Built as a Lockheed L-1049C-55-81 - 1954

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAI - February 9, 1954

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd

First flown - May 14, 1954

Accepted by Qantas at Burbank, California - May 20, 1954

Christened 'Southern Melody' by MGM actress Ann Miller to promote her latest film

'Interrupted Melody' which was to premiere in Melbourne

Departed Burbank, California on delivery flight to Australia - May 22, 1954

Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - May 24, 1954

Delivery route: Burbank-Honolulu-Nadi-Sydney

Aircraft was renamed 'Southern Sun' in Sydney after its arrival

Entered Qantas service on Sydney-Vancouver route - May 29, 1954

Withdrawn from service to be modified to L-1049E-01-55 standard - June 30, 1956

Returned to service - July 24, 1956

Underwent overhaul and fitment of weather radar - February 25 - March 30, 1957

Departed Sydney on final Qantas L-1049 service to San Francisco - September 7, 1959

Operated its final revenue service Sydney-Nadi-Sydney - November 4, 1959

Sold to Lockheed - November 30, 1959

Had flown 15,739 hours 16 minutes and 3,759 cycles to date

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - December 1, 1959

Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N9717C - December 1, 1959

Departed Sydney on delivery flight to Burbank (Capt J. Furze) - December 1, 1959

Placed in storage at Burbank before being leased to Twentieth Century Airlines - 1959

Leased to Qantas Empire Airways to cover a shortage of capacity - October 1960

Departed Portland on delivery flight to Australia (Capt A.J. Myer) - October 25, 1960

Delivery route: Portland-Honolulu-Canton Island-Nadi-Sydney

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAI - November 1, 1960

Aircraft named 'Southern Boomerang'

Operated first revenue service Sydney-Nadi - November 16, 1960

Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) - December 1960

Departed Sydney on delivery to TEAL - December 20, 1960

Returned to Qantas at end of lease - March 1, 1961

Operated final Qantas revenue service Sydney-Nadi-Sydney - March 1, 1961

Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N9717C - March 27, 1961

Departed Sydney on ferry flight to U.S.A. - March 28, 1961

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - April 1, 1961

Leased to Twentieth Century Airlines - April 5, 1961

Leased to Trans International Airlines - May 20, 1962

Sold to LANSA Peru but was never delivered - February 29, 1964

Entered onto Peruvian Aircraft Register as OB-R-742 - February 1964

Cancelled from Peruvian Aircraft Register - October 9, 1964

Sold to West Coast Airmotive - 1964

Sold to Amrican Flyers Airline Corp - October 18, 1964

Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N9717C - October 1964

Sold to California Airmotive Corporation - November 1968

Ferried to Fox Field, Lancaster, California for storage

Cancelled from U.S. Aircraft Register - 1970

Scrapped at Fox Field, Lancaster - May 1971

VH-EAI. Qantas - Ann Miller christening the aircraft at Burbank Airport, May 20, 1954.

VH-EAI. Qantas - Ann Miller after christening the aircraft at Burbank Airport, May 20, 1954.

VH-EAI. Qantas - the film 'Interrupted Melody' is rushed to the aircraft at Burbank Airport.

VH-EAI. Qantas - in the full livery at San Francisco Airport, July 1954.

VH-EAI. Qantas - a sleeperette as fitted for Royal Flight at Sydney Airport, November 1956.

VH-EAI. Qantas - undergoing major overhaul at Sydney Airport, February 1957.

VH-EAI. Qantas - undergoing service following fitment of radar at Sydney Airport, March 1957.

VH-EAI. Qantas - view of the main cabin at Sydney Airport, November 1958.

N9717C. Qantas - in the full livery at Portland Airport, October 1960.