VH-EAD L-749 Constellation

VH-EAD. Lockheed 749-79 Constellation. c/n 2573.

Was also registered as: XA-LIP; N9733Z.

This aircraft was built as a Lockheed 749-79-31 for Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - 1947

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

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by Qantas at Lockheed Burbank - October 10, 1947

Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight to Australia - October 25, 1947

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - October 27, 1947

The aircraft was named 'Charles Kingsford Smith'

Entered Qantas service - November 06, 1947

Flew the inaugural Qantas 749 Constellation service Sydney - London - December 01 to December 05, 1947

Total flying time on this flight - 59 hours 7 minutes

Withdrawn from service for conversion to 749A-79 standard - February 26 to March 09, 1951

Repainted into white top with red cheatline livery - July 17 to July 21, 1951

It flew the proving flight on the Sydney - Johannesburg - Sydney route - July 25 to August 07, 1952

Flew inaugural South African service - September 01 to September 09, 1952

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

Flying times: outbound - 39 hours 17 minutes; inbound - 34 hours 41 minutes

Operated the last Qantas 749 Constellation service Sydney - Johannesburg - October 20 to October 25, 1955

Sold to Aerovias Guest SA (Mexico) - October 31, 1955

Flying time to date: 19,963 hours

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Mexico City - November 02, 1955

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 07, 1955

Entered onto Mexican Aircraft Register as XA-LIP - ?

Sold to California Airmotive Corp - June 1962

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9733Z - ?

It was observed stored at Burbank, California - September 1962

It was observed stored at Long Beach, California - August 1963

Had been flown to Fox Field, Lancaster, California for storage - January 1965

It was observed as being derelict and engineless - August 1966

Scrapped - November 1971

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at the Lockheed Burbank plant, October 1947.

Left to Right: Hudson Fysh; Capt Furze; Capt Bert Ritchie; Scotty Allen.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-088.)

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 07, 1948.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-110.)

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-008.)

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at Auckland Whenuapai Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-039.)

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at Auckland Whenuapai Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-038.)

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at Auckland Whenuapai Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-040.)

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at Auckland Whenuapai Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-041.)

VH-EAD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the original livery at Ohakea Air Force Base, December 20, 1950.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 1802-243.)

VH-EAD. Qantas - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the revised livery at Palmietfontein Airport, September 04, 1952.

The crew of the inaugural Australia - South Africa service.

L to R: N/O Greg Parsons; F/O Harry Shaw; Capt Ron Uren; F/H Marge de Tracy; Capt Ken Jackson; R/O Jim Delaney; E/O Ern Manning; E/O Bruce Lawrence; F/S Harold Smith; F/S Charles Tishler.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-214.)

VH-EAD. Qantas - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the revised livery with additional 'Coronation Service' titles at Singapore Changi Airport, circa 1953.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-070.)

VH-EAD. Qantas - 'Charles Kingsford Smith' in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.