VH-EAP. Lockheed 1049G-82 Constellation. c/n 4680.

Was also registered as: N9723C.

 

This aircraft was built as a Lockheed L-1049G-82-153 Constellation for Qantas Airways - 1957

First flown - November 08, 1957

It was accepted by Qantas Airways at Burbank - November 19, 1957

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAP - November 20, 1957

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Departed San Francisco on the proving flight New York - Gander - London (Heathrow) - return - November 23, 1957

Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight to Australia - December 03, 1957

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - December 05, 1957

Delivery route: San Francisco - Honolulu - Sydney

The aircraft was named 'Southern Zephyr'

Entered Qantas service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Hong Kong (Kai Tak) - December 30, 1957

Flew the inaugural round-the-world service via the 'Kangaroo' route - January 14, 1958 to January 20, 1958

Total flying time for this flight was 128 hours

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Johannesburg - Sydney - October 03, 1959

Sold to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation - October 23, 1959

Had flown 5,765 hours 16 minutes with 916 cycles to date

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to the United States - October 25, 1959

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 05, 1959

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9723C - ?

Leased to Resort Airlines - 1959 to June 1960

Stored at Oakland, California when Resort Airlines ceased operations

Leased to Twentieth Century Airlines - August 1960 to 1961

Stored at Lockheed Aircraft Services facility at Ontario - late 1961

Used by Lockheed - June 1963 to 1970

Sold to California Airmotive / American Jet Industries - December 12, 1970

Stored at Fox Field, Lancaster, California - May 1971

Participated in an unlimited air race meeting at San Diego, California - July 18, 1971

It was withdrawn from further pylon racing after this event and returned to storage at Burbank

Prepared for a movie role and had a 'Concorde' like nose attached with 'Global' titles added - November 1971

Registered to Stereo Vision International Inc - October 02, 1972

Made several short flights in connection to the proposed movie, which was later abandoned - November 1972

Returned to California Airmotive - November 1972

Scrapped at Burbank - July 1974

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - January 1975

 

 

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1958.

Preparing to depart on the 'Round-The-World' inaugural service.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-206.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1958.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-208.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1958.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-207.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1958.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-209.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1958.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-210.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1958.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-137.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at San Francisco Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-025.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' - First Class cabin, circa 1959.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-138.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1959.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-155.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-174.)

VH-EAP. Qantas - 'Southern Zephyr' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-174A.)

N9723C. California Airmotive - in the standard livery with additional 'Red Baron' titles at an unknown airport, July 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-030.)