N4247K Winky's Fish
the aircraft is displayed as
VH-EAM Southern Spray
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| Type: | R7V-1
(L-1049B-55-75) Super Constellation C-121J Super Constellation (redesignated) |
| MSN: | 4144 |
| Previous Identities: | 131643 |
| Owner: | Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach, QLD |
History:
| 08DEC53 | Delivered to the United States Navy as type R7V-1 Bureau Number 131643. (Source: 1) |
| DEC53 | Operated
by Fleet Tactical Support Squadron (VR-1) Naval Air Station Patuxent
River, Maryland. Tail code RP-643. (Source: 1) |
| c.55 | Operated by Airborne Early Warning Squadron, Atlantic (VW-15) Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. (Source: 1) |
| 62 | Redesignated C-121J. (Source: 1) |
| by APR62 | Operated by the Pacific Missile Range, Point Mugu. (Source: 1) |
| Named "Ole Blue from Point Mugu". (Source: 1) | |
| MAY74 | Stored at MASDC Davis Monthan by this date. (Source: 1) |
| 29JUL74 | Struck off charge by Pacific Missile Range. (Source: 1) |
| 11FEB81 | Listed for sale by the Dept of Defense. Total Time: 14,217 hours. (Source: 1) |
| MAY81 | Sold to Northern Peninsula Fisheries and registered N4247K. (Source: 1) |
| JUN81 | Delivered to Arlington, Washington State. (Source: 1) |
| The aircraft was to be used during the Alaskan fish hauling season but certification difficulties delayed its entry into service and the aircraft remained idle at Arlington missing several subsequent seasons. The aircraft was named Winky's Fish in honour of the president of Northern Peninsula Fisheries, William "Winky" Crawford. (Source: 2) | |
| OCT87 | The aircraft was sold to World Fish and Agriculture Inc. of Cold Bay, Alaska (another Crawford company). (Source: 2) |
| 16NOV87 | The aircraft staged through Majuro (Marshall Islands) en route from Arlington to Palau, Philippines. It was intended that the aircraft would fly a cargo of fresh tuna fish from Palau to Nagoya twice weekly. To support this contract, William Crawford acquired a second Super Constellation (C-121C c/n 4175 N73544) but in the event this aircraft never joined the operation and is now operated in Europe as the Breitling Super Constellation HB-RSC. (Source: 2) |
| 24NOV87 | The aircraft arrived in Nagoya, Japan with a load of fish from Palau. (Source: 2) |
| 88 | The aircraft only operated a few services and by early 1988 was impounded at Manila under a court order from the customer George Tan on the grounds of non-performance of the contract. The operation had been predicated on hauling 38,000 pounds of fish on each flight but the aircraft could only carry 33,000 pounds. What really killed the operation was the non-availability of the required grade of AVGAS in Nagoya. Consequently the Connie had to carry return fuel in drums, a burden which reduced the payload to only 15,000 pounds. (Source: 3) |
| MAR88 | The aircraft was noted parked at Manila with a broken right windscreen. (Source: 3) |
| MAY88 | The writer approached the Chief Executive of Qantas, Mr John Menadue, with the suggestion that Qantas charter N4247K for an appearance at the Bicentennial Air Show at RAAF Richmond in October 1988. It was proposed that the aircraft would be repainted in Qantas colours for the event. As a result, the Qantas General Manager Operations, Captain Alan Terrell, a former Connie pilot and always a keen supporter of the various proposals to bring a Connie to Australia, attempted to arrange a charter. Unfortunately, the Connie was embroiled in litigation and was not able to leave the Philippines. |
| 07JUL14 | It was announced that the Manila International Airport Authority intended to hold an auction to clear the airport of several abandoned aircraft including the Super Constellation. (Source: 4) |
| 12SEP14 | The auction was held at Manila Airport on this date and the Super Constellation was sold to the Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach, Qld. |
| MAR-APR15 | The aircraft was dismantled and moved off Manila Airport to be stored nearby pending sea transport to Australia. (Source: 5) |
| 12DEC16 | The dismantled aircraft was moved from Manila Airport to the Port of Manila. (Source: 5) |
| 08MAY17 | The dismantled aircraft was loaded on to the ‘BBC Maine’ at the Manila International Container Port. The ship sailed for Townsville the same day. (Source: 5 & 6) |
| 19MAY17 | The ‘BBC Maine’ docked in Townsville. (Source: 6) |
| 23MAY17 | The aircraft arrived by road at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach. Everything except the engines and the fuselage were unloaded on this day. (Source: 5) |
| 24MAY17 | The engines and the fuselage were unloaded at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach. (Source: 5) |
| 24MAR18 | The fuselage was noted at Longreach having been painted grey and white with a red cheatline. Picture |
| 08-11MAY18 | The wings were reattached. |
| 21MAY18 | The undercarriage was fitted. |
| 22-24MAY18 | The engines and props were fitted. |
| 30MAY18 | The tailplane was reattached. |
| Subsequently the markings were applied. The aircraft is painted to represent VH-EAM Southern Spray. |
|
SOURCES
|
|
|
1
|
Marson Peter J., The Lockheed Constellation Series, Air-Britain, 1982 |
|
2
|
Propliner #33 Winter 1987. |
|
3
|
Propliner #34 Spring 1988. |
|
4
|
Pettersen, Ralph www.conniesurvivors.com |
|
5
|
Qantas Founders Museum. |
|
6
|
www.vesselfinder.com |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 28DEC22 | |
| 13 | 27NOV22 |
Added
a slideshow.
|
| 12 | 18JUL18 |
The
aircraft has been reassembled and painted to represent VH-EAM
Southern Spray. Added three images.
|
| 11 | 26MAR18 |
Added
an image of the aircraft at Arlington,
WA in December 1982.
|
| 10 | 24MAR18 |
Added
an image of the newly painted fuselage
thanks to Greg Weir.
|
| 9 | 25JUN17 |
Added
5 images of the interior. Thanks to Tom Harwood.
|
| 8 | 14JUN17 |
Added
10 images of the arrival at Longreach. Thanks to Tom Harwood.
|
| 7 | 25MAY17 |
Added
the arrival in Longreach.
|
| 6 | 19MAY17 |
Added
details of the sea voyage from Manila to Townsville.
|
| 5 | 15JAN17 |
The
aircraft has been moved to the Port of Manila.
|
| 4 | 02MAR16 |
Added
an image of the aircraft at Manila
in FEB90.
|
| 3 | 25FEB16 |
Revised
presentation of type.
|
| 2 | 19APR15 |
Added
a series of images of the Manila recovery thanks to Chris Nelson
and Geoff Reichelt.
|
| 1 | 25SEP14 |
Original
issue
|
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