Built as a Lockheed L-1049E-55-118 - 1954

Originally ordered by Northwest Orient Airlines but completed for Qantas

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAK - September 24, 1954

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd

First flown - January 4, 1955

Accepted by Qantas at Burbank, California - January 12, 1955

Aircraft was named 'Southern Mist'

Departed Burbank, California on delivery flight - January 15, 1955

Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - January 17, 1955

Delivery route: Burbank-Honolulu-Nadi-Sydney

Flight time: 29 hours 16 minutes

Entered Qantas service on Sydney-San Francisco route - February 2, 1955

Withdrawn from service to be modified to L-1049E-01-55 standard - 1956

Underwent overhaul and fitment of weather radar - April 4 to May 5, 1957

Operated courtesy flight Sydney-Port Moresby becoming first L-1049 to land there - January 20, 1959

Operated first Hong Kong-Singapore-Jakarta serviceon lease to Malayan Airways - March 6, 1960

Operated inaugural L-1049 Sydney-Noumea service - March 18, 1960

Departed Sydney for Mauritius to upload passengers from crashed L-1049 VH-EAC - August 25, 1960

Leased to T.E.A.L. - December 23, 1960

Returned to Qantas at end of lease - March 1961

Ferried Sydney-Perth where it was based to operate Qantas services - June 10, 1961

Ferried Perth-Sydney at conclusion of its Western Australia based operations - July 26, 1961

Departed Sydney on final Qantas service (migrant charter) - January 15, 1963

Sold to Boeing - February 2, 1963

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 2, 1963

Departed Sydney on ferry flight to United States (Capt J.G. Morton) - February 2, 1963

Arrived Burbank at conclusion of ferry flight - February 4, 1963

Ferry route: Sydney-Nadi-Honolulu-Burbank

Had flown 20,680 hours 24 minutes to date

Sold to California Airmotive Inc for spares - 1963

Observed in a parking lot near Burbank minus outer wings and tail - December 1964

Still present at Burbank - 1969

Final scrapping occured - ?

VH-EAK. Qantas - in the full livery with radar nose at unknown airport, circa 1957.

VH-EAK. Qantas - view of the main cabin at Sydney Airport, September 1959.

VH-EAK. Qantas - view of the lounge area at Sydney Airport, July 1956.

VH-EAK. Qantas - view of the main cabin at Sydney Airport, July 1956.

VH-EAK. Qantas - view of the first class chair in the rear cabin at Sydney Airport, September 1959.