VH-RMC
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| Type: | L-188A / L-188AF Electra |
| MSN: | 1044 |
| Previous Identities: | N1883 (#2) |
| Subsequent Identities: | N357Q |
History:
|
N1883
|
|
| 18MAR59 | The previous Electra to carry the registration N1883 (msn 1003) was de-registered on this date (subsequently becoming the Orion prototype). This means that the registration N1883 would have been available for re-allocation to Electra msn 1044 (later VH-RMC) as early as March 1959. This suggests that the future VH-RMC first flew (as N1883 #2) in March 1959. Prior to its sale to ANSETT-ANA, the aircraft was used for avionics testing by Lockheed. |
| 20NOV59 | Ordered by ANSETT-ANA. |
| 05JAN60 | Purchased by ANSETT-ANA |
| 28JAN60 | N1883 (#2) de-registered. (Source: John Davis) |
|
VH-RMC
|
|
| 05FEB60 | Handed over to ANSETT-ANA and registered VH-RMC same day. Departed Burbank via San Francisco, Honolulu, Canton Island and Nadi. To expedite delivery of this aircraft, additional crew were supplied by Lockheed to position the aircraft to Honolulu where an ANSETT-ANA crew were waiting. The Lockheed crew were Captains Davis and White and Flight Engineer Costa. They were assisted by ANSETT-ANA Navigator W.C. Kennedy. At San Francisco the flight was delayed by extremely strong headwinds. |
| 07FEB60 | Departed San Francisco for Honolulu, but an updated weather report received at the halfway point forced a return to San Francisco. En route to San Francisco, the crew were advised that San Francisco, Los Angeles and Burbank were now closed due to bad weather and that the nearest alternate was Las Vegas. En route to Las Vegas, Captain Davis took advantage of his local knowledge and was able to obtain a clearance for a visual approach to Burbank. |
| 08FEB60 | The flight resumed and succeeded in reaching Honolulu. |
| 12FEB60 | Arrived Essendon. Crew: Captains A. Lovell, D. Secombe and E. Mackay (also relief navigator), First Officer J. Delaney, Navigator W.C. Kennedy and Engineer C. Ford. |
| 24FEB60 | Entered service Melbourne to Sydney |
| 06JUN61 | Departed Melbourne for wing and engine mount modifications by Lockheed. Last Australian Electra to depart for modifications in USA. Routing via Nadi, Canton Island and Honolulu. Crew: Captains A. Lovell, R. Stanton and M. Wheaton, Navigator W.C. Kennedy and Engineer G. Lynch. |
| 12JUN61 | Entered LEAP as LEAP #166 ANA-3 |
| *23JUN61 | Returned to Essendon (Source: Ansett) |
| *30JUN61 | Departed Burbank via Los Angeles, Honolulu, Canton Island and Suva. (Source: Gil White) |
| *03JUL61 | Arrived in Melbourne. Crew: Captains M. Wheaton and U. Egerton, First Officer A. Groser, Navigator W.C. Kennedy and Engineer S. Smith. (Source: Gil White) |
| *05JUL61 | Completed LEAP (Source: Lockheed) |
|
*
|
Anomalous dates requiring resolution. |
| 27MAR68 | Became bogged at Rockhampton while taxying for take-off. Departed for Brisbane on 29MAR after one engine and prop were changed. (Source: Australian Air Log March 1968) Picture |
| 30JUN69 | Returned to Brisbane with hydraulic problems |
| 27OCT69 | Noted at Essendon after overhaul and repaint in Ansett Airlines of Australia colours |
| 18DEC69 | Registered to ATI |
| 06MAY71 | Operated last passenger service |
| 08NOV71 | Departed Melbourne for conversion to L-188AF freighter by Lockheed, Ontario, California. Planned route was Melbourne/Port Moresby/Wake Island/Honolulu but a failed generator necessitated a diversion to Brisbane where the problem was rectified and the flight resumed. Crew: Captains K. Hants, A. James and B. Porter, Engineer G. Lynch and Navigator B.S. McEwen. |
| 12NOV71 | Arrived Ontario. |
| 30MAY72 | Arrived Melbourne from Port Moresby after conversion completed. Known crew: Captain A. James and Engineer W. Ross. |
| 31MAY72 | Returned to service |
| 11JAN82 | Rolled out in the new Ansett colour scheme. (Source: Gil White) |
| 31JAN84 | Last service AN1403 Cairns-Brisbane-Melbourne (arrived Melbourne 01FEB84). Crew: Captain P. Macmillan, First Officer M. Zucal and Flight Engineer S.K. Finger. On departure from Cairns, the aircraft was given a water cannon salute by the fire service. |
| 29JUN84 | Sold to Turbo Power International |
| 14SEP84 | Cancelled from Australian register |
|
N357Q
|
|
| 20SEP84 | Registered to Turbo Power International as N357Q |
| 25SEP84 | Departed Melbourne as N357Q on delivery to Turbo Power International Airways. Routing: Sydney/Nadi/Pago Pago/Hilo/San Francisco. Crew: Captains S. Clark and D. Brown, Flight Engineer J. D. Norton, Navigator B.S. McEwen and Engineer W. Clow. |
| 09OCT84 | Seen at Miami, Florida with CAM Air International titles |
| 09JAN85 | On
approach to Kansas City Downtown Airport, the aircraft executed a
missed approach. During the subsequent circuit, the air traffic controller
cautioned the aircraft that it appeared to be lining up on the nearby
Fairfax Airport. The aircraft initiated another missed approach with
a steep climb to 3,100 feet. The aircraft stalled and entered a steep
descent, impacting in a public water treatment plant. An examination
of the wreckage revealed no evidence of an airframe or powerplant
problem. Also there was no evidence that the cargo had shifted. The
three crew were killed. [Extracted from NTSB report DCA85AA009] |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | 28DEC22 | |
| 18 | 05DEC22 |
Added
a slideshow.
|
| 17 | 06AUG22 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC thanks to Eric
Allen.
|
| 16 | 07NOV21 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC as a freighter
in 1983 thanks to Peter Gates.
|
| 15 | 29NOV20 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC as a freighter
in 1981 thanks to Peter Gates.
|
| 14 | 01DEC19 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC bogged at Rockhampton
on 28MAR68 thanks to Peter Gates.
|
| 13 | 20OCT19 | |
| 12 | 19OCT19 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC thanks to Peter
Gates.
|
| 11 | 23APR17 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC after the completion
of LEAP modifications at Burbank in 1961. Thanks to Pete Clukey
of Lockheed Martin.
|
| 10 | 30OCT16 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC in the Delta colour
scheme but with Number 1 engine still carrying Ansett-ANA markings.
Thanks to Peter Gates.
|
| 9 | 12JUL16 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC with Ansett markings
removed thanks to Geoff Goodall.
|
| 8 | 03APR16 |
Refreshed
page layout with no change to data.
|
| 7 | 07APR14 |
Added
furtherdetails of the incident at Rockhampton on 27MAR68.
|
| 6 | 15MAY12 |
Added
an image of VH-RMC at San Francisco
during its delivery flight thanks to Peter Gates.
|
| 5 | 06FEB04 |
Clarified
the first flight date thanks to John Davis.
|
| 4 | 29JAN04 |
Added
the date that the aircraft was ordered by ANSETT-ANA. Source:
Air-Britain Electra Monograph.
|
| 3 | 25JAN04 |
Added
crew names and details of delivery flight thanks to Gil White.
|
| 2 | 21MAR01 |
Added
LEAP details thanks to Pete Clukey
Additional material thanks to Fred Niven and John Wilson Additional images thanks to Peter Gates |
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