VH-EAM. Lockheed 1049H-82 Constellation. c/n 4801.
Was also registered as: N7776C; LV-PJU; LV-JHF; CP-797.
This aircraft was built as a Lockheed L-1049H-82-133 - 1956 It was the prototype L-1049H convertible passenger / freighter version of the Constellation First flown - September 20, 1956 Christened at Burbank as 'Southern Spray' by Qantas secretaries L. Fry, P. Cooke - October 04, 1956 Accepted by Qantas Airways at Burbank - October 10, 1956 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAM - October 13, 1956 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney Departed Burbank on the 2nd attempted delivery flight - October 15, 1956 It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - October 17, 1956 Delivery route: Burbank - San Francisco - Honolulu - Nadi -S ydney Total elapsed time: 40 hours 6 minutes Operated its first revenue service Sydney - Nadi - Christmas Island - Honolulu - San Francisco - November 02, 1956 It was withdrawn from service for the fitment of weather radar - December 27, 1956 It was the first Constellation to receive weather radar and was returned to service - January 26, 1957 Operated its final revenue service - June 11, 1962 Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Ontario (California) via Nadi - Honolulu - July 11, 1962 Total flying time to date - 13,922 hours 41 minutes Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 24, 1962 Sold to Air New Mexico - July 24, 1962 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N7776C - July 1962 Converted at Burbank to L-1049H-06 standard - September 1962 Leased to Intercontinental Inc - January 1963 Leased to Alaska Airlines as the registered operator - April 23, 1964 Ownership transferred to International Aerodyne Inc but the lease to Alaska continued - December 31, 1964 Leased to Trans International in Alaska livery - December 1966 Leased to Aerotransportes Entre Rios - June 23, 1968 Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - June 24, 1968 Entered onto Argentinian Aircraft Register as LV-PJU - June 24, 1968 Reregistered LV-JHF - August 23, 1968 Leased to Bolivian Airways - September 1968 Cancelled from the Argentinian Aircraft Register - ? Entered onto the Bolivian Aircraft Register as CP-797 -? Cancelled from the Bolivian Aircraft Register - ? Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N7776C - January 10, 1969 Registered to International Aerodyne Inc Leased to Air Cargo Operations Inc as the registered operator - March 06, 1969 Transferred to Leasing Consultants Inc - June 05, 1969 The aircraft was used in the Biafran Airlift - August 1969 to March 1970 It was noted as being withdrawn from use and stored at Fort Lauderdale - September 1970 Sold to L & H International Airmotive Inc but remained stored at Fort Lauderdale - January 26, 1971 Flown to Columbus, Ohio and subsequently broken up by Aircraft Specialties - July 1972 |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 1956. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-176.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 1956. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-177.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 1956. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-178.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 04, 1965. The aircraft is being christened by Qantas secretaries Lola Fry (L) and Pamela Cooke (R). (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-182.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 04, 1956. The aircraft is being christened by Qantas secretaries Lola Fry (L) and Pamela Cooke (R). (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-180.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 04, 1956. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-181.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 04, 1956. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-179.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 04, 1956. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-056.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, October 04, 1956. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-055.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, circa 1956. (B. Colledge Copyright Image 1802-027.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1957. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-130.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1957. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-129.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at an unknown location, circa 1958. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-047.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at an unknown location, circa 1958. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-057.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery at an unknown location, circa 1958. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-048.) |
VH-EAM. Qantas - 'Southern Spray' in the standard livery over New York, date unknown. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-104.) |
N7776C. Trans International - in the basic 'Alaska Airlines' livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 1802-271.) |
N7776C. Air Cargo Operations - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-006.) |