VH-EBC Boeing 707-138

VH-EBC. Boeing 707-138. c/n 17698-44.

Was also registered as: N791SA.

Qantas Memorandum CRA: 0660/9018 - The Qantas 707 Jets Are Coming - to read please click 'HERE'

This aircraft was ordered new by Qantas Empire Airways - ?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Renton as a 707-138 - April 27, 1959

First flown as 'VH-EBC' - June 08, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBC - July 06, 1959

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by J. Mills at Seattle (Boeing Field) on behalf of Qantas Airways - July 06, 1959

This was the 2nd Boeing airliner to be delivered to Qantas Airways

The aircraft was originally named 'City of Melbourne'

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia - July 07, 1959

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 16:38 local) on completion of the delivery flight - July 09, 1959

On arrival at Sydney the Number 4 engine pod struck the ground during the landing

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

The aircraft was renamed 'City of Canberra' before the inaugural passenger flight

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the inaugural Qantas 707 service as EM775 - July 29, 1959

Inaugural service Sydney - Nadi - Honolulu - San Francisco set a commercial record of 14 hours 57 minutes

Flight crew: Captain I. D. V. Ralfe; F/O Captain R. F. Uren; S/O Captain C. G. Fox; Navigator R. G. Goodwin;

F/O K. D. Stark; Flight Stewards H. Smith, J. Brown, B. Slater, G. Sweeney, E. Duker; Hostess E. Wright;

Supernumerary crew: F/O J. P. Theobald; N/O R. R. Sherwin; E/O D. S. Moorhouse

Departed Sydney on a proving flight to London via the Kangaroo Route - October 19 to October 24, 1959

Departed Sydney on return to Boeing for conversion to 707-138B standard - September 29, 1961

Re-engined with Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1 turbofan engines with 17,500 lbs thrust

Returned to Qantas on completion of the conversion - November 08, 1961

Departed Seattle on the ferry flight to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - November 09, 1961

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the ferry flight - November 11, 1961

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

Entered Block C overhaul where fin & rudder were repainted in 'V-Jet' livery - November 17, 1961

Rolled out at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) in new 'V-Jet' livery - December 17, 1961

The aircraft was used in the 'Malta Airlift' - January 1963

This was the first Boeing 707 to land at Malta

For further information about the 'Malta Airlift' please click 'HERE'

Operated the inaugural Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - London (Heathrow) service via Kuala Lumpur - September 04, 1965

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - London - Sydney via the Kangaroo Route - January 29, 1967

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 21, 1967

Aircraft had flown 23,213 hours with 10,842 cycles

Sold to Seymour R. Gross, Chicago, USA - April 1, 1967

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N791SA - April 1967

Leased to Standard Airways, USA - April 01, 1967

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the delivery flight to Standard Airways - April 04, 1967

Leased to Sudflug, Germany for northern summer - May 1967

Leased to Canadian Pacific Airways in the standard CPA livery - October 01, 1967

The aircraft was named 'Empress of Sydney'

This aircraft was destroyed when it over-ran the runway on landing in fog at Vancouver Airport - February 07, 1968

It crashed into an airport building, killing 2 and injuring 18

The remains were sold to a North Carolina aircraft salvage company

Aircraft had flown a total of 26,712:00 hours

To read the Canadian Department of Transport report on this accident please click 'HERE'

VH-EBC. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City Of Canberra'.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-392.)

'City Of Canberra Coat of Arms'.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-164.)

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright.)