VH-EAC Boeing 707-338C

This aircraft was ordered new by Qantas Airways - ?

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Boeing Field) - December 28, 1967

First flown as VH-EAC at Seattle (Captain Hartz) - January 25, 1968

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAC - February 06, 1968

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

The aircraft was named 'City of Sydney'

It was accepted by B. Langevad for Qantas Airways at Seattle (Renton) - February 06, 1968

This aircraft was the 27th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

Departed Seattle on the delivery flight to Australia (Captain A. A. E. Yates) as QF051D - February 06, 1968

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 15:15 local) on completion of the delivery flight - February 08, 1968

Delivery route: Seattle - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Christchurch - March 03, 1968

The aircraft was renamed 'Longreach' - October 1971

Conveyed the Australian Prime Minister W. McMahon on the official visit to South East Asia - June 1972

Conveyed the Australian Prime Minister G. Whitlam on the official visit to New Guinea and Indonesia - February 1973

The title 'Australia' was increased in size to be the same as 'Qantas'

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to London for lease to Bristish Caledonian - October 04, 1975

Leased to British Caledonian in the basic Qantas livery for three months - October 06, 1975

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 08, 1975

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-BDKE - October 08, 1975

Returned to Qantas at London (Heathrow) at the end of the lease - December 31, 1975

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the ferry flight - January 02, 1976

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - January 02, 1976

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAC - January 09, 1976

Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney

Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Denpasar - Sydney as QF735 - October 28, 1978

Sold to ITEL Capital Services Corp - October 30, 1978

The aircraft had flown 34,772 hours with 13,040 cycles

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 30, 1978

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GRYN - November 1978

Leased to Ontario Worldair, Canada

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smit) on the ferry flight to Canada with a fifth engine pod - November 24, 1978

Ferry route: Sydney - Honolulu - Vancouver

Operated its first Ontario Worldair revenue service Toronto - Montego Bay - December 01, 1978

Ontario Worldair ceased operations due to bankruptcy - January 13, 1981

Returned to ITEL and stored at Toronto - January 13, 1981

Leased to Worldways Airlines Ltd - May 1981

Accepted by Worldways Airlines Ltd after maintenance - June 17, 1981

Operated its first Worldways revenue service Toronto - Azores - June 21, 1981

Operated its final Worldways revenue service Acapulco - Toronto - May 19, 1983

Sold to the Royal Australian Air Force - June 17, 1983

It had flown a total of 45,571:12 hours and 15,537 cycles

Cancelled from the Canadian Aircraft Register - ?

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A20-623 - ?

Departed Toronto on the ferry flight to Australia - June 18, 1983

Arrived Sydney (Richmond) in the basic Worldways livery with Royal Australian Air Force titles - June 22, 1983

Ferry route: Toronto - Washington - McClellan A.F.B (California) - Hickham A.F.B. (Hawaii) - Sydney

Ferried Sydney (Richmond) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) for overhaul by Qantas - July 04, 1983

Rolled out in the RAAF livery at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) after overhaul - February 17, 1984

The aircraft was named 'Clarendon' at RAAF Richmond - May 30, 1984

It was operated by 33 Squadron as a strategic transport

Converted for use as an aerial tanker

It had flown a total of 54,922 hours - November 19, 2001

Withdrawn from service and stored at RAAF Richmond pending sale - May 08, 2007

It had flown a total of 56,675:20 hours with 11,104 hours in RAAF service

The intended sale to Omega Air, U. S. A.was announced - August 2007

It was observed at RAAF Richmond undergoing engine runs - August 21, 2007

Sold to Omega Air Inc by Commonwealth of Australia Defence Disposal Agency - April 07, 2011

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N623RH - June 01, 2011

Registered to Omega Air Inc, San Antonio, Texas

It was observed stored near the control tower at Sydney (Richmond) - June 06, 2011

Test flown at Sydney (Richmond) - October 22, 2011

Departed Sydney (Richmond) on the ferry flight to the United States as 'Omega 73' - October 25, 2011

Arrived Victorville, California on completion of the ferry flight - October 27, 2011

Ferry route: Sydney (Richmond) - Pago Pago - Honolulu - Victorville

It was planned to be upgraded this aircraft with Pratt & Whitney JT8 engines and updated avionics

To remain in storage at Victorville for 2 years

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-405.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - the 'City of Sydney' Coat of Arms'.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-163.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'V-Jet' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-378.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'City of Sydney' in the 'V-Jet' livery at London Heathrow Airport, June 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-401.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Mexico City Airport, March 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-131.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - the 'Longreach' Coat of Arms'.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-178.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Mexico City Airport, March 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-132.)

G-BDKE. British Caledonian - 'Longreach' in the basic Qantas livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1976.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-058.)

G-BDKE. British Caledonian - 'Longreach' in the basic Qantas livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-379.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, June 12, 1976.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-057.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1977.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-560.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-056.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, October 04, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-055.)

VH-EAC. Qantas Australia - 'Longreach' in the 'ochre' livery at Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1978.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-162.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at Paris Orly Airport, September 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-337.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, February 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-059.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at Paris Orly Airport, June 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-060.)

C-GRYN. Ontario Worldair - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-442.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, November 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-338.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at Fort Lauderdale Airport, December 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-339.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-061.)

C-GRYN. Worldways Canada - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, February 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-062.)

A20-623. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-550.)

A20-623. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-063.)