VH-TLC. Lockheed 188A Electra. c/n 1147.

Was also registered as: N188LC; YS-06C; OB-M-1328; OB-1328; HK-3642X; HK-3706, XA-AEG.

 

 

This aircraft was ordered by Trans-Australia Airlines - February 26, 1960

First flown - August 16, 1960

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TLC - August 23, 1960

Accepted by T. A .A. at the Lockheed Burbank factory - August 25, 1960

Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - August 26, 1960

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - August 29, 1960

Delivery route: Los Angeles - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains R. R. Raye, L. W. Manning; F/O D. L. Mackenzie; F/E L. T. G. Heard;

Navigator Captain M. B. Darby

The aircraft was named 'Charles Sturt'

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as TN416 - September 03, 1960

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) for Burbank for wing and engine mount modification - May 22, 1961

Flight crew: Captains L. E. Morey, I. O. Black, A. W. Hawksford; F/E J. S. Mitchell; Navigator Captain R. Lauchland

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

Entered the Lockheed (LEAP) Program as LEAP #154 TAA-3 - May 24, 1961

The LEAP modification was completed - June 16, 1961

Departed Burbank on the ferry flight to Australia - June 16, 1961

Flight crew: Captains L. E. Morey, I. O. Black, A. W. Hawksford; F/E J. S. Mitchell; Navigator Captain R. Lauchland

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

Set a speed record on Melbourne - Perth sector of 4 hrs 19 mins (Captain J. Hickey) - July 20, 1961

This aircraft was grounded by the Department of Civil Aviation order - July 24, 1964

This happened as a result of 'corrosion specks' being found in the wing of the TAA Electra 'VH-TLB'

These specks had been misidentified as being wing cracks and the grounding order was lifted - July 27, 1964

Major overhaul was carried out in Hong Kong - February 28 to May 15, 1965

Operated its final revenue service Hobart - Melbourne (Essendon) as TN446 - October 31, 1970

Placed in storage at Melbourne (Essendon) having flown 28,831 hrs with 22,595 cycles

Ferried Melbourne (Essendon) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) with the landing gear locked down - September 02, 1971

Flight crew: Captains S. Arnold, A. Hofman; F/E R. Verity

Sold to Concare Aircraft Leasing - January 21, 1972

Final test flight following overhaul (Captain A. Hofman) - May 21, 1972

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 06, 1972

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N188LC - June 06, 1972

Registered to Concare Aircraft Leasing

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States - June 10, 1972

Ferry route: Melbourne - Port Moresby - Wake Island - Hilo - Burbank

Leased to Holiday Airlines - July 1972

Leased to Transcontinental Air Transport - December 01, 1972

Returned to Concare Leasing on termination of the lease - May 1973

Sold to American Jet Industries - December 20, 1973

Converted to freighter configuration becoming a Lockheed 188AF Electra - 1975

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - May 04, 1976

Sold to Taca Air Cargo, El Salvador - June 1976

Entered onto the El Salvador Aircraft Register as YS-06C - June 1976

Cancelled from the El Salvador Aircraft Register - September 1985

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N188LC - October 1985

Registered to Galaxy Airlines Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Registered to Orion Aircraft Sales Inc, Van Nuys, California - August 1987

It was observed withdrawn from use and stored in the 'Galaxy' livery at Tucson, Arizona - November 27, 1987

Registered to Nevada Aircraft Sales, Las Vegas - January 1988

Registered to Cardinal Corporation - April 1988

Leased to Palmas del Espino SA - November 1988

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - November 30, 1988

Entered onto the Peruvian Aircraft register as OB-M-1328 - November 30, 1988

Arrived at Peru (Lima) on delivery to Palmas del Espino SA - December 10, 1988

Entered service with Aero Transporte SA - December 28, 1988

Leased to Linhas Aereas de Mocambique (LAM) for 1 year arriving at Maputo - March 20, 1989

Returned to Aero Transporet SA - November 11, 1989

Reregistered OB-1328 - November 1989

Returned to service with Aero Transporte SA

Withdrawn from service - August 1991

Cancelled from the Peruvian Aircraft Register - August 1991

Sold to Lineas Aereas de la Amazonica, Colombia - August 1991

Entered onto the Colombian Aircraft Register as HK-3642X - August 1991

Reregistered to Lineas Aereas de la Amazonica, Colombia - August 1991

Reregistered as HK-3706X - February 1992

Registered to Transapel S.A., Bogota, Colombia

It was observed with 'Apel Express' titles at Bogota - June 01, 1992

Reregistered as HK-3706 - August 1994

Withdrawn from service at Bogota - March 1996

It was observed stored at in good condition at Bogota - September 7, 1997

Cancelled from the Colombian Aircraft Register - ?

Sold to Mex-Jet Cargo - ?

Entered onto the Mexican Aircraft Register as XA-AEG - May 17, 2001

Departed Bogota on the ferry flight to Mexico - March 10, 2002

In service with Mex-Jet Cargo of Mexico City - January 2003

Mex-Jet Cargo was renamed VigoJet - 2005

Destroyed at Tocumen Airport, Panama City - March 29, 2007

On engine startup the Number 2 propellor struck a ground power unit, causing the prop to disintergrate

The fuselage was punctured causing a fire to break out

Aircraft was declared a write-off and remains are extant at Tocumen Airport - 2014

 

 

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the 'dayglow' livery over California, August 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-222.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the 'dayglow' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 1961.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-568.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1808-885.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-934.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 1808-437.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-970.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-491.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-225.)

VH-TLC. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'Charles Sturt' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-224.)

VH-TLC. TAA - 'Charles Sturt' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-773.)

VH-TLC. TAA - 'Charles Sturt' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-701.)

VH-TLC. TAA - 'Charles Sturt' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-227.)

VH-TLC. TAA - 'Charles Sturt' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-228.)

VH-TLC. TAA - 'Charles Sturt' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1971.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-741.)

VH-TLC. TAA - 'Charles Sturt' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1971.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-742.)

N188LC. Concare Aircraft Leasing - in the all-white livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-354.)

N188LC. Concare Aircraft Leasing - in the all-white livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, May 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-292.)

N188LC. Transcontinental Air Transport - in the basic livery at Teterboro Airport, January 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-517.)

N188LC. Transcontinental Air Transport - in the basic livery at Teterboro Airport, March 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-658.)

YS-06C. TACA Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, August 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-569.)

YS-06C. TACA Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, March 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-231.)

YS-06C. TACA Air Cargo - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-232.)

YS-06C. TACA Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, July 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-951.)

YS-06C. TACA Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, February 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-482.)

YS-06C. TACA Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, March 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-971.)

YS-06C. TACA Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, October 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-483.)

N188LC. Galaxy - in the standard livery at Tucson Airport, June 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-233.)

N188LC. Galaxy - in the standard livery at Tucson Airport, December 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-514.)

N188LC. Cardinal Corporation - in the basic 'Aero Transporte SA' livery at Miami Airport, August 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-234.)

OB-M-1328. Aero Transporte S. A. - in the basic livery at Miami Airport, December 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-235.)

OB-M-1328. Aero Transporte S. A. - in the basic livery at Miami Airport, December 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-240.)

OB-1328. Aero Transporte S. A. Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, December 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-236.)

OB-1328. Aero Transporte S. A. Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, December 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-237.)

OB-1328. Aero Transporte S. A. Cargo - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, December 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-432.)

HK-3706. Apel Express - in the basic Aero Transportes S. A. livery at Bogota Airport, January 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-238.)

XA-AEG. Mex-Jet Cargo - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, April 2003.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-239.)