First flown as N1883 - November 1, 1959* (as recorded by David G. Powers)

*This aircraft could have flown as early as March 1959 - refer to article

Ordered by Ansett-ANA - November 20, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-RMC - February 5, 1960

Accepted by Ansett-A.N.A. at Lockheed Burbank - February 5, 1960

Departed Burbank on delivery flight - February 5, 1960

Delivery route was Burbank-San Francisco-Honolulu-Canton Island-Nadi-Melbourne

Flight crew: Lockheed Capts Davis, White; F/E Costa; Navigator W.C. Kennedy (Ansett)

Lockheed crew delivered the aircraft to Honolulu, where Ansett-ANA crew took over

Crew: Capts A. Lovell, D.L. Secombe; F/O J.W. Delaney, E. Mackay; Navigator W.C. Kennedy; F/E C. Ford

Arrived at Melbourne's Essendon Airport - February 12, 1960

Originally configured with 60 First Class & 14 Economy seat - later configured with 81 seats

Entered Ansett-A.N.A. service - Melbourne-Sydney - February 24, 1960

Tail titles were modified to read 'Electra Mk II Turbo Prop' in single tail band - early 1960

Tail titles again modified to final twin-bands - late 1960

Withdrawn from service and ferried to U.S. for LEAP modifications departing Melbourne - June 6, 1961

Ferry route: Melbourne-Nadi-Canton Island-Honolulu-San Francisco

Ferry crew: Capts A. Lovell, R. Stanton, M. Wheaton; Navigator W.C. Kennedy; Engineer G. Lynch

Entered LEAP program as LEAP # 166 ANA 3 - June 12, 1961

LEAP modifications completed - July 5, 1961

Departed Burbank on redelivery to Australia arriving Melbourne - July 1961

Ferry route: Burbank-Los Angeles-Honolulu-Canton Island-Suva-Melbourne

Flight crew: Capts M. Wheaton, U. Egerton; F/O A. Groser; Navigator W.C. Kennedy; Engineer S. Smith

Aircraft was grounded by Department of Civil Aviation order - July 24, 1964

Was result of corrosion specks being found in wing of TAA Electra VH-TLB - misidentified as being wing cracks

Grounding order lifted on Electra fleet - July 27, 1964

Painted into new Ansett Airlines of Australia livery at Essendon Airport - October 1969

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd - December 18, 1969

Operated final passenger service - May 6, 1971

Withdrawn from service - and stored at Melbourne

Departed Melbourne for conversion to freighter with Lockheed at Ontario, California - November 8, 1971

Ferry route: Melbourne-Brisbane-Port Moresby-Wake Island-Honolulu-San Francisco

Flight crew: Capts K. Hants, A. James, B. Porter; Engineer G. Lynch; Navigator B.S. McEwen

Arrived at Ontario, California - November 12, 1971

Arrived at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport following freighter conversion - May 30, 1972

Flight crew: Capt A. James; Engineer W. Ross

Returned to service as freighter with Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - May 31, 1972

Painted into white Ansett Air Freight 'Southern Cross' livery - January 1982

Operated final freighter service as AN1403 Cairns-Brisbane-Melbourne - January 31, 1984

Flight crew: Capt P. McMillan; F/O M. Zucal; F/E S. Finger

Had flown 51,261 hours & 40,015 cycles

Aircraft destoryed when it crashed on approach to Kansas City Downtown Airport - January 9, 1985

Had executed a missed approach and during subsequent circuit had lined up on nearby Fairfax Airport

On initiating another missed approach, aircraft stalled after a steep climb

Crashed into a public water treatment plant killing the 3 crew members on board

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - original livery & titles in single tail bar at Burbank, January 1960.

(Image 1808-392. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - original livery & titles in single tail bar at Burbank, January 1960.

(Image 1808-393. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - original livery & revised titles in single tail bar at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(Image 1808-636. M. Austin Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - original livery with new titles in twin tail bars at Sydney Airport, May 1966.

(Image 1808-479. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - original livery with new titles in twin tail bars at Sydney Airport, October 1966.

(Image 1808-138. G. Wilkes Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - original livery with new titles in twin tail bar at Essendon Airport, September 1967.

(Image 1808-139. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - original livery with new titles in twin tail bars at Sydney Airport, May 1969.

(Image 1808-724. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' livery at West Beach Airport, December 1969.

(Image 1808-141. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' livery at Sydney Airport, May 1970.

(Image 1808-145. G. Wilkes Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' livery at Essendon Airport, May 1970.

(Image 1808-143. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' livery at Sydney Airport, December 1970.

(Image 1808-142. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, December 1970.

(Image 1808-725. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, December 1970.

(Image 1808-726. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' colors at Melbourne Airport, October 1971.

(Image 1808-360. R. N. Smith Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the new 'delta' colors at Melbourne Airport, October 1971.

(Image 1808-728. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, April 1977.

(Image 1808-361. R. N. Smith Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Airport, November 1979.

(Image 1808-147. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - undergoing a 'D' check at Melbourne, January 1980.

(Image 1808-152. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - undergoing a 'D' check at Melbourne, January 1980.

(Image 1808-153. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - undergoing a 'D' check at Melbourne, January 1980.

(Image 1808-154. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - undergoing a 'D' check at Melbourne, January 1980.

(Image 1808-155. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Perth Airport, October 1980.

(Image 1808-151. R. N. Smith Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, April 1981.

(Image 1808-146. R. N. Smith Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, August 1981.

(Image 1808-729. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Airport, August 1981.

(Image 1808-730. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the rare all white livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1982.

(Image 1808-359. P. J. Gates Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the rare all white livery at Melbourne Airport, January 1982.

(Image 1808-731. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Airport, August 1982.

(Image 1808-159. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Brisbane Airport, June 1983.

(Image 1808-157. P. J. Gates Photograph)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Airport, March 1984.

(Image 1808-732. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' colors at Melbourne Airport, May 1984.

(Image 1808-162. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-RMC. TPI - in basic Ansett 'Southern Cross' livery & no titles at Melbourne Airport, September 1984.

(Image 1808-167. R. N. Smith Photograph)

N357Q. TPI - in basic Ansett 'Southern Cross' livery & no titles at Melbourne Airport, September 1984.

(Image 1808-294. R. N. Smith Collection)