VH-EBC Boeing 747-238B

VH-EBC. Boeing 747-238B. c/n 20011-162.

Was also registered as: N747BM; N607PE; N607FF.

This was the third of four aircraft ordered new by Qantas Airways Ltd - June 1969

It was allocated the Boeing Block Number 'RB003'

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Everett (Paine Field) - September 03, 1971

First flown as VH-EBC - October 07, 1971

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBC - October 21, 1971

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by K. Gould for Qantas Airways at Everett (Paine Field) - October 21, 1971

This was the 37th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

It was the 3rd Boeing 747 delivered to Qantas

This aircraft was named 'City of Sydney' at Everett (Paine Field)

Departed Everett (Paine Field) on the delivery flight to Australia as QF053D - October 22, 1971

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - October 24, 1971

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

Flight crew: Captains B. I. Henderson, L. W. Clark, C. G. Fox

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Perth - Singapore as QF727 - October 31, 1971

The intended sale to Eastern Airlines as 'N372EA' did not eventuate - February 1980

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Melbourne - Singapore - Bombay - Rome - Frankfurt -

Rome - Bombay - Singapore - Melbourne as QF55 / 6 - November 23 - 26, 1984

Flew a British Airways charter Sydney - Auckland - Sydney (Capt C. P. Hilcox) as BA9/10 - November 26, 1984

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Auckland as QF141 Cargo - December 03, 1984

Sold to Boeing Equipment Holding Company and handed over at Auckland - December 03, 1984

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N747BM - December 03, 1984

Ferried Auckland - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) in the Qantas 'ochre' livery as BOE747 - December 04, 1984

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 04, 1984

Placed in storage at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - December 04, 1984 to January 27, 1985

The aircraft had flown 42,570 hours and 15,688 cycles when stored

Entered heavy maintenance with Qantas Engineering in preparation for delivery to People Express

Rolled out in the People Express livery at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - June 25, 1985

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to the United States - July 09, 1985

Ferry route: Sydney - Honolulu - Wichita

Sold to People Express Airlines - July 1985

Operated its first revenue service with People Express from New York (Newark) - July 15, 1985

Reregistered as N607PE - October 1985

Registered to Integrated Aircraft Corporation, New York

Registered to First Security Bank of Utah - January 1986

Absorbed into the Continental Airlines fleet when People Express merged with Continental - February 01, 1987

Offered for sale by CIT Group / Equipment Finance Company - October 30, 1992

The aircraft had now flown 70,791 hours with 20,497 cycles

Registered to CIT Leasing Corporation, New York - December 1992

Leased to Tower Air in an all-white livery - April 02, 1993

It was observed at New York (Kennedy) in an all-white livery without titles - March 14, 1998

Leased to Saudi Arabian Airlines in white livery with titles for Hadj flight - March 16, 1998

Sold to Tower Air - September 29, 1998

Registered to Tower Air Incorporated - October 01, 1998

Reregistered as N607FF - May 26, 1999

Repossessed by CIT / Equipment Finance Company when Tower Air ceased operations - July 14, 2000

Registered to CIT Leasing Corporation - August 15, 2000

Scrapped at New York (Kennedy Airport) - August 31, 2000

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' - the 'City of Sydney Coat of Arms' as worn on the nose of the aircraft.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-163.)

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1977.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 4631-454.)

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-295.)

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-296.)

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-946.)

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-027.)

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4630-298.)