VH-ECC "Pacific Endeavour"
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Type: L-188C Electra
Msn: 2007
Previous Identities:
| 01APR58 | Ordered by Qantas |
| 10AUG59 | Application for CofR and CofA by Qantas Empire Airways Ltd. (Note:1) |
| 19NOV59 | First flight |
| 23NOV59 | Accepted by Qantas at Burbank |
| 24NOV59 | CofR 3278 and CofA 3278 issued to Qantas as VH-ECC (Note:1) |
| 28NOV59 | Arrived Sydney on delivery as "Pacific Endeavour" (Capt K. Nicholson) |
| 08NOV60 | T.T. 1900.42 hours (Note:1) |
| 25JAN61 | Due to depart for Lockheed, Burbank for wing and engine mount modifications |
| 31JAN61 | Entered LEAP as LEAP #73 QEA-3 |
| 27FEB61 | Completed LEAP |
| 03OCT61 | Operated inaugural service Sydney to Wellington (Capt J.S. Ross) (Source: "The Australian Air Mail Catalogue") |
| 04OCT61 | Operated inaugural service Sydney to Auckland (Capt J.S. Ross) (Source: "The Australian Air Mail Catalogue") |
| 07OCT61 | Operated inaugural service Auckland to Melbourne (Capt F.S. Furniss) (Source: "The Australian Air Mail Catalogue") |
| 31OCT61 | T.T. 4018.35 hours (Note:1) |
| 18OCT62 | T.T. 5523.36 hours (Note:1) |
| 01NOV63 | T.T. 7238.38 hours (Note:1) |
| 26OCT64 | T.T. 9355.46 hours (Note:1) |
| 17APR65 | Operated last Qantas service |
| 18APR65 | Cancelled from Australian register. Change of ownership to Air New Zealand as ZK-CLX (replacing the crashed ZK-TEC). Re-named "Akaroa". Departed for Auckland all on the same date. (Note:1) |
| 16FEB68 | Sold to California Airmotive Corp as N1968R |
| 22FEB68 | Sold to Reeve Aleutian Airways Inc, Anchorage, Alaska as N1968R |
| 08JUN83 | En route
Anchorage to Cold Bay, the crew noticed an unusual vibration while climbing
from FL190 to FL250. The flight engineer went aft to inspect the engines
and propellors but noted nothing unusual. A flight attendant went forward
to report to the captain that nothing unusual had been observed, when the
vibration increased in intensity. As the flight attendant left the flight
deck, she looked out the right hand window and saw the number 4 propellor
separate, striking the fuselage. This caused a rapid decompression which
resulted in a partial collapse of the cabin floor, jamming some control
cables. The crew began an emergency descent but found that control was difficult
and that they could not reduce power from cruise setting. The autopilot
provided minimal control while lowering and retracting the undercarriage
with the number 2 engine shut down enabled the crew to descend and climb.
Despite these difficulties, which initially indicated a ditching, the crew
managed to return to Anchorage. On their second approach, the aircraft touched
down nosewheel first at high speed and the crew shut down the remaining
two engines which deprived them of hydraulic braking and nosewheel steering.
The aircraft departed the runway at slow speed, partially entering a ditch.
The aircraft remained on its undercarriage and further damage was limited
to that caused by main gear brake fires which were extinguished by the fire
services before spreading. The reason for the propellor separation could
not be determined as the propellor had fallen into the ocean. [Extracted from NTSB Report DCA83AA029] The aircraft was subsequently repaired and returned to service. |
| JAN01 | Following the bankruptcy of Reeve Aleutian, N1968R was acquired by Air Spray (Canada) for conversion to a fire bombing tanker. N1968R had served Reeve Aleutian for 33 years! |
| 12JUN01 | Registered C-GHZI to Air Spray 1967 Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The aircraft is marketed by Air Spray as a "Long Liner", a name derived from its ability to drop a long line of retardant. |
| 28DEC04 | Report that C-GHZI Tanker 84 has completed its first season as a tanker. |
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Note:
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Source: File C3905/2 VH/ECC Pts 1 & 2 (22) N.A.A., Chester Hill |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
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| 8 | 07NOV07 |
Added
an image of C-GZHI in interim Air Spray livery thanks to Peter Gates.
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| 7 | 09OCT07 |
Added
an image of VH-ECC in colour. Thanks to Christopher Bateman.
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| 6 | 29DEC04 |
Added
Tanker Number 84 thanks to a source at Air Spray.
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| 5 | 06JAN04 |
Added
several new references extracted from file C3905/2 VH/ECC Pts 1 &
2 (22) N.A.A., Chester Hill by Chris O'Neill.
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| 4 | 23JUL01 |
Added
to Canadian Register.
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3
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Added
LEAP details thanks to Pete Clukey.
Additional material thanks to John Wilson. Additional images thanks to Peter Gates. |
