VH-EBE Boeing 707-138

VH-EBE. Boeing 707-138. c/n 17700-59.

Was also registered as: N793SA; CF-PWW; VP-BDE; N793NA.

This was the fifth of seven Boeing 707-138s ordered new by Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - 1958

It rolled off the Boeing production line at Renton as a Boeing 707-138 - July 02, 1959

First flown - August 13, 1959

Accepted by L. Leishman for Qantas Empire Airways at Seattle - August 24, 1959

This was the 5th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBE - September 04, 1959

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia - September 16, 1959

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 07:19 local) on completion of the delivery flight - September 17, 1959

The aircraft was observed at Melbourne (Avalon) without a name or city 'Coat of Arms' - September 1959

The aircraft was named 'City of Perth'

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 09:00 local) on proving flight to London via the Middle East - October 09, 1959

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 08:00 local) having completed the London proving flight - October 24, 1959

Operated the inuagural Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - London (Heathrow) service via Kangaroo Route - October 27, 1959

The aircraft departed Sydney (13:10 local) under the command of Captain R. Bruce

Route: Sydney - Darwin - Singapore - Bangkok - Calcutta - Karachi - Bahrain - Cairo - Rome - London

Established a flight record San Francisco - New York of 4 hours 33 minutes - June 01, 1960

Flight crew: Captain A. A. E. Yates, M. Bamman, L. Richardson; F/O R. S. Bee, W. Court; F/E G. Bacon

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) with the Australian Olympic Team for Rome - August 18, 1960

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on return to Boeing for conversion to 707-138B standard - October 18, 1961

Accepted by Qantas at completion of the conversion at Seattle - November 30, 1961

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the ferry flight - December 04, 1961

The new 'V-Jet' livery was applied to the fin and rudder at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - December 05 - 07, 1961

Returned to service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - London (Heathrow) via Kangaroo Route - December 08, 1961

Operated the inaugural Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Perth - London (Heathrow) service - February 01, 1962

Operated the first direct Brisbane - Singapore service - April 06, 1962

Positioned Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Christchurch for Royal Tour taking 2 hours 19 minutes - February 17, 1963

This was the first Boeing 707 to visit New Zealand

Departed Christchurch for Sydney with HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip - February 18, 1963

It was operated as the official aircraft for the Royal Tour

Established a record flight time on the Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Brisbane route of 46 minutes - July 19, 1963

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 15:00 local) on its final revenue service - February 16, 1968

Route: Sydney - San Francisco - Sydney

Withdrawn from use and stored at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - February 1968

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 01, 1968

The aircraft had flown 26,203 hours to date

Sold to International Aerodyne for lease to Standard Airways - May 15, 1968

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N793SA - May 1968

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) at 11:15 local on the ferry flight to United States - May 15, 1968

Leased to Pacific Western Airlines - July 20, 1969

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as CF-PWW - July 20, 1969

Returned to Standard Airways at the end of the lease - May 01, 1971

Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - May 01, 1971

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N793SA - May 01, 1971

Leased to Alaska Airlines - May 01 to September 30, 1971

Leased to Bahamas World Airlines - November 18, 1971

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - November 18, 1971

Entered onto the Bermuda Aircraft Register as VP-BDE - November 18, 1971

Returned to Standard Airways at the end of this lease - August 08, 1974

Sold to National Aircraft Leasing - August 08, 1974

Cancelled from the Bermuda Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto United States Aircraft Register as N793NA - ?

Leased to Aero America - October 1975

Sub-leased to Egyptair - February to April, 1976

Sub-leased to Egyptair - June to October 1977

Withdrawn from use and stored at Seattle (Boeing Field) - February 1978

Sold to TAG Air - January 20, 1979

Sold to Boeing for spares for use in the KC-135 refurbishment program - April 24, 1983

Registered to Aviation Technical Support Inc, Waco, Texas - June 1983

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - July 1983

Dismantled by National Aircraft at Tucson, Arizona - 1996

Parts used by company doing structural testing and fuel probe / wiring modifications - circa 2003

The remaining airframe was scrapped at Tucson - March 2006

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth'.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-363A.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' Coat of Arms.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-167.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 27, 1959.

Captain Ralph Bruce accepts the bag of Royal Mail from Mr Todd of the Post Master Generals Department for carriage on the inaugural Sydney - London 'Kangaroo' route service.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-867.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 27, 1959.

Captain Ralph Bruce with the bag of Royal Mail for carriage on the inaugural Sydney - London 'Kangaroo' route service.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-799.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 27, 1959.

Captain Ralph Bruce is interviewed by Des Morne and Horrie Dargie from Radio Station '2SM' prior to the inaugural Sydney - London 'Kangaroo' route service.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-868.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 27, 1959.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-974.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at New York Airport, June 01, 1960.

The Qantas crew at New York having set a record flight time from San Francisco to New York of 4 hours 33 minutes. From left to right: Captain A. A. E. Yates; Captain M. Bamman; Captain L. Richardson; F/O R. S. Bee; F/O W. Court; F/E G. Bacon.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-792.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at London Heathrow Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-984.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 1960.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-756.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 1960.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-677.)

VH-EBE. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Perth' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 1960.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-676.)