Oz Jet's Boeing 737 - 200
You may recall that there were three OzJet aircraft parked at Perth Airport in days past where the Virgin Terminal now sits? One of the jets was flown to Jandakot Airport on April 24th 2010. This aircraft is now used by Polytechnic West (former TAFE) for (non flying) training. Once parked at the current Terminal 2, the remaining two aircraft were moved to the end of Taxiway Romeo at the north western end of Perth Airport. (Now there is only one!) They have been grounded since May 2009.
The aircraft were born at Boeing in Renton USA, they left the factory in September 1975, purchased by the Belgian airline Sebena. Through a sordid history of leases and livery changes they were eventually registered in Australia as VH-OZU and VH-OZX by OzJet Airlines on October 26th 2005.
By May 2009 OzJet had made its final flight. Having flown some 63,000 hours with 45,000 cycles OzJet were placed in the hands of the administrator on May 21st 2009. The fuel thirsty aircraft failed to sell for the asking price of USD $695,00 each on the day. The aircraft then appeared on the American register as NH733HL and NH737HL. Remaining on the ground and finally cancelled from the American register in 2011.
Since 2009 the deteriorating aircraft have accumulated parking fees in excess of their value. Occupying precious ground space they needed to depart Perth Airport, one way or another...
As aviation enthusiasts, we couldn't stand by and watch them become scrap metal... and so an idea was born! Negotiations were launched, we made a commitment to Perth Airport and the American owners, and so our adventures began!
A Brief History -
OzJet Boeing 737-200 Aircraft - VH‐OZX
Boeing 737‐229
c/n 21176‐433.
Ordered new by Sabena Belgian World Airlines
1975 - Rolled off the Boeing production line at Renton
1975 - First flown at Renton as OO-SDO - September 18,
1975 - Entered onto the Belgian Aircraft Register as OO-SDO
1975 - Accepted by Sabena at Boeing Field - December 09
1993 - Sold to Certifair, NV - March 16
1993 - Leased to Sabena - March 16
1998 - Sold to European Aviation Ltd (U.K.) - May 15
1998 - Leased to Sabena Airlines - May 15
2000 - Withdrawn from use by Sabena at Brussels - November 5
Aircraft had flown 55,833 hours with 40,223 cycles
2000 - Ferried Brussels - Paris (LBG) for maintenance - November 18
2000 - Returned to European Aviation, Bournmouth - November 27
2000 - Cancelled from the Belgian Aircraft Register - November 27
2000 - Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-CEAJ - November 27 Registered to European Aviation Ltd (U.K.), Bournemouth
2000 - Leased to European Air Charter as registered operator - December 05
2001 - Observed at Paris (LBG) in all-white livery as OO-SDO - January 04
2001 - Ferried Paris (LBG) - Bournemouth as G-CEAJ for painting
2001 - Observed at Dusseldorf in dark V.I.P. livery - April 27
2001 - Ferried Brussels - Bournemouth - May 25
2001 - Observed at Manchester with 'TCS Expeditions' titles - August 18
2003 - Observed at Paris (CDG) in basic European blue livery without titles - August 25
2004 - Leased to Palmair (Spain)
2004 - Observed at Lourdes with red Palmair titles on left side only - July 16
2005 - Registered to European Skybus Ltd - February 08
2005 - Observed at Nice in red-black European livery with large red Palmair titles - May 07
2005 - Observed at Bournemouth in basic Ozjet livery - November 01
2005 - Arrived Melbourne as EAF9908 in Ozjet livery via Kuala Lumpur - Darwin - November 14
2005 - Leased to Ozjet Australia as G-CEAJ - November 15
2006 - Ozjet Airlines ceased scheduled passenger services to concentrate on charter operations - March 12
2006 - Aircraft stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport - March 15
2006 - Departed Melbourne on ferry flight to Bournemouth as EAF9913 - March 28
