VH-EAG (#1) Southern Constellation
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| Type: | L-1049C-55-81
Super Constellation L-1049E/01-55 Super Constellation (converted) |
| MSN: | 4539 |
| Subsequent Identities: | N93166? |
History:
| 54 | Built as L-1049C-55-81. |
| 09FEB54 | CofR No 2060 issued to Qantas Empire Airways as VH-EAG. |
| 18MAR54 | First flown. |
| 26MAR54 | Export CofA No E-27609 issued. |
| 28MAR54 | Accepted by Qantas as VH-EAG "Southern Constellation". Total Time 14:01. |
| 31MAR54 | "San Francisco: Qantas has taken delivery of the first passenger plane for its new trans-Pacific service. The new plane is a Lockheed Super Constellation. The Australian Ambassador to Washington (Sir Percy Spender) and Lady Spender took part in the handīng-over ceremony. Lady Spender named the new plane as she poured gold dust over its nose. Qantas is scheduled to begin a through - service from Vancouver to Sydney about May 1. The service will follow the route previously flown by B.C.P.A. Stops will be made at San Francisco, Honolulu and Fiji." (Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW, Wednesday 31 March 1954) |
| 06APR54 | Operated training flights. |
| 10APR54 | Flew Burbank, San Francisco, Vancouver, San Francisco to Burbank. |
| 12APR54 | Departed Burbank on delivery to Sydney via San Francisco, Honolulu, Nadi. Flight Time 29:57. (Capt K.G. Jackson). Total Time 123:09. |
| 15APR54 | Arrived Sydney and later commenced a series of training flights. |
| 15MAY54 | Departed Sydney on the inaugural Qantas L-1049 service to Nadi, Canton Island, Honolulu, San Francisco and Vancouver with 51 passengers. (Capt K.G. Jackson and Capt J. Connolly). |
| 20MAY54 | Returned to Sydney. |
| 29MAY54 | Operated 3 courtesy flights from Sydney. |
| 04FEB55 | Departed Sydney on the inaugural Qantas L-1049 service to Singapore. |
| 03MAY55 | Departed Sydney on the inaugural Qantas L-1049 service to Tokyo via Manila. |
| 19NOV55 | Departed Sydney on the inaugural Qantas L-1049 service to Christchurch. |
| 56 | Converted to L-1049E/01-55. |
| 23SEP57 | Withdrawn from service for "D" overhaul and fitment of weather radar. |
| 20OCT57 | Returned to service. |
| MAR60 | Leased to Malayan Airways. |
| 07JUL60 | Departed Sydney on the last Qantas L-1049 service to Port Moresby. (Capt J.G. Morton). |
| 16DEC60 | Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL). |
| JAN61 | Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) until MAR61. |
| 22JUL61 | Departed Sydney for Perth where the aeroplane was based until 30AUG61. |
| 21OCT61 | Departed Sydney for Singapore where the aeroplane was based until 18NOV61. |
| 07APR63 | Departed Sydney on last Qantas service (migrant charter to Malta). |
| 15APR63 | Returned to Sydney. |
| 03MAY63 | Sold to Boeing. Total Time 21,844 hours. |
| MAY63 | Photographed
at Sydney with many of the Qantas staff who had worked on the aeroplane.
VH-EAG was the first Super Constellation delivered to Qantas and it
was also the last to leave the country. The photograph included a
sign: FAREWELL EAG V ery good performer H eld her reputation E nter service first A lways reliable G oing out last |
| 06MAY63 | Sold to Airmotive Inc. for parts. Departed Sydney for Nadi, Honolulu, San Francisco and Burbank. |
| Most sources state that the aircraft never received a US registration for the ferry flight to Burbank although other sources state that it became N93166. This photo, believed to be of VH-EAG, suggests that the Australian registration was removed for the ferry flight which lends weight to the theory that it became N93166. | |
| 08MAY63 | Arrived Burbank. (Capt R. Simons and Capt B. Gosbell). Total Time 21,872:58. |
| DEC64 | Noted in a parking lot near Burbank minus outer wings and tail awaiting scrapping. |
| 65 | Scrapped in early 1965. |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 08MAY21 |
Added
an image of VH-EAG's farewell.
|
| 7 | 25FEB16 |
Revised
presentation of type.
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| 6 | 16FEB16 |
Added
the date that the aircraft was converted to type L-1049E-01-55.
No date more precise than "1956" is available.
|
| 5 | 29DEC15 |
Added
a reference to the naming ceremony on 31MAR54.
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| 4 | 27DEC15 |
Added
an image which suggests that VH-EAG
did receive a US registration for the ferry flight to Burbank
in 1963.
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| 3 | 26DEC15 |
Added
4 images from the Qantas Heritage Collection.
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| 2 | 01SEP12 |
Added
an image by L. Green thanks to Nigel
Daw.
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| 1 | 03JAN00 |
Original
issue
|
