VH-EAB. Lockheed 749-79-31 Constellation. c/n 2565. Was also registered as: G-ANUR; N1947; CX-BHC. |
This aircraft was originally ordered as a Lockheed 749-79-33 for K.L.M. but was not taken up Construction was completed as a Lockheed 749-79-31 for Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - 1947 Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAB - March 10, 1947 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney Accepted by Qantas Airways at Lockheed Burbank - October 09, 1947 Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight - October 22, 1947 It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - October 25, 1947 Flight crew: Captains McMaster, Connolly, Henderson The aircraft was named 'Lawrence Hargrave' Entered Qantas service - November 1947 Charted by T.A.A. to operate Melbourne Cup flights Sydney - Melbourne - Sydney - November 1949 Departed Sydney for Darwin (base) to operate flights to / from Iwakuni, Japan - August 19, 1951 Returned to Sydney for repainting into the 'white top red c/line' livery - September 03, 1951 Withdrawn from service for conversion to L-749A-79 standard - October 27, 1951 Returned to service - December 31, 1951 Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on its first service to South African - December 16, 1952 Route: Sydney - Melbourne - Perth - Cocos Islands - Mauritius - Johannesburg Utilised on the Royal Tour flying Sydney - Adelaide - Kalgoorlie - Perth - March 1954 Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the first service to Tokyo - November 1954 Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on its final revenue service Sydney - Tokyo - February 14, 1955 On return the aircraft was withdrawn from service and prepared for immediate sale to BOAC Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ANUR (CofR G-ANUR/R1) - February 18, 1955 Sold to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) - February 26, 1955 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 28, 1955 Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom in the Qantas livery - February 28, 1955 Accepted by B.O.A.C. at London (Heathrow) - March 05, 1955 The aircraft was named 'Basildon' Entered service in a 60 seat tourist configuration - July 12, 1955 Operated its first B.O.A.C. service to Sydney - July 27, 1955 Withdrawn from service - 1958 Leased to Skyways - July 1959 Fitted with large rear cargo door by B.O.A.C. - 1960 Sold to Skyways - July 02, 1962 Taken over by Euravia (London) Ltd and utilised as a freighter or 82 seater airliner - September 01, 1962 Repainted into the 'Euravia' livery at Luton - November 1963 Ferried Luton - London (Gatwick) for lease to ACE Freighters - July 30, 1965 Entered service with ACE Freighters - August 12, 1965 Operated its final freighter service for ACE Freighters - September 11, 1966 Returned to Euravia (Britannia Airways) when ACE ceased operations - September 14, 1966 Sold to Nelson Puente, Puerto Rico Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - February 23, 1967 Departed England on the ferry flight to the United States - March 04, 1967 Sold to Woodrow W. Tilton - May 06, 1967 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N1949 - May 24, 1967 Sold to American National Bank of Jacksonville - May 25, 1967 Leased to Woodrow W. Tilton - May 25, 1967 Sold to Woodrow W. Tilton - January 06, 1968 Sold to Laura Puente t/a Aerolineas Uruguayas - January 06, 1968 Entered onto Uruguayan Aircraft Register as CX-BHC - ? Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - January 29, 1968 It is believed to have been delivered to Aerolineas Uruguayas from Miami, Florida Aerolineas Uruguayas ceased operations - 1968 - 1969 Last reported sighting of the aircraft was at Montevideo - January 1970 Presumed scrapped |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at the Lockheed factory at Burbank, circa 1947. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-109.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at the Lockheed factory at Burbank, circa 1947. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-147.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - the 'Speedpak' prior to fitting at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-089.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - a spare Wright cyclone engine at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-090.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-091.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-093.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-092.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at an unknown location, November 1947. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-036.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at an unknown location, February 1948. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-065.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at an unknown location, February 1948. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-097.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-273.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-242.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-274.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-275.) |
VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Ceylon Airport, circa 1949. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-211.) |
G-ANUR. Skyways of London - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, circa 1962. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-191.) |
G-ANUR. Skyways of London - in the standard livery at London Gatwick Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-276.) |