2006 - Observed at London (LGW) in full Ozjet livery - May 22
2006 - Departed Bournemouth on ferry flight to Australia as EAF9916 - October 16
2006 - Arrived Coolangatta at conclusion of ferry flight for Indy Car Race - October 18
2006 - Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - October 23
2006 - Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-OZX -
Reregistered to Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd, Melbourne - October 25
2007 - Ferried Melbourne - Perth - February 23
2007 - Operated proving flight Perth - Derby - Perth - February 23
2007 - Operated inaugural Perth - Derby - Perth service as O7-441/442 - February 27
2007 - Operated inaugural Perth - Denpasar service as O7-820 - September 26
Perth - Denpasar - Perth services were operated for IndoJet (Indonesia) on charter
Sold to Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines Pty Ltd
Ozjet acquired by Heavy Lift to gain access to an Australian AOC to fly domestic freight
2008 - Registered to Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines Pty Ltd - May 02
Ozjet continued to operate as a separate identity
2008 - Ferried Derby - Jakarta (Soekarna-Hatta) for maintenance - May 27
2008 - Returned to Ozjet at Perth - June
2009 - Operated final Norfolk Island - Brisbane service as OZJ902 - April 27
2009 - Aircraft advertised for sale by Flightstar International LLC, Fort Lauderdale - May
The quoted sales price was $US695,000 with the aircraft having flown 63,613 hours with 43,497 cycles
2009 - Operated final revenue service Perth - Derby - Perth as OZJ441/442 - May 19
2009 - Ozjet Airlines ceased all flight operations - May 20
2009 - Stored at Perth Airport - May 20
2009 - Airline placed in administration due to inability to add freighter aircraft to its AOC - May 21
2009 - The U. S. Registration 'N737HL' reserved by Flight Star Trading LLC - June 29
2009 - Observed stored at Perth Airport as 'N737HL' in full Ozjet livery - September 01
2010 - Sold to Strategic Air Consultants - February 25
2010 - Sold to Red Cloud Assets LLC, Cheyenne, Wyoming - February 25
2010 - Entered onto the U. S. Aircraft Register as N737HL - May 04
Registered to Red Cloud Assets LLC
Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register -
2011 - Cancelled from the U. S. Aircraft Register - September 30
2012 Aircraft remains stored at Perth as N737HL
2017 - Ownership of aircraft transferred to Aero Line Pty Ltd - 17th January
2019 - Aircraft fuselage moved to White Gum Air Park – 27th March
2019 - Left hand wing installed - October 4
2019 - Right hand wing installed - September 10
2019 - Inboard flaps installed - October 10
OzJet Boeing 737-200 Aircraft - VH‐OZU
Boeing 737‐229
c/n 21176‐431.
Ordered new by Sabena Belgian World Airlines
1975 – September ‐ Rolled off the Boeing production line at Renton 1975 ‐ First flown at Renton as N8277V
1975 ‐ Entered onto the Belgian Aircraft register as OO‐SDN
1977 ‐ Leased to Gulf Air as OO‐SDN
1978 ‐ Returned to Sabena at end of lease
1985 ‐ Leased to Air Gabon as OO‐SDN
1985 ‐ Returned to Sabena at end of lease
1989 ‐ Leased to Malaysian Airline Systems
1989 ‐ Cancelled from the Belgian Aircraft Register
1989 ‐ Entered onto the Malaysian Aircraft Register as 9M‐MBP 1990 ‐ Returned to SABENA at end of lease
1990 ‐ Entered onto the Belgian Aircraft Register as OO‐SDN
1993 ‐ Entered service with Sobelair
1993 ‐ Returned to Sabena at end of lease
1993 ‐ Entered Sabena service at Brussels in Sabena livery but with Sobelair titles 1993 ‐ Leased to Sobelair
1994 ‐ Returned to Sabena
1998 ‐ Sold to European Airways Ltd
1998 ‐ Leased to Sabena Belgian World Airlines
2000 ‐ Operated final Sabena service Gothenburg ‐ Brussels as SN732. Withdrawn from use and parked at Brussels in basic Sabena livery without titles.
