VH-EAB Boeing 707-338C

VH-EAB. Boeing 707-338C. c/n 19622-660.

Was also registered as: OO-YCL; P2-ANA; TF-AEC; SU-DAE; ST-ALL; 5B-DAY; N4131G;

AF92-3289.

This aircraft was ordered new by Qantas Airways - ?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Renton, Washington - November 21, 1967

First flown as 'VH-EAB' - December 28, 1967

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAB - January 10, 1968

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

It was accepted by B. Langevad for Qantas Airways at Seattle - January 10, 1968

This aircraft was the 26th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

It was the 26th Boeing 707 delivered to Qantas

The aircraft was named 'City of Canberra'

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on delivery flight to Australia (Captain A. A. E. Yates) as QF051D - January 10, 1968

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith at 09:15 local) on completion of the delivery flight - January 12, 1968

Delivery route: Seattle - Los Angeles - Honolulu - Nadi - Brisbane - Sydney

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Tokyo (Haneda) - February 10, 1968

The aircraft was involved in a dramatic mid-air loss of control incident - February 21, 1969

As a result of this incident the aircraft was known as 'The Bahrain Bomber'

To read more about this incident please click 'HERE'

It was renamed 'Winton' - August 1971

It was chartered by the Australian Government for an official visit to China - October 1973

It arrived in Beijing carrying the Australian Prime Minister, Mr E. G. Whitlam - October 31, 1973

Chartered by Ansett for one day to cover peak Easter holiday loadings - April 25, 1973

It was chartered by the Australian Government for an official visit to Russia - January 1975

The word 'Australia' on the cabin roof was increased in size to be the same size as 'Qantas'

The Australian flag was also increased in size

This was the first visit to the Soviet Union by an Australian Prime Minister

Sold to ITEL Capital Services for lease to Young Cargo Airlines, Belgium - April 1977

It had flown 32,350 hours at time of sale

Leased to Qantas and returned to service to cover the delayed arrival of Boeing 747-238B 'VH-EBN'

It was painted in a special 'Have A Qantastic Christmas' livery - November 1977

This livery was first suggested by Paul Miller who was the Reservations Advisor to George Howling

The idea was put to Qantas Flight Operations who investigated the proposal

Deemed to be acceptable providing the aircraft's registration was not compromised

This was the first time that 'advertising' had been carried on a Qantas aircraft's fuselage

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Christchurch - Sydney as QF58/352 - December 18, 1977

Withdrawn from use and prepared for return to the lessor

Returned to ITEL Capital Services Corp at Sydney Airport - December 23, 1977

The aircraft had flown 34,274 hours with 11,882 cycles

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 27, 1977

Entered onto the Belgian Aircraft Register as OO-YCL - December 27, 1977

Registered to ITEL Capital Services Corporation

Leased to Young Cargo as registered operator

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Belgium - December 28, 1977

Returned to ITEL when Young Cargo ceased operations - May 1979

Leased to Air Niugini - May 1979

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) in the Air Niugini livery - May 25, 1979

Cancelled from the Belgian Aircraft Register - May 26, 1979

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-ANA - May 28, 1979

Registered to ITEL Capital Services Corporation

Leased to Air Niugini as the registered operator

Sold to Air Niugini - December 1984

Operated its final revenue service Port Moresby - Brisbane - Port Moresby - January 30, 1985

Withdrawn from use and stored at Port Morseby - February 01, 1985

Sold to TRATCO - April 01, 1985

It arrived at Brussels, Belgium for storage - April 13, 1985

Entered onto the Icelandic Aircraft Register as TF-AEC - July 13, 1985

Registered to TRATCO

Leased to Air Arctic Iceland as the registered operator

Entered service in the basic Air Niugini livery - ?

Sub-leased to Surinam Airways - August 08 to September 07, 1985

Returned to TRATCO at the end of the lease - September 1985

Leased to Air Maldives - December 1985

Returned to TRATCO at the end of the lease - February 1986

Sold to Zakani Aviation Services (ZAS), Egypt - February 1986

Cancelled from the Icelandic Aircraft Register - March 23, 1986

Entered onto the Egyptian Aircraft Register as SU-DAE - April 01, 1986

Sold to Nile Safaris Aviation - July 1988

Cancelled from the Egyptian Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the Sudanese Aircraft Register as ST-ALL - July 02, 1988

Sold to Avistar (Cyprus) Ltd - May 31, 1990

Entered onto the Cyprus Aircraft Register as 5B-DAY - ?

