VH-RMC Lockheed 188 Electra

VH-RMC. Lockheed 188A Electra. c/n 1044.

Was also registered as: N357Q.

This aircraft was 'reported' as being first flown as N1883 - November 01, 1959* (recorded by David G. Powers)

*This aircraft could have flown as early as March 1959 - refer to article

However a U.S. Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) was issued for Lockheed 188A-08-10 (c/n 1044) - June 26, 1959

The order was offcially placed by Ansett-ANA - November 20, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-RMC - February 05, 1960

Accepted by Ansett-A.N.A. at Lockheed Burbank - February 05, 1960

Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - February 05, 1960

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - February 12, 1960

Delivery route: Burbank - San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

Flight crew: Lockheed Captains Davis, White; F/E Costa; Navigator W. C. Kennedy (Ansett)

The Lockheed crew delivered the aircraft to Honolulu, where the Ansett-ANA crew took over

Ansett Crew: Captains A. Lovell, D. L. Secombe; F/O J. W. Delaney, E. Mackay; Navigator W .C. Kennedy; F/E C. Ford

Originally configured with 60 First Class and 14 Economy seats but this was later reconfigured to seat 81 passengers

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - February 24, 1960

The tail titles were modified to read 'Electra Mk II Turbo Prop' in single tail band - early 1960

The tail titles were again modified to final twin-bands - late 1960

Withdrawn from service and ferried to United States for LEAP modifications departing Melbourne - June 06, 1961

Ferry route: Melbourne (Essendon) - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco

Ferry crew: Captains A. Lovell, R. Stanton, M. Wheaton; Navigator W. C. Kennedy; Engineer G. Lynch

It entered the LEAP program as 'LEAP # 166 ANA 3' - June 12, 1961

The LEAP modifications were completed - July 05, 1961

Departed Burbank on the redelivery flight to Australia arriving Melbourne - July 1961

Ferry route: Burbank - Los Angeles - Honolulu - Canton Island - Suva - Melbourne (Essendon)

Flight crew: Captains M. Wheaton, U. Egerton; F/O A. Groser; Navigator W. C. Kennedy; Engineer S. Smith

The aircraft was grounded by a Department of Civil Aviation order - July 24, 1964

This resulted from corrosion specks being found in the wing of TAA Electra VH-TLB during an inspection

These corrosion specks had been misidentified as being wing cracks

The grounding order was lifted on the Australian Electra fleet - July 27, 1964

Painted into new Ansett Airlines of Australia livery at Melbourne (Essendon) - October 1969

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne - December 18, 1969

Operated its final passenger service - May 06, 1971

Withdrawn from service and stored at Melbourne (Essendon)

Departed Melbourne on the ferry flight to the United States for conversion to freighter standard - November 08, 1971

It arrived at Ontario, California on completion of the ferry flight - November 12, 1971

Ferry route: Melbourne - Brisbane - Port Moresby - Wake Island - Honolulu - San Francisco

Flight crew: Captains K. Hants, A. James, B. Porter; Engineer G. Lynch; Navigator B. S. McEwen

The conversion was carried out by Lockheed at Ontario, California

Departed Ontario on the ferry flight to Australia - ?

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) following freighter conversion - May 30, 1972

Flight crew: Captain A. James; Engineer W. Ross

Returned to service as a freighter with Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - May 31, 1972

Painted into the white Ansett Air Freight 'Southern Cross' livery - January 1982

Operated its final freighter service Cairns - Brisbane - Melbourne (Tullamarine) as AN1403 - January 31, 1984

Flight crew: Captain P. McMillan; F/O M. Zucal; F/E S. Finger

The aircraft had flown 51,261 hours with 40,015 cycles on retirement at Melbourne (Tullamarine)

Sold to Turbo Power International - June 29, 1984

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 14, 1984

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N357Q - September 20, 1984

Registered to TPI International Airways Inc, Miami, Florida

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States - September 25, 1984

Ferry route: Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Sydney - Nadi - Pago Pago - Hilo - San Francisco

Flight crew: Captains S. Clark, D. Brown; F/E J.D. Norton; Navigator B. S. McEwen; Engineer W. Clow

Leased to CAM Air International and was observed as such at Miami - October 09, 1984

The aircraft was destoryed when it crashed on approach to Kansas City Downtown Airport - January 09, 1985

The crew had executed a missed approach and during the subsequent circuit it had lined up on nearby Fairfax Airport

On initiating another missed approach, aircraft stalled after a steep climb

It crashed into a public water treatment plant killing the 3 crew members on board

For more information regarding this accident click 'HERE'

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - February 11, 2013

Registration expired and was officially cancelled by the F.A.A. on this date

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery at Burbank Airport, January 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-393.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery at Burbank Airport, February 02, 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-392.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery with revised tail titles at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-636.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 16, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-479.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1966.

(G. Wilkes Collection Copyright Image 1808-138.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 25, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-139.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Rockhampton Airport, March 28, 1968.

The aircraft is bogged to the axle in soft ground.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-910.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Hobart Airport, May 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-943.)

VH-RMC. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1969.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1808-724.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, December 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-141.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1970.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-657.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-144.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1970.

(G. Wilkes Copyright Image 1808-145.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 20, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-143.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-038.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 16, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-142.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1970.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-725.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1970.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-726.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, October 1971.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-727.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 13, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-361.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 13, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-035.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-149.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-150.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-166.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-163.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-165.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 15, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-164.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 06, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-147.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 06, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-148.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-152.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-153.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-154.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-155.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Perth Airport, October 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-151.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 06, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-146.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-729.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-730.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'all-white' livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-359.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'all-white' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-731.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'all-white' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-158.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, August 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-159.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Brisbane Airport, June 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-157.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Cairns Airport, September 22, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-161.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-732.)

VH-RMC. Ansett Air Freight - in the 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 22, 1984.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-162.)

VH-RMC. TPI - in the basic Ansett 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-167.)

N357Q. TPI - in the basic Ansett 'Southern Cross' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 1984.