VH-EAI. Boeing 707-338C. c/n 19629-737.

Was also registered as: G-BDLM; C-GGAB; A20-629; N629RH.

 

This aircraft was ordered new by Qantas Airways - ?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Boeing Field) - July 08, 1968

First flown at Renton as VH-EAI - August 12, 1968

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAI - August 22, 1968

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by B. Langevad Qantas Airways at Seattle (Boeing Field) - August 22, 1968

This aircraft was the 33rd Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia - August 22, 1968

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 16:04 local) on completion of the delivery flight - August 25, 1968

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney

The aircraft was named 'City of Darwin'

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - San Francisco - September 09, 1968

The aircraft was renamed 'Kalgoorlie' - April 16, 1974

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Hong Kong - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - November 06, 1975

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 07, 1975

It had flown 26,568 hours with 9,323 cycles

Sold to British Caledonian - November 08, 1975

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-BDLM (CofR G-BLLM/R1) - November 08, 1975

The aircraft was named 'County of Lanark'

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Hong Kong for overhaul - November 09, 1975

The aircraft was renamed 'Loch Fyne'

Sold to Worldways Canada - January 20, 1982

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GGAB - ?

Departed London (Gatwick) on delivery flight to Toronto, Canada - January 28, 1982

Operated its final Worldways revenue service Acapulco - Toronto - May 02, 1983

Sold to Royal Australian Air Force - ?

Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - June 1983

Accepted by the Royal Australian Air Force at Toronto (Pearson) - June 17, 1983

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as 'A20-629'

Departed Toronto (Pearson) on the delivery to flight to Australia as 'A20-629' - June 18, 1983

It arrived at Sydney (RAAF Base Richmond) on completion of the delivery flight - June 22, 1983

Delivery route: Toronto - Hickam A.F.B. Hawaii - Sydney

It was delivered in the basic Worldways livery with white tail and RAAF titles and roundels

It was overhaulled by Qantas Airways at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) before entering RAAF service

The aircraft was named 'City of Sydney'

It was operated by No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Base Richmond

It was converted to tanker configuration - ?

This aircraft had flown 58,053 hours as of November 19, 2001

Retired from Royal Australian Air Force service at Sydney (RAAF Richmond) - November 01, 2007

It had flown 60,283 hours with 10,395 hours with the R.A.A.F.

Placed in open storage at R.A.A.F. Richmond pending sale to Omega Air, U. S. A.

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

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N629RH - June 02, 2011

Registered to Omega Air Inc, San Antonio, Texas

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

It underwent engine testing - October 01, 2011

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

Departed Sydney (Richmond) on the ferry flight to the United States as 'Omega 79' - October 23, 2011

It arrived at San Antonio, Texas on completion of the ferry flight - October 25, 2011

Ferry route: Sydney - Pago Pago - Honolulu - San Ontonio

It will undergo deep maintenance at San Antonio before entering service

A new re-fueling boom and updated avionics will be incorporated during this maintenance

Registered to Aircraft Endeavors LLC, San Antonio, Texas - May 17, 2016

Current status - ?

 

 

VH-EAI. Qantas Australia - 'City of Darwin' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1971.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-284.)

VH-EAI. Qantas Australia - 'City of Darwin' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1971.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-285.)

VH-EAI. Qantas Australia - 'City of Darwin' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Mexico City Airport, April 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-122.)

VH-EAI. Qantas Australia - 'City of Darwin' in the 'V-Jet' livery at London Heathrow Airport, May 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-354.)

VH-EAI. Qantas Australia - 'Kalgoorlie' in the 'ochre' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1975.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-565.)

VH-EAI. Qantas Australia - 'Kalgoorlie' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1975.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-355.)

G-BDLM. Qantas Australia - 'Kalgoorlie' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 09, 1975.

(E. Favelle Copyright Image 4605-449.)

G-BDLM. British Caledonian - 'Loch Fyne' in the original livery at an unknown airport, July 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-201.)

G-BDLM. British Caledonian - 'Loch Fyne' in the revised livery at London Heathrow Airport, April 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-356.)

G-BDLM. British Caledonian - 'Loch Fyne' in the revised livery at Manchester Airport, December 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-357.)

C-GGAB. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at Toronto Pearson International Airport, April 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-358.)

C-GGAB. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at Toronto Pearson International Airport, August 11, 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-214.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - in the basic 'Worldways' livery at Toronto Pearson International Airport, June 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-359.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - in the basic 'Worldways' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 1983.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-559.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 22, 1985.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-360.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1987.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-555.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1987.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-361.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - 'City of Sydney' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, February 1988.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-557.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - 'City of Sydney' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-558.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - 'City of Sydney' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1989.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-556.)

A20-629. Royal Australian Air Force - 'City of Sydney' in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1990.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-114.)

N629RH. Omega Tanker - in the standard livery at March Air Force Base, May 21, 2020.

(T. Jablonski Copyright Image 4605-427.)

N629RH. Omega Tanker - in the standard livery at March Air Force Base, May 21, 2020.

(T. Jablonski Copyright Image 4605-428.)

N629RH. Omega Tanker - in the standard livery at March Air Force Base, May 21, 2020.

(T. Jablonski Copyright Image 4605-429.)