Leased to Clipper International Airways - May 1991

Used by the United Nations for relief flights with 'UN' titles on the aircraft - September 1991

Sold to Grumman Aerospace Corporation for conversion to J-STARS production aircraft - May 28, 1992

The aircraft had flown 57,619 hours with 19,706 cycles to date

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N4131G - May 1992

Registered to Grumman Aerospace Corporation

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - October 1995

Delivered to the United States Air Force at Woodbridge A.F.B. as an E-8C P-1 - March 26, 1996

It was allocated the U. S. Serial Number 'AF92-3289'

It was allocated to 93rd Air Control Wing, Robins A.F.B. - June 11, 1996

It had flown 57,631 hours to date

It was displayed at the Farnborough Air Show - September 1996

It was observed at Warner Robins A.F.B. with multi-coloured stripe and 'WR' tail code - April 28, 2001

It was observed at Birmingham, Al named 'Belle of Middle Georgia' - July 20, 2002

Current with 116th Air Control Wing, Warner Robins Air Force Base - 2018

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'City of Canberra' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Mexico City Airport, May 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-143.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'City Of Canberra' Coat of Arms.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-164.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'City of Canberra' in the 'V-Jet' livery at New York Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-438.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'City of Canberra' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Mexico City Airport, March 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-403.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'City of Canberra' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, September 16, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-475.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Vancouver Airport, July 03, 1972.

(P. de Groot Copyright Image 4604-404.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'ochre' livery with modified titles at Moscow City Airport, October 31, 1971.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-812.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Shire of Winton' Coat of Arms.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-177.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'ochre' livery with modified titles at Bonn Airport, January 1975.

(H. W. Klein Copyright Image 4604-576.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-388.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 1977.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-288.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 1977.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-289.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 1977.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-290.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 1977.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-291.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 06, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-577.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-972.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-033.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-402.)

VH-EAB. Qantas Australia - 'Winton' in the 'Have A Qantasic Christmas' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 19, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-332.)

VH-EAB. Young - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 27, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-036.)

VH-EAB. Young - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 27, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-035.)

OO-YCL. Young - in the standard livery at Brussels Ostend Airport, May 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-582.)

OO-YCL. Young - in the standard livery at Brussels Ostend Airport, May 04, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-439.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'now ... Singapore, Jakarta, Hawaii' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 24, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-583.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'now ... Singapore, Jakarta, Hawaii' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 24, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-584.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'now ... Singapore, Jakarta, Hawaii' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 24, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4605-503.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'now ... Singapore, Jakarta, Hawaii' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 17, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-595.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'now ... Singapore, Jakarta, Hawaii' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 23, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-592.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'now ... Singapore, Jakarta, Hawaii' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 23, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-593.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'now ... Singapore, Jakarta, Hawaii' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 29, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-594.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery with additional 'South Pacific Festival Of Arts' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 06, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-596.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 22, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-597.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 15, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-038.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 15, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-447.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 07, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-598.)

P2-ANA. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Port Moresby Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-606.)

TF-AEC. Air Arctic Icelandic - in the basic 'Air Niugini' livery with additional 'Operated For Surinam Airways' titles at an unknown airport, August 1985.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-607.)

TF-AEC. ZAS Airline of Egypt - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, March 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-608.)

SU-DAE. ZAS Airline of Egypt - in the standard livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, April 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-609.)

ST-ALL. Nile Safaris Aviation - in the standard livery at Marseille Airport, May 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-610.)

ST-ALL. Nile Safaris Aviation - in the standard livery at Marseille Airport, June 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-214.)

ST-ALL. Nile Safaris Aviation - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-225.)

ST-ALL. Nile Safaris Aviation - in the standard livery at Marseille Airport, October 1989.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-216.)

5B-DAY. Nile Safaris Aviation - in the standard livery at Miami Airport, July 1990.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-215.)

5B-DAY. Avistar - in the basic 'Nile Safaris' livery at Paris Airport, October 1990.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-052.)

5B-DAY. Avistar - in the basic 'Nile Safaris' livery at an unknown airport, April 1991.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 4605-444.)

5B-DAY. Clipper International - in the basic 'Nile Safaris' livery at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, June 1991.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 4605-445.)

5B-DAY. Clipper International - in the basic 'Nile Safaris' livery with additional 'UN' titles at Ostend Airport, January 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-053.)

5B-DAY. Clipper International - in the basic 'Nile Safaris' livery with additional 'UN' titles at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, January 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-333.)

5B-DAY. Grumman Aerospace - in the all-metal livery at an unknown airport, September 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-412.)

AF92-3289. U S Air Force - in the standard livery an unknown airport, May 1999.