VH-ECD Lockheed 188C ELECTRA

VH-ECD. Lockheed 188C Electra. c/n 2008.

Was also registered as: ZK-TED; N863E; PK-RLG.

This aircraft was the last of four Electras ordered new by Qantas Empire Airways - April 01, 1958

The order was officially announced - May 23, 1958

First flown - November 25, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ECD - December 03, 1959

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - December 04, 1959

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight (Captain C. G. Fox) - December 06, 1959

Delivery route: Burbank - San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Sydney

The aircraft was named 'Pacific Enterprise'

Leased to Trans-Australia Airlines in the basic Qantas livery for six months - March 02, 1960

Whilst in TAA service the aircraft was named 'Charles Sturt'

Operated its first TAA revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as TN402 - March 08, 1960

Operated last TAA revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as TN402 - September 09, 1960

Returned to Qantas and renamed 'Pacific Enterprise'

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) for Burbank for wing and engine mount modification - February 10, 1961

Ferry route: Sydney - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - Burbank

Entered the Lockheed (LEAP) Program as 'LEAP #85 QEA-4' - February 16, 1961

The LEAP modifications were completed - March 14, 1961

Operated the first Qantas Electra service to Johannesburg replacing the Constellations - April 27, 1963

Operated the final Qantas service into Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - March 27, 1970

Operated the final Qantas Electra service Sydney - Wellington - Sydney as QF322/327 - March 29, 1970

The aircraft had flown 24,953 hours

It was officially leased to Air New Zealand - April 01, 1970

Overhauled and repainted into a modified Air New Zealand livery at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on delivery to Air New Zealand - April 30, 1970

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 30, 1970

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-TED - May 01, 1970

Operated its final revenue service Brisbane - Wellington as TE332 - August 30, 1970

Ferried Wellington - Auckland for storage - August 30, 1970

Sold to Nomads Inc - April 21, 1971

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - April 21, 1971

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N863E - April 21, 1971

Departed Auckland on the ferry flight to the United States - April 23, 1971

Sold to Mandala Airlines, Indonesia - October 1981

Entered onto the Indonesian Aircraft Register as PK-RLG - October 1981

The aircraft was named 'Jaya Perkasa'

Destroyed in crash landing at Medan, Indonesia - November 30, 1985

This was the result of the aircraft losing its right wheels over Padang, Indonesia

During the crash landing all 4 props disintegrated causing the aircraft to catch fire

Crew and 45 passengers escaped injury but the aircraft was written off

Cancelled from Indonesian Aircraft Register - December 02, 1985

VH-ECD. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the hybrid 'dayglow' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-045.)

VH-ECD. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Pacific Enterprise' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 16, 1961.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1808-758.)

VH-ECD. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Pacific Enterprise' in the standard livery with additional '40th Anniversary' tail logo at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport, circa 1961.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1808-875.)