VH-EAO Lockheed 1049G-82 Constellation

VH-EAO. Lockheed 1049G-82 Constellation. c/n 4679.

Was also registered as: N9722C; N86682.

This aircraft was built as a Lockheed L-1049G-82-133 for Qantas Empire Airways - 1957

First flown - October 24, 1957

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAO - October 25, 1957

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

The U. S. Certificate of Export 'E-28734' was issued - October 25, 1957

Accepted by Qantas Airways at Burbank - October 25, 1957

Departed Burbank, California on the delivery flight to Australia - October 26, 1957

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the delivery flight - October 28, 1957

Delivery route: Burbank - Honolulu - Sydney

This aircraft was fitted with wingtip tanks and was the first aircraft to ever fly Honolulu - Sydney non-stop

The aircraft was named 'Southern Aurora'

Operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Hong Kong - December 02, 1957

It flew a proving and goodwill flight around the world with cities visited painted on the aircraft -

December 20, 1957 to January 08, 1958

It flew the inaugural round-the-world service via the eastbound 'Southern Cross' route - January 14 - 20, 1958

Total flying time on this flight - 128 hours

Experienced a complete propeller separation from Number 4 engine - August 12, 1959

The aircraft was en-route San Francisco - New York on the 'Round-The-World' service when incident occured

Propeller vibration set in whilst aircraft was cruising at 13,000 feet

The run-away propeller could not be feathered and a diversion was made to Lovelock, Nevada

Whilst flying the base leg for landing the engine seized and the propeller separated

The aircraft landed safely and there were no injuries to passengers and crew

Withdrawn from use and stored Sydney (Kingsford Smith) awaiting sale - September 1959

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - September 19, 1959

Sold to the Lockheed Aircraft Coeporation - October 13, 1959

Had flown 5,874 hours 9 minutes and 932 cycles to date

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N9722C - October 13, 1959

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Ontario (California) - October 14, 1959

Leased to Qantas Airways due to capacity shortage - August 18, 1960

Total time to date - 5,903 hours 7 minutes

Departed Portland on the ferry flight to Australia - August 19, 1960

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of the ferry flight - August 21, 1960

Ferry route: Portland - Honolulu - Nadi - Sydney

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - August 22, 1960

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAO - August 23, 1960

The aircraft was named 'Southern Prodigal'

Operated its first revenue service Sydney - Melbourne - Auckland - Nadi - Sydney - August 24, 1960

Purchased from Lockheed Aircraft Corporation - March 31, 1961

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the final revenue service as a migrant charter - February 13, 1962

Operated a final training flight Sydney - Narromine - Sydney - February 25, 1962

Sold to California Airmotive Corp - March 05, 1963

It had flown a total of 10,299 hours

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 05, 1963

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N86682 - March 05, 1963

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to the United States - March 05, 1963

Ferry route: Sydney - Nadi - Honolulu - San Francisco - Burbank

Leased to American Flyers Airline Corp - 1965

Returned to California Airmotive and stored at Fox Field, Lancaster, California - November 1968

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - July 12, 1970

Scrapped - 1971

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(N. Louis Collection Copyright Image 1802-272.)

The 'Goodwill Scroll' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 20, 1957.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-196.)

The 'Goodwill Scroll' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 20, 1957.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-197.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 20, 1957.

The Official Party farewell the pilot of the 'Goodwiil' flight.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-198.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery with additional 'Goodwill' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 20, 1957.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-200.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery with additional 'Goodwill' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 20, 1957.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-199.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - on board the 'Goodwill' flight, December 1957.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-201.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - on board the 'Goodwill' flight, December 1957.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-202.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery with additional 'Goodwill' titles at Frankfurt Airport, December 1957.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-203.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery with additional 'Goodwill' titles at San Francisco Airport, January 1958.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-204.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery with additional 'Goodwill' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 08, 1958.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-205.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-170.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-171.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-172.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-021.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1959.

The man cabin looking aft.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-135.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1959.

The forward galley.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-131.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Auroa' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1959.

The ladies powder room.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-132.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Prodical' at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 1960.

L to R: John Fuller (Electrical Services); Allan Stokes (Airframes).

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1802-173.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Prodical' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-232.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - 'Southern Prodical' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1802-233.)

VH-EAO. Qantas - in the basic livery at Burbank Airport, March 1963.