VH-EAA Boeing 747SP-38

VH-EAA. Boeing 747SP-38. c/n 22495-505.

This aircraft was ordered new by Qantas Airways - January 16, 1980

It was allocated the Boeing Block Number 'RH111'

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Everett (Paine Field) - January 1981

First flown at Everett as VH-EAA - January 11, 1981

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAA - January 19, 1981

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by B. Bourke for Qantas Airways at Everett (Paine Field) - January 19, 1981

This was the 56th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

It was the 22nd Boeing 747 delivered new to Qantas

The aircraft was named 'City of Gold Coast Tweed' at Everett - January 21, 1981

Departed Everett (Paine Field) on the delivery flight to Australia as QF501D - January 21, 1981

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport on completion of the delivery flight - January 23, 1981

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Sydney

Flight crew: Captains L. W. Clark, A. E. Bones

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) at 07:00 local for Townsville (Captain A. Terrell) as QF140 - January 24, 1981

It was engaged in a three day Queensland promotional tour and pilot training

Conducted two training flights from Townsville before being opened for public inspection (14:15 to 19:00 hours)

Flown Townsville - Coolangatta (Captains R. Seaver, Bailey) as QF143 - January 25, 1981

It was opened for public inspection at Coolangatta Airport (12:00 to 18:00 hours)

Flown Coolangatta - Brisbane (Captains Seaver, Rosewarne) as QF144 - January 25, 1981

Flown Brisbane - Brisbane as training flight QF146 (Captains Bailey, Simmons) - January 26, 1981

Flown Brisbane - Brisbane as training flight QF147 (Captains Bailey, Lockett) - January 26, 1981

It was opened for public inspection at Brisbane Airport (13:15 to 17:30 hours)

Flown Brisbane - Sydney (Captains Terrell, Rosewarne) as training flight QF148 - January 26, 1981

It operated the proving flight Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Wellington - January 31, 1981

Traning flights were carried out Wellington - Wellington - February 01, 1981

Operated the inaugural Qantas SP service Sydney (Kingsforsd Smith) - Wellington as QF55 - February 06, 1981

Due to bad weather at Wellington the flight was diverted to Auckland (Captain D. McKinley)

Ferried Auckland - Wellington - February 07, 1981

Rolled out with 'Official Carrier Brisbane 1982' Commonwealth Games titles at Sydney - November 01, 1981

Utilised on the supplementary flight Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Honolulu as QF35 - Agust 12, 1982

Ferried Honolulu - Seattle for Rolls Royce RB211-524-DE engine refit as QF500D - August 12, 1982

Ferried Everett - Honolulu - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) following engine refit as QF501D - August 25 - 27, 1982

Operated the first Qantas 747SP non-stop service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Los Angeles as QF11 - April 07, 1984

Repainted into 'Spirit of Australia' livery - January 1990

Listed by Qantas as being for sale but continued normal operations - March 01, 1990

Leased to Australian Airlines - July 05 - 06, 1992

Operated Sydney - Brisbane - Sydney as TN7025/TN7425 and Sydney - Perth - Sydney as TN7016/TN7011

Carried 'Sydney 2000' Olympic sticker to promote Sydney's bid for 2000 Olympic Games - December 1993

Operated its last revenue service Singapore - Brisbane - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as QF52 - March 20, 1994

Leased to Australia Asia Airlines - March 25, 1994 to June 27, 1996

Operated the inaugural Australia Asia 747SP service Sydney - Taipei as QF135 - March 26, 1994

Listed by Qantas as being for sale but continued normal operations - January 01, 1997

New 'The Australian Airline' subtitle was applied - March 01, 1998

Operated its final Qantas revenue service Singapore - Jakarta - Sydney as QF42/22 - February 23, 2002

Withdrawn from use at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - February 23, 2002

Operated a supplementary freighter service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Honolulu as QF7571 - March 04, 2002

Ferried Honolulu - Marana for storage as QF6019 - March 05, 2002

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 27, 2002

The engines were removed and returned to Qantas in Sydney

The aircraft was broken up - July 25, 2002

This aircraft had flown 75,238 hours and 14,011 cycles

VH-EAA. Qantas Australia - the wings for the first Qantas Boeing 747SP arrive at the Boeing Plant, 1980.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4630-687.)

VH-EAA. Qantas Australia - the first Qantas Boeing 747SP on the production line at Everett, 1980.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4630-688.)