Built as a Lockheed L-1049H-82-133 - 1956

It was the prototype L-1049H convertible passenger / freighter

First flown - September 20, 1956

Christened at Burbank as 'Southern Spray' by Qantas secretaries L. Fry, P. Cooke - October 4, 1956

Accepted by Qantas at Burbank - October 10, 1956

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAM - October 13, 1956

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd

Departed Burbank on 2nd attempted delivery flight - October 15, 1956

Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - October 17, 1956

Delivery route: Burbank-San Francisco-Honolulu-Nadi-Sydney

Total elapsed time: 40 hours 6 minutes

Operated first revenue service Sydney-Nadi-Christmas Island-Honolulu-San Francisco - November 2, 1956

Withdrawn from service for fitment of weather radar - December 27, 1956

It was the first Constellation to receive weather radar and returned to service - January 26, 1957

Operated its final Qantas revenue service - June 11, 1962

Departed Sydney on delivery flight to Ontario via Nadi-Honolulu - July 11, 1962

Total flying time to date - 13,922 hours 41 minutes

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - July 24, 1962

Sold to Air New Mexico - July 24, 1962

Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N7776C - July 1962

Converted at Burbank to L-1049H-06 - September 1962

Leased to Intercontinental Inc - January 1963

Leased to Alaska Airlines - April 23, 1964

Ownership transferred to International Aerodyne Inc but lease to Alaska continued - December 31, 1964

Leased to Trans International in Alaska colors - December 1966

Leased to Aerotransportes Entre Rios - June 23, 1968

Cancelled from the U.S. Aircraft Register - June 24, 1968

Entered onto Argentinian Aircraft Register as LV-PJU - June 24, 1968

Reregistered LV-JHF - August 23, 1968

Leased to Bolivian Airways - becoming CP-797 - September 1968

Entered onto the U.S. Aircraft Register as N7776C - January 10, 1969

Registered to International Aerodyne Inc

Leased to Air Cargo Operations Inc - March 6, 1969

Transferred to Leasing Consultants Inc - June 5, 1969

Used in the Biafran Airlift - August 1969 to March 1970

Noted as being withdrawn from use and stored at Fort Lauderdale - September 1970

Sold to L & H International Airmotive Inc but remained stored at Fort Lauderdale - January 26, 1971

Flown to Columbus, Ohio and subsequently broken up by Aircraft Specialties - July 1972

VH-EAM. Qantas - being christened at Burbank by Qantas secretaries L. Fry & P. Cooke, 4-10-1956.

(Qantas Heritage Collection. 1802-055.)

VH-EAM. Qantas - being christened at Burbank by Qantas secretaries L. Fry & P. Cooke, 4-10-1956.

(Qantas Heritage Collection. 1802-056.)

VH-EAM. Qantas - in the final livery, location and date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection. 1802-047.)

VH-EAM. Qantas - in the final livery, location and date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection. 1802-048.