VH-TLA Lockheed 188A Electra

VH-TLA. Lockheed 188A Electra. c/n 1061.

Was also registered as: N188LA; XW-PKA.

The order for two Lockheed Electras was placed by TAA - October 10, 1958

First flown - May 19, 1959

This was the first Electra delivered with the uplilted engine mounts incorporated during construction

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TLA - June 15, 1959

Registered to Australian National Airways Commission, Melbourne

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - June 24, 1959

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

Flight crew: Captains F. Fischer, J. Maloney, J. Hickey; Navigator H. Cast; Engineer A. Wright

The aircraft performed a flypast with the newly arrived Viscount VH-TVQ and Friendship VH-TFA before landing

The aircraft was named 'John Eyre'

Operated its first revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as TN534 - July 08, 1959

Set a speed record between Melbourne - Brisbane of 129 minutes (Captain W. O. James) - February 15, 1960

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) for Burbank for wing and engine mount modification - January 25, 1961

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

Flight crew: Captains R. B. Keig, I. A. F. Clarke, R. Lauchland; F/O D. W. R. Pummeroy; F/E R. C. Lane

Entered the Lockheed (LEAP) Program as LEAP #71 TAA-1 - January 27, 1961

LEAP modification completed - February 23, 1961

Departed Burbank on the ferry flight to Melbourne (Essendon) - February 23, 1961

Flight crew: Captains V. C. Austen, M. I. Fitzgerald, T. R. Bennet; F/O K. J. Purnell; F/E F. C. Storer

Set a speed record on Brisbane - Melbourne (Essendon) sector of 148 mins 30 seconds - March 13, 1961

Set a speed record on Melbourne - Sydney sector of 54 minutes (Captain G. J. White) - July 08, 1961

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

This was the result of corrosion specks being found in the wing of TAA Electra VH-TLB

These specks had been misidentified as being wing cracks

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

Operated its final revenue service Canberra - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as TN406 - April 30, 1971

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Brisbane for storage (Captain Humphries) as TN2890 - April 30, 1971

The aircraft had flown 34,063 hours with 26,925 cycles

Test flown at Brisbane (Captain S. Arnold, R. Hickey; F/E R. Verity) - September 15, 1971

Test flown at Brisbane before being ferried Brisbane - Melbourne direct in 2 hrs 35 mins - February 07, 1972

Flight crew: Captains S. Arnold, A. Hofman; F/E R. Verity

Sold to Concare Aircraft Leasing - March 12, 1972

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N188LA - March 1972

Test flown at Melbourne (Tullamarine) as VH-TLA / N188LA - March 26, 1972

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 05, 1972

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to the United States - April 12, 1972

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

Lease / purchased from Concare Aircraft Leasing by Transair Corp - 1972

Leased to Royal Air Lao - May 1972

Entered onto the Laotian Aircraft Register as XW-PKA - 1972

The aircraft was named 'Tiao Anou'

It arrived at Vientiane on the ferry flight from Miami, Florida - July 18, 1972

Grounded and used as a source of parts to keep Electra XW-PKB airworthy - December 1973

Fearing seizure by the new Lao Government work commenced to return it to airworthy status - August 1974

Parts were sourced from XW-PKB which was in Hong Kong for overhaul

Departed Vientiane for Seletar, Singapore for overhaul by Lockheed - September 20, 1974

Flight crew: Captains A. Ogle; F/O A. Adolph; F/E W. Dettori; Mechanic P. Dreith

The aircraft arrived at Seletar after an exciting ferry flight - September 21, 1974

This aircraft did not fly again

Sold to American Jet Industies along with Electra XW-PKB - 1975

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N188LA - January 13, 1976

Registered to American Jet Industries Inc

Scrapped at Seletar, Singapore - 1976

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register as 'destroyed' - March 16, 1976

VH-TLA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Eyre' in the original livery at an unknown location, June 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-508.)

VH-TLA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Eyre' in the original livery at an unknown location, June 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-183.)

VH-TLA. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Eyre' in the original livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 24, 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-526.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the 'dayglow' livery at Brisbane Airport, circa 1961.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-932.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the 'dayglow' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-184.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the 'dayglow' livery at Brisbane Airport, July 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-186.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the 'dayglow' livery at an unknown location, July 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-344.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the 'dayglow' livery at Brisbane Airport, circa 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-565.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the 'dayglow' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, circa 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-391.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 24, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-778.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-188.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-193.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 29, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-189.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1808-633.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-775.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, December 29, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-509.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1967.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1808-505.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 17, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-560.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-776.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 14, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-880.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 14, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1808-566.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1971.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 1808-195.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1971.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 1808-194.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-196.)

VH-TLA. TAA The Nation's Jetline - 'John Eyre' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1808-191.)

N188LA. Concare Aircraft Leasing - in the all-white livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, March 1972.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-737.)

N188LA. Concare Aircraft Leasing - in the all-white livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, April 1972.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1808-202.)

XW-PKA. Royal Air Lao - 'Tiao Anou' in the standard livery at Singapore Airport, November 1972.