VH-ECA Boeing 747-238B

VH-ECA. Boeing 747-238B-SCD. c/n 21354-314.

Was also registered as: C-GAGC.

This aircraft was ordered new by Qantas Airways Ltd - July 1976

It was allocated the Boeing Block Number 'RD531'

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Everett (Paine Field) - September 19, 1977

First flown - October 04, 1977

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ECA - October 27, 1977

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by H. McCarroll for Qantas Airways at Everett (Paine Field) - October 27, 1977

This was the 48th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

It was the 14th Boeing 747 delivered to Qantas Airways

Ferried Everett (Paine Field) - San Francisco as QF501D - October 27, 1977

Operated its first revenue service San Francisco - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as QF4 - October 29, 1977

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - October 31, 1977

Delivery route: San Francisco - Honolulu - Sydney

The aircraft was named 'City of Sale' by Mayor of Sale at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - October 31, 1977

Sold by Qantas to Citibank Leasing (Canada) and leased back - July 08, 1987

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Port Moresby - Sydney as QF95/96 - August 23, 1987

Withdrawn from use at Sydney having flown 37,853 hours and 8,030 cycles - August 23, 1987

Prepared for sale to Air Canada including major overhaul and Section 41 modifications at Sydney

Sold to Aerospace Finance by Citibank Leasing for lease to Air Canada

Rolled out at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) in the standard 'Air Canada' livery - December 14, 1987

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the delivery flight to Air Canada - January 11, 1988

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - January 12, 1988

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GAGC - January 12, 1988

Involved in loss-of-separation incident whilst operating London (Heathrow) - Montreal as AC003 - September 27, 1998

To view the report on this incident please click 'HERE'

Operated its final Air Canada revenue service Montreal - Toronto as AC425 - January 10, 1999

Ferried Toronto - Tucson - Marana, Arizona for long term storage - January 29, 1999

The aircraft had flown 78,066 hours and 15,067 cycles

Sold for parting out at Marana - October 2009

It was observed basically intact at Marana without engines and a green tail - March 22, 2010

It was observed basically intact at Marana without engines and a green tail - March 27, 2011

Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - April 18, 2012

Scrapped at Marana

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 1977.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 4631-506.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-926.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-934.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-927.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1980.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 4631-507.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4631-365.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-838.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-839.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1984.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-840.)

VH-ECA. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sale' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 03, 1984.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 4631-508.)

VH-ECA. Air Canada - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 14, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-841.)

VH-ECA. Air Canada - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 21, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-842.)

VH-ECA. Air Canada - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 30, 1987.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 4631-510.)

VH-ECA. Air Canada - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1988.

(N.Louis Collection Copyright Image 4631-509.)

C-GAGC. Air Canada - in the standard livery with additional 'Bombay / Singapore' titles at Zurich Airport, February 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4630-843.)

C-GAGC. Air Canada - in the standard livery with additional 'Bombay / Singapore' titles at Toronto Airport, May 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4630-844.)

C-GAGC. Air Canada - in the new livery at Toronto Airport, May 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4630-941.)

C-GAGC. Air Canada - in the new livery at Toronto Airport, August 1996.