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-EAI - February 09, 1954

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

First flown - May 14, 1954

It was accepted by Qantas Airways at Burbank, California - May 20, 1954

It was christened 'Southern Melody' by MGM actress Ann Miller to promote her latest film

'Interrupted Melody' which was to premiere in Melbourne

Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight to Australia - May 22, 1954

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - May 24, 1954

Delivery route: Burbank - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney

The aircraft was renamed 'Southern Sun' in Sydney after its arrival

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Vancouver - May 29, 1954

Withdrawn from service to be modified to L-1049E-01-55 standard - June 30, 1956

It was returned to service - July 24, 1956

It underwent overhaul and the fitment of weather radar - February 25 - March 30, 1957

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the final Qantas L-1049 service to San Francisco - September 07, 1959

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Nadi - Sydney - November 04, 1959

Sold to Lockheed - November 30, 1959

It had flown 15,739 hours 16 minutes and 3,759 cycles to date

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 01, 1959

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9717C - December 01, 1959

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Burbank (Captain J. Furze) - December 01, 1959

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

Leased to Qantas Empire Airways to cover a shortage of capacity - October 1960

Departed Portland on the ferry flight to Australia (Captain A. J. Myer) - October 25, 1960

Ferry route: Portland - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Sydney

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAI - November 01, 1960

The aircraft was named 'Southern Boomerang'

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Nadi - November 16, 1960

Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) - December 1960

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on delivery to TEAL - December 20, 1960

Returned to Qantas at end of lease - March 01, 1961

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Nadi - Sydney - March 01, 1961

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9717C - March 27, 1961

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the erry flight to the United States - March 28, 1961

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 01, 1961

Leased to Twentieth Century Airlines - April 05, 1961

Leased to Trans International Airlines - May 20, 1962

Sold to LANSA Peru but it was never delivered - February 29, 1964

Entered onto the Peruvian Aircraft Register as OB-R-742 - February 1964

Cancelled from Peruvian Aircraft Register - October 09, 1964

Sold to West Coast Airmotive - 1964

Sold to Amrican Flyers Airline Corp - October 18, 1964

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9717C - October 1964

Sold to California Airmotive Corporation - November 1968

Ferried to Fox Field, Lancaster, California for storage

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - 1970

Scrapped at Fox Field, Lancaster - May 1971