VH-EAO. Lockheed L-1049G Constellation. c/n 4679.
Built as a Lockheed L-1049G-82-133 - 1957 First flown - October 24, 1957 Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAO - October 25, 1957 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd Accepted by Qantas at Burbank - October 25, 1957 Departed Burbank, California on delivery flight - October 26, 1957 Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - October 28, 1957 Delivery route: Burbank-Honolulu-Sydney Aircraft was named 'Southern Aurora' Entered Qantas service on Sydney-Hong Kong service - December 2, 1957 Flew proving and goodwill flight around the world with cities visited painted on the aircraft - December 20, 1957 to January 8, 1958 Flew inaugural round-the-world service via the 'Southern Cross' route - January 14, 1958 to January 20, 1958 Total flying time on this flight - 128 hours Withdrawn from use and stored Sydney awaiting sale - September 1959 Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - September 19, 1959 Sold to Lockheed Aircraft Coeporation - October 13, 1959 Had flown 5,874 hours 9 minutes and 932 cycles to date Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N9722C - October 13, 1959 Departed Sydney on delivery flight to Ontario - October 14, 1959 Leased to Qantas due to capacity shortage - August 18, 1960 Total time to date - 5,903 hours 7 minutes Departed Portland on delivery flight to Australia - August 19, 1960 Ferry route: Portland-Honolulu-Nadi-Sydney Cancelled from U.S. Aircraft Register - August 22, 1960 Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAO - August 23, 1960 Aircraft was named 'Southern Prodigal' Operated first Qantas revenue service Sydney-Melbourne-Auckland-Nadi-Sydney - August 24, 1960 Purchased from Lockheed - March 31, 1961 Departed Sydney on final Qantas revenue service a migrant charter - February 13, 1962 Operated final training flight Sydney-Narromine-Sydney - February 25, 1962 Sold to California Airmotive Corp Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - March 5, 1963 Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N86682 - March 1963 Departed Sydney on delivery flight to U.S.A. - March 5, 1963 Ferry route: Sydney-Nadi-Honolulu-San Francisco-Burbank Leased to American Flyers Airline - 1965 Returned to California Airmotive & stored at Fox Field, Lancaster, California - November 1968 Cancelled from U.S. Aircraft Register - 1970 Scrapped - 1971 |
VH-EAO. Qantas - in the full livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - in the full livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - in the full livery at an unknown location, date unknown. |
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VH-EAO. Qantas - in the full livery with dayglow wingtip tanks at Sydney Airport, date unknown. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - interior view of the dressed cabin awaiting passengers at Sydney Airport, 1959. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - view of the lounge area fitted on some Pacific flights, circa 1959. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - view of the forward galley at Sydney Airport, circa 1959. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - view of the ladies powder room at Sydney Airport, circa 1959. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - view of the gents toilet at Sydney Airport, circa 1959. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - view of the toilet compartments at rear of cabin at Sydney Airport, circa 1959. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - in the full livery with the new name at Sydney Airport, August 1960. |
VH-EAO. Qantas - in the basic livery at Burbank Airport, March 1963. |
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