VH-EAH Lockheed 1049C Constellation

This aircraft was built as a Lockheed L-1049C-55-81 - 1954

To view images of this aircraft being built please click 'HERE'

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAH - February 09, 1954

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

First flown - April 22, 1954

It was accepted by Qantas Airways at Burbank, California - April 25, 1954

Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight to Australia - April 26, 1954

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - April 28, 1954

Delivery route: Burbank - Honolulu - Nadi - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Southern Sky'

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Vancouver - May 19, 1954

It flew the inaugural Qantas L-1049 Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - London (Heathrow) service - August 02, 1954

Modified to L-1049E-01-55 standard - September 1956

Underwent overhaul and the fitment of weather radar - October 21 to November 17, 1957

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Melbourne - London return - October 14, 1959

Sold to Lockheed - November 03, 1959

It had flown 15,581 hours 53minutes with 4,130 cycles to date

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 03, 1959

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9716C - November 03, 1959

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Ontario - November 04, 1959

Placed in storage at Burbank before being leased to Twentieth Century Airlines - 1959

Leased to Capitol Airways Inc - March 1961

Sold to Capitol Airways - December 1961

It wa withdrawn from service and stored at Wilmington, Delaware for use as spares - August 1964

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - 1967

Scrapped at Wilmington - August 1967