VH-EAC Boeing 707-338C

VH-EAC. Boeing 707-338C. c/n 19623-671.

Was also registered as: G-BDKE; C-GRYN; A20-623; N623RH.

This aircraft was ordered new by Qantas Airways - ?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Boeing Field) - December 28, 1967

First flown as 'VH-EAC' at Seattle (Captain Hartz) - January 25, 1968

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAC - February 06, 1968

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

The aircraft was named 'City of Sydney'

It was accepted by B. Langevad for Qantas Airways at Seattle (Renton) - February 06, 1968

This aircraft was the 27th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

Departed Seattle on the delivery flight to Australia (Captain A. A. E. Yates) as QF051D - February 06, 1968

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 15:15 local) on completion of the delivery flight - February 08, 1968

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Christchurch (New Zealand) - March 03, 1968

The aircraft was renamed 'Longreach' - October 1971

Conveyed the Australian Prime Minister W. McMahon on the official visit to South East Asia - June 1972

Conveyed the Australian Prime Minister G. Whitlam on the official visit to New Guinea and Indonesia - February 1973

For this official visit the title 'Australia' was increased in size to be the same as 'Qantas'

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to London for lease to Bristish Caledonian - October 04, 1975

Leased to British Caledonian in the basic 'Qantas' livery for three months - October 06, 1975

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 08, 1975

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-BDKE - October 08, 1975

Returned to Qantas at London (Heathrow) at the end of the lease - December 31, 1975

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the ferry flight - January 02, 1976

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - January 02, 1976

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAC - January 09, 1976

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Denpasar - Sydney as QF735 - October 28, 1978

Sold to ITEL Capital Services Corp - October 30, 1978

The aircraft had flown 34,772 hours with 13,040 cycles

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 30, 1978

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GRYN - November 1978

Leased to Ontario Worldair, Canada

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smit) on the ferry flight to Canada with a fifth engine pod - November 24, 1978

Ferry route: Sydney - Honolulu - Vancouver

Operated its first Ontario Worldair revenue service Toronto - Montego Bay - December 01, 1978

Ontario Worldair ceased operations due to bankruptcy - January 13, 1981

Returned to ITEL and stored at Toronto - January 13, 1981

Leased to Worldways Airlines Ltd - May 1981

Accepted by Worldways Airlines Ltd after maintenance - June 17, 1981

Operated its first Worldways revenue service Toronto - Azores - June 21, 1981

Operated its final Worldways revenue service Acapulco - Toronto - May 19, 1983

Sold to the Royal Australian Air Force - June 17, 1983

It had flown a total of 45,571:12 hours and 15,537 cycles

Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A20-623 - ?

Departed Toronto on the delivery flight to Australia - June 18, 1983

Arrived Sydney (Richmond) in the basic 'Worldways' livery with 'Royal Australian Air Force' titles - June 22, 1983

Ferry route: Toronto - Washington - McClellan A.F.B (California) - Hickham A.F.B. (Hawaii) - Sydney

Ferried Sydney (RAAF Richmond) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) for overhaul by Qantas - July 04, 1983

Rolled out in the RAAF livery at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) after overhaul - February 17, 1984

The aircraft was named 'Clarendon' at RAAF Richmond - May 30, 1984

It was operated by 33 Squadron as a strategic transport

Converted for use as an aerial tanker

It had flown a total of 54,922 hours - November 19, 2001

Withdrawn from service and stored at Sydney (RAAF Richmond) pending sale - May 08, 2007

It had flown a total of 56,675:20 hours with 11,104 hours in RAAF service

The intended sale to Omega Air, U. S. A.was announced - August 2007

It was observed at Sydney (RAAF Richmond) undergoing engine runs - August 21, 2007

Sold to Omega Air Inc by Commonwealth of Australia Defence Disposal Agency - April 07, 2011

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N623RH - June 01, 2011

Registered to Omega Air Inc, San Antonio, Texas

It was observed stored near the control tower at Sydney (RAAF Richmond) - June 06, 2011

Test flown at Sydney (RAAF Richmond) - October 22, 2011

Departed Sydney (RAAF Richmond) on the ferry flight to the United States as 'Omega 73' - October 25, 2011

Arrived at Victorville (California) on completion of the ferry flight - October 27, 2011

Ferry route: Sydney (RAAF Richmond) - Pago Pago - Honolulu - Victorville

It was planned to be upgraded this aircraft with Pratt & Whitney JT8 engines and updated avionics

To remain in storage at Victorville for 2 years

Current status - ?

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-405.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - the 'City of Sydney' Coat of Arms'.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-163.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-378.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'V-Jet' livery at London Heathrow Airport, June 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-401.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Mexico City Airport, March 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-131.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - the 'Longreach' Coat of Arms'.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-178.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Mexico City Airport, March 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-132.)

G-BDKE. British Caledonian - 'Longreach' in the basic Qantas livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1976.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-058.)

G-BDKE. British Caledonian - 'Longreach' in the basic Qantas livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-379.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, June 12, 1976.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-057.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1977.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-560.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-056.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, October 04, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-055.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1978.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-162.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at Paris Orly Airport, September 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-337.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, February 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-059.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at Paris Orly Airport, June 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-060.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-442.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, November 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-338.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at Fort Lauderdale Airport, December 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-339.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-061.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, February 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-062.)

A20-623. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-550.)

A20-623. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-063.)