The Boeing 747SP was first delivered to QANTAS in 1981. Used on the Wellington Trans-Tasman services until the arrival of B767s in 1984. They were put up for sale in 1990 and used as back-up aircraft. Remained unsold for some time. Experienced two incidents in 2001 – one serious– FL44 when at cruise alt,  it yawed abruptly and then went into a 20 degree bank while on autopilot. At this point it was withdrawn from use. Ferried to Marana, Arizona in 2002 and was broken-up 2004