The TAA Fleet

1964

Pure jet travel arrived on the domestic network in 1964 with the arrival of the Boeing 727-76, affectionately known as the 'whispering T-jet', with the quietest First Class cabin in the sky, according to the advertisements.

The introduction of the Boeing 727-76, again reduced flying times, improved passenger comfort, had increasing reliability, and increasing payload for profitability.

The new aircraft introduced a 'new look' and perhaps the T-Jet image was the longest lasting image of all TAA marketing campaigns.

Model Identification

The TAA 727's were designated 727-76 aircraft when they arrived, as Boeing initially refered to its aircraft only by model (727) and a 2 digit customer number (76 = TAA), and this identification stayed with the the aircraft for its entire life.

The 100 series of 727 aircraft was launched in 1960 and entered service in February 1964 with Eastern Airlines in the USA. Even though Boeing always refered to the 100 series with a 2 digit code. There are a large number of publications which refer to TAA's initial 727's as being 727-100's or 727-176. The −100 designation is a retroactive one to distinguish the original short-body version after Boeing introduced the second series of 727's, and the series number was inserted before the customer number to help separate one series from another.

1966

The De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft were put into service in Papua New Guinea in September 1966.

These aircraft were later to be used on services throughout the Gulf and Channel Country Areas of outback Queensland, and on flights from Mackay to Shute Harbour and Brampton Island.

1967

The first Douglas DC9 jet joined the fleet in March 1967. This was followed by the Douglas DC9-30 Training Simulator.

1970s

The seventies was an innovative era for TAA, it was the first airline in the world to paint a scene on their aircraft, and to mount a movie camera on the tail of an aircraft. (VH-TJB Boeing 727-76)

These moves created a trend for airlines around the world, that continues today for major events and sponsorships.

TAA would paint 2 aircraft, the Boeing 727 (the scene - Ularu or Ayers Rock) and a Douglas DC9-30 (Coral Islander celebrating the Queensland tourist coast).

1972

1972 - Enter the new Boeing 727-276, a 150 seater aircraft, larger and more sophisticated than its earlier model the 727-76. The 727-200 series, which was launched in 1965 and entered service with Northeast Airlines in the US in December 1967.