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VH-EAE. Lockheed L-1049E Constellation. c/n 4578
Was also registered as: N9720C.
This aircraft was originally built as a Lockheed 1049E-55-81 It was converted during construction to a Lockheed 1049E-55-118 for Qantas Empire Airways Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAE - September 24, 1954 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney First flown - February 01, 1955 The export C. of A. (E-27662) was issued - February 04, 1955 Accepted by Qantas Empire Airways at Burbank - February 06, 1955 The aircraft was named 'Southern Moon' Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - February 06, 1955 It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - February 08, 1955 Delivery route: Burbank - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - London (Heathrow) - February 26, 1955 Withdrawn from service for modification to 1049E-01-55 standard - 1956 Withdrawn from service for the fitment of weather radar and upgraded to L1049G-01-55 - February 08, 1958 Returned to service - March 21, 1958 Operated its final revenue service Sydney - Nadi - Sydney - February 09, 1960 Withdrawn from service and stored at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport Sold to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation - March 1960 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 02, 1960 The aircraft had flown 14,744 hours with 3,341 cycles Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9720C - March 04, 1960 Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Ontario via Nadi - Honolulu - March 08, 1960 Arrived Ontario on completion of the ferry flight - March 10, 1960 Leased to Capitol Airways - July 1960 Sold to Capitol Airways - December 1961 Operated by Capitol International Airways for Berliner Flug Ring during European summer - 1966 / 1967 The aircraft was now configured to seat 108 passengers It had flown some 22,976 hours - July 12, 1967Withdrawn from use and stored at Wilmington, Delaware - 1968 Last observed at Wilmington - July 1969 Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - 1970 Aircraft presumably scrapped at Wilmington |
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N9720C. Capitol Airways - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 1802-269.) |