VH-EAB. Lockheed 749-79-31 Constellation. c/n 2565.

Was also registered as: G-ANUR; N1947; CX-BHC.

 

 

This aircraft was originally ordered as a Lockheed 749-79-33 for K.L.M. but was not taken up

Construction was completed as a Lockheed 749-79-31 for Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - 1947

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAB - March 10, 1947

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by Qantas Airways at Lockheed Burbank - October 09, 1947

Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight - October 22, 1947

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - October 25, 1947

Flight crew: Captains McMaster, Connolly, Henderson

The aircraft was named 'Lawrence Hargrave'

Entered Qantas service - November 1947

Charted by T.A.A. to operate Melbourne Cup flights Sydney - Melbourne - Sydney - November 1949

Departed Sydney for Darwin (base) to operate flights to / from Iwakuni, Japan - August 19, 1951

Returned to Sydney for repainting into the 'white top red c/line' livery - September 03, 1951

Withdrawn from service for conversion to L-749A-79 standard - October 27, 1951

Returned to service - December 31, 1951

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on its first service to South African - December 16, 1952

Route: Sydney - Melbourne - Perth - Cocos Islands - Mauritius - Johannesburg

Utilised on the Royal Tour flying Sydney - Adelaide - Kalgoorlie - Perth - March 1954

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the first service to Tokyo - November 1954

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on its final revenue service Sydney - Tokyo - February 14, 1955

On return the aircraft was withdrawn from service and prepared for immediate sale to BOAC

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ANUR (CofR G-ANUR/R1) - February 18, 1955

Sold to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) - February 26, 1955

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 28, 1955

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom in the Qantas livery - February 28, 1955

Accepted by B.O.A.C. at London (Heathrow) - March 05, 1955

The aircraft was named 'Basildon'

Entered service in a 60 seat tourist configuration - July 12, 1955

Operated its first B.O.A.C. service to Sydney - July 27, 1955

Withdrawn from service - 1958

Leased to Skyways - July 1959

Fitted with large rear cargo door by B.O.A.C. - 1960

Sold to Skyways - July 02, 1962

Taken over by Euravia (London) Ltd and utilised as a freighter or 82 seater airliner - September 01, 1962

Repainted into the 'Euravia' livery at Luton - November 1963

Ferried Luton - London (Gatwick) for lease to ACE Freighters - July 30, 1965

Entered service with ACE Freighters - August 12, 1965

Operated its final freighter service for ACE Freighters - September 11, 1966

Returned to Euravia (Britannia Airways) when ACE ceased operations - September 14, 1966

Sold to Nelson Puente, Puerto Rico

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - February 23, 1967

Departed England on the ferry flight to the United States - March 04, 1967

Sold to Woodrow W. Tilton - May 06, 1967

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N1949 - May 24, 1967

Sold to American National Bank of Jacksonville - May 25, 1967

Leased to Woodrow W. Tilton - May 25, 1967

Sold to Woodrow W. Tilton - January 06, 1968

Sold to Laura Puente t/a Aerolineas Uruguayas - January 06, 1968

Entered onto Uruguayan Aircraft Register as CX-BHC - ?

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - January 29, 1968

It is believed to have been delivered to Aerolineas Uruguayas from Miami, Florida

Aerolineas Uruguayas ceased operations - 1968 - 1969

Last reported sighting of the aircraft was at Montevideo - January 1970

Presumed scrapped

 

 

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at the Lockheed factory at Burbank, circa 1947.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-109.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at the Lockheed factory at Burbank, circa 1947.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-147.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - the 'Speedpak' prior to fitting at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-089.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - a spare Wright cyclone engine at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-090.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-091.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-093.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1947.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-092.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at an unknown location, November 1947.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-036.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at an unknown location, February 1948.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-065.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at an unknown location, February 1948.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-097.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-273.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-242.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-274.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Singapore Kallang Airport, October 16, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1802-275.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Lawrence Hargrave' in the original livery at Ceylon Airport, circa 1949.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-211.)

G-ANUR. Skyways of London - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, circa 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-191.)

G-ANUR. Skyways of London - in the standard livery at London Gatwick Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-276.)