VH-EAC. Lockheed 749 Constellation. c/n 2572. Was also registered as: XA-LIO. |
Construction of this aircraft was completed as a Lockheed 749-79-31 for Qantas - 1947 Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAC - March 10, 1947 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney Accepted by Qantas Airways at Lockheed Burbank - October 13, 1947 Departed Burbank, California on the ferry flight to Australia - October 22, 1947 It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the ferry flight - October 26, 1947 Known flight crew: Captains Jackson, A. E. Yates, Howse The aircraft was named 'Harry Hawker' Operated its first revenue service - October 30, 1947 Departed London (Heathrow) on the first service to Sydney via Colombo - India (Bombay) - March 20, 1950 Crew (known): Captain R. J. Ritchie Visited Christchurch to commemorate the opening of the new airport (Captain Jackson) - December 18, 1950 It was rolled out at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) with 'red cheatline and white cabin roof' livery - September 30, 1951 It was withdrawn from service for conversion to 749A-79 standard - March 24, 1952 Returned to service - April 29, 1952 Operated the inaugural Qantas service from Germany (Frankfurt) to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - October 21, 1952 Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on its first service to South Africa - December 02, 1952 The aircraft acquired the 'Royal Coat of Arms' above a scroll reading 'Australian Coronation Service' - 1953 This was to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II It transported the first official pictures of the Coronation to Australia - June 02, 1953 Route: London - Frankfurt - Rome - Beirut - Karachi - Calcutta - Singapore - Jakarta - Darwin - Sydney Flight crew: Captains B. Ritchie, K. Jackson Elapsed flight time: 53 hours 28 minutes Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the first Qantas service to London via Thailand (Bangkok) - November 14, 1953 Crew: Capt Pollock Departed Sydney on the first Tourist class service to London (Heathrow) - March 29, 1954 Departed Sydney on the inaugural Qantas service to Tokyo via Darwin - Manila - Iwakuni - November 03, 1954 Sold to Aerovias Guest SA (Mexico) - October 08, 1955 The aircraft had flown 19,820 hours Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to the United States with Speedpak fitted - October 08, 1955 Ferry route: Sydney - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu -S an Francisco Flight crew: Captains E. Robinson, M. Bamman, B. Fawcett Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 13, 1955 Entered onto Mexician Aircraft Register as XA-LIO - ? Sold to California Airmotive Corporation Ferried to Burbank, California for storage - 1963 Broken up for parts with only nose section surviving in scrapyard - July 1963 |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 1948. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-066.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, December 18, 1950. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-069.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, December 18, 1950. (Whites Aviation WA-26035-F Copyright Image 1802-236.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, December 18, 1950. (Whites Aviation WA-26038-F Copyright Image 1802-237.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, December 18, 1950. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-068.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, December 18, 1950. (Whites Aviation WA-26044-F Copyright Image 1802-238.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at Christchurch Airport, December 18, 1950. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-067.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Harry Hawker' in the original livery at London Heathrow Airport, date unknown. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-212.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas - 'Harry Hawker' in the revised livery at Bangkok Donmuang Airport, November 16, 1953. Thai dancers welcome the inaugural Qantas 'Kangaroo' service via Thailand (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-167.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas - 'Harry Hawker' in the revised livery at Bangkok Donmuang Airport, November 16, 1953. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-168.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas - 'Harry Hawker' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-098.) |
VH-EAC. Qantas - 'Harry Hawker' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-239.) |