Qantas Lockheed Fleet Numbers


There is photographic evidence that the four Qantas L-188 Electras were allocated fleet numbers in the range 10 to 13 subsequent to their arrival in Sydney. The number was carried, along with the last letter of the registration, on the nose landing gear door. (Electra VH-ECD #13 is illustrated above). These numbers were assigned by Qantas, not by Lockheed (they have no relationship to manufacturer's serial numbers). It is believed that the Super Constellations were also numbered and that only Lockheed aeroplanes carried these numbers. This document is an attempt to rationalise these numbers while research into their purpose and application continues. With numbers 10 to 13 inclusive allocated to the Electras, it is presumed that 1 to 9 would have been carried by Super Constellations which remained in service at the time the Electras were delivered. The following table shows which Lockheed aeroplanes were in the Qantas fleet during the period in question and which therefore might have carried fleet numbers. Any reader who has definitive information on this subject is requested to contact the compiler.

This page should be regarded more as a discussion paper than as a statement of fact.

 

L-1049

DEPARTED

L-188

ARRIVED

#

REMARKS

VH-EAP

25OCT59
.
.
.
.

VH-EAH

04NOV59
.
.
.
.
.
.

VH-ECB

07NOV59

11

 MSN 2004
.
.

VH-ECA

08NOV59

10

 MSN 2002

VH-EAL

11NOV59
.
.
.

Last service 15OCT59
.
.

VH-ECC

28NOV59
12
 MSN 2007
.
.

VH-ECD

06DEC59
13
 MSN 2008

VH-EAJ

05JAN60
.
.
.

Last service 26NOV59

VH-EAE

08MAR60
.
.
.

Last service 09FEB60

VH-EAD

15MAR60
.
.
(4)
 .

VH-EAC

24AUG60
.
.
(3)
 .

VH-EAI

28MAR61
.

01NOV60
?
 Southern Boomerang

VH-EAM

11JUL62
.
.
(8)
 .

VH-EAN

11JUL62
.
.
(9)
 .

VH-EAA

23JAN63
.
.
(1)
 .

VH-EAK

02FEB63
.
.
(7)
 .

VH-EAO

05MAR63
.

21AUG60
?
 Southern Prodigal

VH-EAB

24MAR63
.
.
(2)
 .

VH-EAF

23APR63
.
.
(5)
 .

VH-EAG

06MAY63
.
.
(6)
 .

 

 

NOTES

1

Numbers shown for the Super Constellations are assumed to have been allocated in alphabetical order by registration. All are shown in brackets until such time as they are confirmed. The only numbers thus far confirmed are those on the Electras.

2

VH-EAI and VH-EAO returned to Qantas service during the period in question but it is not known if they were allocated numbers.

3

It will be noted that the last registration letters A, B, C & D were common to the Super Constellations and the Electras.

4

Unless stated otherwise, the dates shown in the above table are the dates on which the aircraft arrived or departed Sydney.

 

Issue
Date
 Remarks
1
28OCT08
 Original issue.

 

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