VH-RMG

History:

N6132A
12FEB60	First flight
19FEB60	Delivered to American Airlines as N6132A "Flagship Richmond"
02DEC60	Entered LEAP as LEAP #34 AAL-4
03JAN61	Completed LEAP
06FEB69	Sold to McCulloch Properties Inc
13FEB69	Delivered to McCulloch. Operated under names McCulloch and Lake Havasu City
10MAY72	Transferred to McCulloch International
AUG75	Converted to L-188AF freighter by Lockheed
23AUG75	Delivered to Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cargo (arrived in McCulloch colours but without titles). Known Crew: Captain P. Legge and Flight Engineer F. Cox. Also Captain M.J. (Max) Read who was the Brisbane Check Captain on the L-188 at the time. (Source: Don Johnston) The Navigator was Stewart McEwen. (Source: Brian Woodhouse) The following engineers who had been in Ontario supervising the conversion also travelled on the delivery flight: Albie Travaskis (Airframe) Barry Dyer (Avionics) Brian Woodhouse (Engines) Bob Gale (Radio systems). (Source: Brian Woodhouse)
VH-RMG
27AUG75	Registered to ATI (Operations) as VH-RMG
28AUG75	Entered service Melbourne to Launceston
05MAY78	Last service AN451 Perth to Melbourne
25MAY78	Cancelled from Australian Register
VH-PTQ
30MAY78	Test flown at Melbourne using "trade plate" registration VH-PTQ. Sold to Evergreen International as N2251A and departed for Auckland and Miami
N5538
12JUL78	Re-registered N5538 to Evergreen International
JAN83	Cancelled from US register
LV65-101
JAN83	In late January 1983 the aircraft was flown by Argentinian aircrew to Commandante Espora Naval Air Base at Bahia Blanca where it was converted for maritime reconnaissance and ECM duties. In Argentine service the aircraft was known as an Electron (Electra de Exploracion). It has also been suggested that the name derives from ELECTR + oriON. The aircraft initially carried the serial LV65-101 but this was later changed to 6-P-101.
09JUL83	Flew a sortie to the Antarctic to drop supplies to the weather station at Deception Island.
01SEP84	Some sources state that the aircraft was acquired by the Argentine Navy on this date. In the light of the foregoing new information, it is possible that this is the date that the serial was changed to 6-P-101. (See JUL89)
87	Detected a foreign submarine cruising on the surface whilst the aircraft was on a surveillance patrol
6-P-101
JUL89	Reported to have been re-serialled 6-P-101 at this time. (Source: Steven Raczynski)
20SEP89	Force landed at Almirante Zar Naval Air Base, also known as Trelew, at midday on 20SEP89. One undercarriage leg would not lower so the aircraft circled the field to burn off fuel. On landing, the right wing struck the ground and broke off. The aircraft swung through 180 degrees and the starboard props severed the forward fuselage. The aircraft caught fire but it was immediately extinguished by waiting fire crews. Three of the crew were severely injured but 20 other Naval personnel walked away from the crash. It has been reported that part of the fuselage was still visible at Trelew which also serves as a domestic airport. A local newspaper published a photo which shows that the aircraft was effectively destroyed in the accident. (Source: Steven Raczynski)

Issue	Date	Remarks
12	28DEC22	L-188 slideshows combined
11	05DEC22	Added a slideshow.
10	03APR16	Refreshed page layout with no change to data.
9	31OCT15	Added an image of the aircraft at Pago Pago on its delivery flight. Thanks to Brian Woodhouse and Fred Niven.
8	07JAN10	Added further names to the Ansett delivery crew on 23AUG75. Thanks to Brian Woodhouse.
7	01NOV05	Added Capt M.J. Read to the Ansett delivery crew on 23AUG75. Thanks to Don Johnston.
6	23APR05	Additional information on the aircraft's demise has been contributed by Steven Raczynski. Thanks Steven.
5	25JAN04	Additional information on the aircraft's Argentine Navy service thanks to Gil White.
4	29JUL02	Additional images of Electron 6-P-101 thanks to Jorge Nuņez Padin
3	-	Added LEAP details thanks to Pete Clukey Additional material thanks to Fred Niven and John Wilson. Additional images thanks to Peter Gates.
2	-	Corrected registration from N2251 to N2251A.

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