VH-EAF L749 Constellation

This aircraft was to be built as an Lockheed 649-79-21 for T.W.A. but the order was cancelled

It was completed as an Lockheed 749-79-35 for Air India

Entered onto Indian Aircraft Register as VT-CQS - February 17, 1948

Registered to Air India

Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to India February 23, 1948

It arrived at Bombay on completion of the delivery flight - March 16, 1948

Operated the inaugural Bombay - Cairo - Geneva - London service - June 08, 1948

Sold to Qantas Airways having flown 480 hours 13 min - April 20, 1951

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAF - April 27, 1951

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

The aircraft was named 'Horace Brinsmead'

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the ferry flight from India- April 27, 1951

Operated its first Qantas revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Auckland - May 04, 1951

It was converted to Lockheed 749A-79 standard - 1951

It was utilised for six Royal flights during Queen Elizabeth II's tour of Australia - March 1954

Departed on its last revenue service Sydney - London - Sydney - July 13, 1954

Sold to British Overseas Airways Corporation - ?

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom - July 23, 1954

The aircraft had flown 8,188 hours to date

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 28, 1954

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ANTF (CofR G-ANTF/R1) - August 16, 1954

The aircraft was named 'Berkeley'

Operated its first B.O.A.C. revenue service on London - Sydney arriving Sydney - October 01, 1954

Operated its last B.O.A.C. revenue service - March 03, 1957

It was placed in open storage at London (Heathrow)

Sold to The Babb Company and departed London (Hearhow) on delivery to the United States - December 09, 1957

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9816F - ?

Leased to Transocean Airlines - January 03, 1958 to June 1959

Leased to Capitol Airlines - July 1959

Repossessed by B.O.A.C. and stored at Oakland, California - July 31, 1959

Transferred to International Aircraft Services for conversion to freighter configuration - 1960

An intended lease to Alaska Airlines did not eventuate - June 1961

Stored at Bradley Field until January 1964

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ANTF (CofR G-ANTF/R2) - January 23, 1964

Leased to ACE Freighters, U.K. - February 21, 1964

It arrived at London (Gatwick) on completion of the ferry flight from Newark - February 23, 1964

Entered service with ACE Freighters - May 06, 1964

Sold to ACE Freighters - March 01, 1966

It made a wheels-up landing at Aden Airport whilst undertaking a Ministry of Defence contract flight - March 08, 1966

Minimal damage was sustained and temporary repairs carried out on site before it was ferryied back to the U.K.

Withdrawn from use and stored at Baginton, Coventry, when ACE ceased operations - September 14, 1966

Sold by tender to an unknown buyer, but remain stored at Baginton - December 1966

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - December 04, 1967

Fire destroyed most of the deteriorated aircraft at Baginton - February 01, 1970

The burnt out remains were scrapped on site - 1971