Aircraft had flown 56,107 hours with 40,829 cycles
2000 ‐ Cancelled from the Belgian Aircraft Register 2001 ‐ Returned to European Aviation Ltd
2001 ‐ Leased to European Air Charter
2001 ‐ Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G‐CEAI ‐ March 2001
2001 ‐ Ferried Brussels ‐ Bournemouth in basic Sabena livery
2001 ‐ Ferried Bournemouth ‐ Paris (LBG) for overhaul
2001 ‐ Observed at Paris Le Bourget without engines undergoing maintenance 2001 ‐ Rolled out at Bournmouth in black‐blue livery without titles
2003 ‐ Observed at Paris (CDG) in black‐blue livery without titles
2005 ‐ Observed at Bournemouth in full Ozjet livery as G‐CEAI
2005 ‐ Departed Bournemouth as EAF9716 on ferry flight to Australia
2005 Arrived Melbourne (Tullamarine) at conclusion of ferry flight ‐ February 22. Ferry route: Bournemouth ‐ Rhodes ‐ Kuala Lumpur ‐ Darwin ‐ Adelaide – Melbourne. Flew promotional flights within Australia under Eurocharter designator
2005 ‐ Displayed at Avalon Air Show as G‐CEAI ‐ March 20
2005 ‐ Placed in storage at Melbourne awaiting granting of Ozjet Operating Certificate
2005 ‐ Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) for Romania via Darwin ‐ Kuala Lumpur for maintenance
2005 ‐ Departed Romania on ferry flight to Australia following maintenance
2005 ‐ Arrived Melbourne (Tullamarine) at conclusion of ferry flight ‐ October 15, Aircraft arrived in a modified livery with 'Oz' on the tail and additional 'web address'
2005 ‐ Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH‐OZU ‐ October 26. Reregistered to Ozjet Airlines Pty Ltd, Melbourne
2005 ‐ Operated first revenue service Melbourne ‐ Sydney as O7004 ‐ November 29. This was the inaugural Ozjet service in Australia
2006 ‐ Operated final revenue service Sydney ‐ Melbourne as O7059 ‐ March 12. This was the final Ozjet Australian service
2006 ‐ Ozjet ceased all scheduled operation ‐ March 12. Airline's owner decided to concentrate only on charter services from this date.
Stored at the AAES hangar at Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport ‐ March 15
2006 ‐ Ferried Melbourne ‐ Brisbane as O7‐900 ‐ May 19
2006 ‐ Operated proving flight Brisbane ‐ Norfolk Island ‐ Brisbane ‐ May 20
2006 ‐ Operated inaugural Brisbane ‐ Norfolk Island as O7‐331; Norfolk Island ‐ Sydney as O7‐332; Sydney ‐ Norfolk Island as O7‐333; Norfolk Island ‐ Brisbane as O7‐334 ‐ May 24
2007 ‐ Sold to Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines Pty Ltd. Ozjet acquired by Heavy Lift to gain access to an Australian AOC to fly domestic freight
2008 ‐ Registered to Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines Pty Ltd ‐ May 2. Ozjet continued to operate as a separate identity
2009 ‐ Aircraft advertised for sale by Flightstar International LLC, Fort Lauderdale – May. Advertised sale price was $US 695,000 with the aircraft having flown 63,109 hours with 44,568 cycles
2009 - Ozjet Airlines ceased all flight operations - May 20
2009 - Stored at Perth Airport - May 20
2009 - Airline placed in administration due to inability to add freighter aircraft to its AOC - May 21
2010 ‐ Entered onto the U. S. Aircraft Register as N733HL ‐ May 03. Registered to Red Cloud Assets LLC
2011 ‐ Cancelled from the U. S. Aircraft Register ‐ September 30
2011 ‐ Aircraft remains stored at Perth Airport as N733HL
2017 - Ownership of aircraft transferred to Aero Line Pty Ltd - 17th January
2018 - Aircraft wing to fuselage cowlings removed
2019 - Inboard flaps removed
2020 - Aircraft ready for transport - November