VH-AEC. Lockheed 10A Electra. c/n 1034.

Was also registered as: NC14947.

 

This aircraft was built as a Lockheed 10A Electra at Lockheed Burbank - 1935

Powered by Wright R-975-E3 engines

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as NC14947 - ?

Delivered to Mesta Machine Co., Pittsburgh, Penn. - August 19, 1935

Registered to Amicitia Corp. (George Hutchinson), Pittsburgh, Penn. - ?

Registered to G. M. Archer, New York - ?

Registered to Lorenz Iverson, New York - ?

Registered to Brayer Brothers Construction Co., Buffalo, New York - ?

Registered to Arthur Kudner, New York - ?

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways for US$41,250 - May 1941

Shipped as deck cargo and arrived at Sydney Harbour Docks - June 1941

It was trucked to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) where it was re-assembled by Qantas engineers

The aircraft carried the name 'Que Sera Sera'

It was acquired by Qantas to operate their weekly Brisbane - Darwin landplane service

It was the first non-British aircraft operated by Qantas to date

Test flown at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - June 30, 1941

Departed Brisbane (Archerfield) on its first service to Darwin (Captain S. K. Howard) - July 03, 1941

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AEC (CofR ?) - July 04, 1941

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Brisbane

The aircraft was named 'Inlander'

Painted in camouflage livery and operated regular Brisbane - Darwin service under charter to the U. S. Army - 1942

Recurrent engine problems resulted in many forced landings

It arrived at Port Moresby to join the 'Special Transport Flight' - December 11, 1942

It was deployed to carry troops and supplies in the Buna campaign

Made 31 trips to forward areas carrying 209 troops and 13.5 tons of supplies

It was also utilised to evacuated wounded troops to hospital in Townsville

The 'Special Transport Flight' was disbanded and the aircraft was returned to mainland services - January 11, 1943

This aircraft was used at times by A.D.A.T. on the Townsville - Horn Island shuttle service - 1943

A Qantas report indicates it had flown 70 return trips Brisbane - Darwin in the preceeding year carrying

1,065 passengers and 17 tons of freight - 1943

Post-war it was used for a time on the Brisbane - Darwin and Brisbane - Quilpie routes

It was retired in 1946 to operate general charter flights and Sunday joyrides from Brisbane (Archerfield)

The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed near Condamine, Queensland - February 12, 1948

It was en route Brisbane - Roma with nine passengers when the starboard engine failed in bad weather

Unable to maintain height on one engine, the aircraft struck a tree in the ensuing forced landing

During the rearward slide through the scrub it broke up

Minor injuries were sustained by one passenger and one crew member

Flight Crew: Captain D. A. Tennent; F/O R. Crabbe

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 12, 1948


 

 

VH-AEC. Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - 'Inlander' in the standard livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1040-131.)