New Zealand Military Aircraft Serial Numbers
RNZAF Boeing 727-22QC


Serialc/nDeliveredFate
NZ72711989214/07/1981First flight 24 September 1968 being the 640th Boeing 727 to be built. Delivered to United Airlines on 14 October 1968 as N7435U. Sold to Boeing 09 July 1981 and to RNZAF 14 July 1981. BOC Whenuapai 17 July 1981 with 40 Squadron after ferry flight from San Francisco. Removed from RNZAF service and placed in "fly away storage" at Air NZ Engineering base Christchurch Airport 09 May 2003. Total hours 46132.5 and 36514 cycles. Re-activated in June 2003 and returned to service due delayed arrivals of 757s. Deactivated again on 11 July 2003 with total hours of 46,145.9 and 36530 cycles. Now registered in Swaziland as 3D-KMJ. The aircraft was planned to depart from Christchurch to it's new home via Australia but due to it's age and noise classification a new route had to be planned through Port Moresby. The aircraft departed New Zealand on 01 November 2004.
NZ72721989314/07/1981First flight 06 November 1968 being the 658th Boeing 727 to be built. Delivered to United Airlines on 19 November 1968 as N7438U. Sold to Boeing 02 July 1981 and to RNZAF 13 July 1981. BOC Harewood 17 July 1981 with 40 Squadron after ferry flight from San Francisco. Removed from RNZAF service and placed in "fly away storage" at Air NZ Engineering base Christchurch Airport 04 April 2003. Total hours 46216.9 and 35110 cycles. Flown from Christchurch to Woodbourne on 25 August 2003 where the engines were removed and the aircraft became a training aid.
NZ72731989506/05/1981First Flight 28 September 1968 being the 643rd Boeing 727 to be built. Delivered to United Airlines on lease on 15 October 1968 as N7436U. Returned to Boeing 09 December 1980 and placed in storage. Sold to RNZAF 29 April 1981. Delivered to Christchurch 06 May 1981. Flown to Woodbourne 25 June 1981 and broken up for spares. Flew approximately 21 hours in RNZAF service.

  • Click here to view images of Boeing 727

    Source: Various AHSNZ publications, NZ Wings September 1989/February 1993. Air New Zealand Engineering records.

    Emails: Mike Condon.

    Main Photograph: Darren Crick.




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    Updated 03rd December 2004