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VH-EAG. Lockheed 1049C Constellation. c/n 4539. |
This aircraft was built as a Lockheed L-1049C-55-81 for Qantas Airways - 1954 To view images of this aircraft being built please click 'HERE' Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAG - February 09, 1954 Registered to Qantas Airways Ltd, Sydney First flown at Burbank - March 18, 1954 The United States Certificate of Export Certificate 'E-27609' was issued - March 26, 1954 Accepted by Qantas Airways at Burbank - March 28, 1954 Utilised by Qantas for crew training in the United States and Canada - April 06 - 10, 1954 Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight to Australia - April 12, 1954 It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - April 15, 1954 Delivery route: San Francisco - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney Flight crew: Captain K. G. Jackson Flight time: 29 hours 57 minutes The aircraft was named 'Southern Constellation' Operated the inaugural Qantas L-1049 Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Vancouver service - May 15, 1954 Route: Sydney - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco - Vancouver Flight crew: Captains K. G. Jackson, J. Connolly This was the inaugural trans-Pacific service on what was to be known as the 'Southern Cross' route Qantas took over all British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines services on this day Operated the inaugural Qantas L-1049 Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Singapore service - February 04, 1955 Operated the inaugural Qantas L-1049 Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Manila - Tokyo service - May 03, 1955 Operated the inaugural Qantas L-1049 Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Christchurch service - November 19, 1955 Withdrawn from service for 'D' check and fitment of weather radar - September 23, 1957 Returned to service - October 20, 1957 Operated the final Qantas L-1049 service to Port Moresby (Captain J. G. Morton) - July 07, 1960 Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) - December 16, 1960 Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) - January 1961 to March 1961 The lease to TEAL was to cover the conversion of their Lockheed Electra fleet in the United States under the Lockheed Electra Action Program Operated its final Qantas revenue service as a migrant charter to Malta - April 7, 1963 to April 15, 1963 Withdrawn from use and sold to Boeing - May 03, 1963 Total flying time to date - 21,844 hours Sold to Airmotive Inc for parts Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) in the basic livery on the ferry flight to the United States - May 06, 1963 Ferry route: Sydney - Nadi - Honolulu - San Francisco - Burbank This Constellation was the first Super Constellation to be operated by Qantas and it was the last to leave the company The aircraft was painted up with an apt sign that read: Very good performer / Held her reputation / Entered service first / Always reliable / Going out last (VH-EAG) Flight crew: Captains R. Simons, B. Gosbell Scrapped - 1965 |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery somewhere over California, March 1954. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-051.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery somewhere over California, March 1954. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-052.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery somewhere over California, March 1954. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-053.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery somewhere over California, March 1954. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-054.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, March 1954. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-150.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, March 28, 1954. This was the official christening ceremony. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-192.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, March 28, 1954. This was the official christening ceremony. Lady Spender, the wife of Sir Percy Spender (Australian Ambassador to the United States) broke a bottle of champagne over the nose landing gear thus christening the first Qantas Super Constellation. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-193.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Burbank Airport, March 28, 1954. From right to left: Sir Percy Spender (Australian Ambassador to the United States); Lady Spender; Mr C. O. Turner (General Manager, Qantas); Captain Ken Jackson; Captain Bert Yates; First Officer B. Fawcett; Engineering Officer K. Stark; Engineering Officer E. Manning. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-103.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 15, 1954. This is the official ceremony to mark the inaugural service on the Qantas Airways 'Southern Cross' route. The Minister for Civil Aviation Mr H. L. Anthony is at the microphone. Mrs Anthony who is seated nearest to him on the dias will cut the ribbon thus releasing the aircraft to commence this important flight. Sir Hudson and Lady Fysh are seated on the immediate left of Mrs Anthony. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-148.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 15, 1954. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-119.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Vancouver Airport, May 17, 1954. Sir Hudson and Lady Fysh at the arrival ceremony for the inaugural 'Southern Cross' service to Vancouver, Canada. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-085.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Vancouver Airport, May 17, 1954. The arrival ceremony for the inaugural 'Southern Cross' service to Vancouver, Canada. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-084.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at Vancouver Airport, May 17, 1954. Lady Fysh at the arrival ceremony for the inaugural 'Southern Cross' service to Vancouver, Canada. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-086.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - 'Southern Constellation' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-011.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - in the basic livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 05, 1963. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-140.) |
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VH-EAG. Qantas - in the basic livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 06, 1963. Staff gather to farewell the last Qantas Super Constellation. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-194.) |