
VH-TGV DHC6-200 Ludwid Leichhardt 177 18/06/1968 01/01/1974 7129 10819
VH-TGW DHC6-200 Campbell Miles 120 01/07/1968 16/08/1976 7611 11731
VH-TGX DHC6-200 Not Named 123 10/07/1968 13/11/1973 5954 9908
VH-TGY DHC6-200 Not Named 124 21/08/1968 30/05/1975 4865 9962
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30
1967 Fleet Era

McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30

The Workhorse of Short-Haul Jet Routes

Joining the fleet in April 1967, the sleek DC-9-30 complemented the larger 727s on high-frequency domestic routes. Renowned for its rapid turnaround times and quiet cabin, it became one of the most reliable passenger jets in TAA history.

Read Full DC-9 History →
Aircraft Specifications
Cruising Speed
890 km/h (553 mp/h)
Cruising Altitude
9,144 m - 10,668 m (30,000 ft - 35,000 ft)
Range
2,896 km (1,800 mi)
Capacity
88 Passengers
Engine Type
Pratt & Whitney JT8D7B
Engine Rating
6.35 Tonne (14,000 lbs) Thrust
Maximum Take-off Weight
49 Tonne (108,000 lbs)
TAA / Australian Airlines Fleet (Owned)
Tail Number Model Name Serial Number Entered Service Retired Hours Landings
VH-TJJ DC9-31 Edmund Kennedy 47007 16/04/1967 09/11/1987 48683 52174
VH-TJK DC9-31 Douglas Mawson 47008 06/05/1967 25/11/1982 39321 42508
VH-TJL DC9-31 Angus McMillan 47009 01/09/1967 29/09/1986 48893 52650
VH-TJM DC9-31 Robert Towns 270 09/04/1968 25/10/1981 35443 38193
VH-TJN DC9-31 Paul Strzelecki 401 07/11/1968 19/06/1982 35577 38911
VH-TJO DC9-31 William Wentworth 516 23/07/1969 25/06/1987 43337 47021
VH-TJP DC9-31 Charles Kingsford-Smith 47418 13/02/1970 29/10/1986 42591 46548
VH-TJQ DC9-31 John Flynn 47419 26/08/1970 — — —
VH-TJR DC9-31 George Bass 47528 10/02/1971 — — —
VH-TJS DC9-31 Douglas Mawson 47550 08/04/1971 — — —
VH-TJT DC9-31 Joseph Hawdon 47551 05/08/1971 — — —
VH-TJU DC9-31 John Roe 47552 26/10/1971 — — —

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