VH-UZN. Lockheed 10B Electra. c/n 1106.


 

First of three aircraft ordered new by Reg Ansett - 1937

Order placed via agents Brown & Dureau Ltd with costings of 18,000 Pounds each plus taxes

Built as a Lockheed 10B Electra at Lockheed Burbank - 1937

Powered by Wright R-975-E3 engines

Export Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA E-2869) issued - July 9, 1937

Shipped to Australia as crated cargo on the 'S. S. Mirrabooka'

Arrived at Port Melbourne with VH-UZO - August 9, 1937

Held under bond on the Melbourne Dock until full payment was received

Towed on its undercarriage to Melbourne Essendon Airport for assembly by Ansett Airways

Test flown at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport for 35 minutes - August 31, 1937

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-UZN (CofR 657) - September 3, 1937

Registered to Ansett Airways Ltd

Aircraft was named 'Ansirius'

Configured to seat 10 passengers

Operated first revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Broken Hill (Captain A. Bayne) - September 6, 1937

Operated the inaugural Melbourne (Essendon) - Narrandera - Sydney service - October 4, 1937

Aircraft had accumulated 243 hours - October 30, 1937

Deployed on Ansett's Melbourne - Broken Hill; Adelaide - Narrandera and Melboune - Sydney services

Aircraft had accumulated 714 hours 20 minutes - January 29, 1938

Operated the final Ansett Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney service - March 16, 1938

Operated final revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Broken Hill - Melbourne (Essendon) - February 27, 1939

Was undergoing port engine change in Ansett hangar when the hangar caught fire - February 28, 1939

Fire was believed to have started in the rear fuselage of VH-UZN

The aircraft had been refuelled with 250 gallons (946 litres) of fuel before entering the hangar

Four Ansett aircraft were destroyed in the fire - VH-UZN, VH-UNF, VH-UTO and VH-UVH

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 28, 1939

Aircraft had flown 3,125 hours 10 minutes

 


 

VH-UZN. Ansett Airways - in the original livery at unknown location, date unknown.

VH-UZN. Ansett Airways - in the original livery at unknown location, date unknown.

VH-UZN. Ansett Airways - in the original livery at Melbourne Airport, March 1939.