VH-RMB Lockheed 188A Electra

VH-RMB. Lockheed 188A Electra. c/n 1047.

Was also registered as: N358Q; N358WS.

The Ansett order was placed with Lockheed - December 09, 1958

First flown as VH-RMB - February 28, 1959

Accepted by Ansett at Lockheed's Burbank plant - April 01, 1959

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-RMB - April 04, 1959

Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - April 05, 1959

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on cmpletion of the delivery flight - April 09, 1959

Delivery route: San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains R. Sealey, N. Murdoch, J. McRobbie; Navigator W. C. Kennedy; Engineer Nealey

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Perth - April 16, 1959

It was withdrawn from service for Electra Refinement Program - June 1959

During this program the engine mounts were modified under guidance of Lockheed Engineers

Withdrawn from service and ferried to the United States for LEAP modifications departing Melbourne - May 1961

Entered the LEAP program as 'LEAP # 152 ANA 2' - May 22, 1961

The LEAP modifications were completed - June 10, 1961

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on redelivery to Ansett-ANA - June 1961

Ferry route: Burbank - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

The aircraft was grounded by a Department of Civil Aviation order - July 24, 1964

This was the result of 'corrosion specks' being found in wing of the Trans-Austalia Airlines Electra 'VH-TLB'

These 'corrosion specks' were misidentified as being wing cracks

The grounding order was lifted on the Australian Electra fleet - July 27, 1964

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne - December 18, 1969

Utilised for route endorsement Perth - Cocos Islands (Captains K. Hants, J. McRobbie) - February 02, 1971

Operated its final passenger service - May 06, 1971

Withdrawn from service and stored at Melbourne (Essendon)

Departed Melbourne on the ferry flight to United States for conversion to freighter with Lockheed - June 17, 1972

Ferry route: Melbourne - Port Moresby - Wake Island - Honolulu - Ontario (California)

Flight crew: Captains B. Porter, I. Armstrong-Taylor; Engineer P. Nash; Navigator W. C. Kennedy

Departed Ontario on the ferry flight to Australia on completion of this conversion - October 06, 1972

It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on completion of the ferry flight - October 10, 1972

Ferry route: Ontarion - Hilo - Wake Island - Port Moresby - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains K. Hants, B. Amundsen; Engineer P. Straney

Returned to service as freighter with Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo

Operated its first freighter revenue service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Launceston - October 19, 1972

Participated in the memorial flypast for Sir Reginald Ansett (Captain D. Brown; F/O R. M. Cook) - February 15, 1982

Operated its last freighter service Melbourne - Hobart - Launceston - Melbourne as AN1443/4 - January 29, 1984

Flight crew: Captain R. McCrystal; F/O P. Larrain; F/E K. Shirt

The aircraft had flown 53,886 hours with 40,654 cycles

Sold to Turbo Power International Inc - June 29, 1984

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N358Q - ?

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 31, 1984

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) as N358Q on the ferry flight to the United States - September 12, 1984

Ferry route: Melbourne - Sydney - Nadi - Faleolo - Hilo - San Francisco - Amarillo

Flight crew: Captain S. Clark, J. Rollston; F/E J. Norton; Navigator B. S. McEwen

Registered to JBQ Aviation Corp, Miami, Florida - March 1985

Leased to Fred Olsen A/S for one month - December 1985

Leased to Fred Olsen, Norway - October 27 to December 05, 1986

Leased to ALM Antillian Airlines Cargo as N356Q - May 1988

Registered to T.P.I. International Airways Inc - August 1989

Reregistered N358WS - October 1989

Repossessed by Internationale Nederlanden Bank NV - April 08, 1992

Sold to MCA Aviation Corp and then to JBQ Aviation in one day - April 1992

Withdrawn from service and stored at Opa Locka Airport as with ALM titles - April 1992

Reregistered N358Q - December 1992

Registered to JBQ Aviation Corp, Miami, Florida

Withdrawn from use and placed in open storage at Opa Locka Airport - November 09, 1996

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - January 1997

Scrapped on site at Opa Locka Airport - March 1997

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(M. Austin Collection Copyright Image 1808-632.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, April 08, 1959.

(J. Wilson Collection Copyright Image 1808-468.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, April 08, 1959.

(J. Wilson Collection Copyright Image 1808-469.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery with revised tail titles at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-490.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the original livery with revised tail titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, March 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-105.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, circa 1964.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1808-021.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Brisbane Airport, July 1965.

(J. Wilson Collection Copyright Image 1808-335.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Brisbane Airport, July 1965.

(J. Wilson Collection Copyright Image 1808-336.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1966.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-110.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-108.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-635.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-107.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-109.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1968.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1808-719.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 10, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-477.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Adelaide West Breach Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-389.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-489.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-945.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 21, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-944.)

VH-RMB. Ansett-ANA - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, July 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-829.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-475.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-111.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-112.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1971.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-721.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1971.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-720.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1971.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-113.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1973.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-358.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1973.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-061.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 1974.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-821.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 07, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-115.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 07, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-117.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 07, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-119.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 07, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-120.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, January 07, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-118.)

VH-RMB. Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo - in the 'delta' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 10, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-129.)