Originally built as a Lockheed 1049E-55-89 for Braathens SAFE order

Completed as a Lockheed 1049E-55-81 for Qantas

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

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd

First flown - June 4, 1954

Export C. of A. (E-27617) issued - June 18, 1954

Accepted by Qantas at Burbank - June 30, 1954

Aircraft was named 'Southern Star'

Departed Burbank on delivery flight to Australia - July 2, 1954

Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - July 5, 1954

Delivery route: Burbank-Honolulu-Nadi-Sydney

Flight crew: Capt A.A.E. Yates

Operated first revenue service Sydney-Vancouver - July 24, 1954

Withdrawn from service for modification to 1049E-01-55 standard - July 22, 1956

Returned to service - August 8, 1956

Withdrawn from service for fitment of weather radar - March 6, 1957

Returned to service - April 7, 1957

Collided wth wingtip of VH-EAM at Sydney Airport whilst taxying out for departure - December 16, 1957

Flight Sydney-Hong Kong was delayed 7 hours whilst repairs made to aircraft

Operated final revenue service Sydney-Port Morseby-Sydney - November 26, 1959

Withdrawn from service for majorv 'D' overhaul

Sold to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation - 1959

Acceptance flight conducted from Sydney Airport - January 2, 1960

Aircraft had flown 15,607 hours with 3,902 cycles

Departed Sydney on delivery flight to Ontario via Nadi-Honolulu (Capt J.J. Connolly) - January 5, 1960

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - January 8, 1960

Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N9718C - January 13, 1960

Leased to Twentieth Century Airlines - January 1960

Leased to Capitol Airways - February 6, 1961

Sold to Capitol Airways - December 1961

Operated by Capitol International Airways for Berliner Flug Ring during European summer - 1966 / 1967

Aircraft was configured to seat 108 passengers

Aircraft had flown 22,976 hours - July 12, 1967

Withdrawn from use and stored at Wilmington, Delaware - 1967

Flown to Sebring, Florida for storage - March / April 1970

Advertised for sale for $US 25,000

Sold to California Airmotive but remained stored at Sebring - July 5, 1972

Sold to Midair Inc - April 13, 1973

Flown to Barstow, California for conversion to sprayer configuration

Midair Inc declared bankrupt - 1974

Conversion to sprayer configuration was never commenced

Observed at Barstow in partially broken-up condition - March 1977

Cancelled from the U.S. Aircraft Register - April 1982

N9718C. Capitol International Airways - in the full livery at Wilminton Airport, 1967.