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VH-EAD. Lockheed L-749 Constellation. c/n 2573.
Built as a Lockheed L-749-79-31 - 1947 Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAD - March 10, 1947 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd Accepted by Qantas at Lockheed Burbank - October 10, 1947 Departed Burbank, California on delivery flight - October 25, 1947 Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - October 27, 1947 Aircraft named 'Charles Kingsford Smith' Entered Qantas service - November 6, 1947 Flew inaugural Qantas L-749 service Sydney-London - December 1 to December 5, 1947 Total flying time on this flight - 59 hours 7 minutes Withdrawn from service for conversion to L-749A-79 standard - February 26 to March 9, 1951 Repainted into white top with red cheatline livery - July 17 to July 21, 1951 Flew proving flight Sydney-Johannesburg-Sydney - July 25 to August 7, 1952 Flew inaugural South African service - September 1 to September 9, 1952 Route was Sydney-Melbourne-Perth-Cocos Islands-Mauritius-Johannesburg Flying times: outbound - 39 hours 17 minutes; inbound - 34 hours 41 minutes Operated the last Qantas L-749 Constellation service Sydney-Johannesburg - October 20 to October 25, 1955 Sold to Aerovias Guest SA (Mexico) - October 31, 1955 Flying time to date: 19,963 hours Departed Sydney on delivery flight to Mexico City - November 2, 1955 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 7, 1955 Entered onto Mexican Aircraft Register as XA-LIP Sold to California Airmotive Corp - June 1962 Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N9733Z Noted stored at Burbank, California - September 1962 Noted stored at Long Beach, California - August 1963
Had been flown to Fox Field, Lancaster, California for storage - January 1965 Noted as being derelict & engineless - August 1966 Scrapped - November 1971 |
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VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original metal livery, location and date unknown. (P. J. Gates Collection. 1802-008.) |
VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original metal livery at Whenuapai, date unknown. (P. Sheehan Collection via Whites. 1802-038.) |
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VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original metal livery at Whenuapai, date unknown. (P. Sheehan Collection via Whites. 1802-040.) |
VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original metal livery at Whenuapai, date unknown. (P. Sheehan Collection via Whites. 1802-041.) |
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VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original metal livery at Whenuapai, date unknown. (P. Sheehan Collection via Whites. 1802-039.) |
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