Airliner Classics - July 2018

(Dana P.) #1

Turboprop Revolution
Qantas and the two major domestic carriers (Ansett
ANA and Trans Australia Airlines or TAA) also pressed the
Australian Government to purchase turboprop aircraft.
Qantas put forward proposals for the purchase of new
Lockheed L-188C Electras and the authorities looked
favourably on the proposal, which it considered the perfect
aircraft for use on the airline’s secondary routes. An initial
order was placed in March 1958 and the first aircraft arrived
in November of the following year.
Powered by Allison 501-D13 turboprop engines, the
aircraft were seen to be ideal for the airline’s medium stage
operations to the Far East, New Guinea and the Pacific
Islands. Operations commenced on December 18, 1959
when VH-ECA Pacific Electra departed Sydney for Tokyo's
Haneda Airport.


Fleet Modernisation
By now the ageing Constellation fleet was reaching the end of
its career. It had served the airline well but it was now outdated
and out of favour with the travelling public. On May 3, 1963
the time came to say farewell to this stalwart of the fleet and
when L-1049 VH-EAG Southern Constellation left Sydney for the
final time it was given a rapturous send off.
Like many other airlines around the world, Qantas became
interested in the new Anglo-French Concorde supersonic
airliner. In 1963 it entered into negotiations with the
manufacturers and while these talks went on for many years no
orders were ever placed.
Instead, Qantas opted to upgrade its fleet in other areas. In
December 1963 an order for the longer and heavier 707-338C
variant was placed. The aircraft could carry almost 12 tonnes
of cargo and the first example (VH-EBN City of Paramatta) was

Three generations of
Qantas airliner at rest
in Sydney in 1977 to
mark the retirement
of the DC-4.
Q    H 
C

VH-ECB was the
second of the initial
four Electras ordered
by Qantas in 1958
and was the f irst
to be delivered. It
was named Pacif ic
Explorer and was
retained by the airline
until 1967. It was
scrapped in Ecuador
in 1989 following
an accident while in
service with nation’s
air force.
KEY C

T • Douglas DC-4
VH-EDA was
acquired by Qantas
in February 1949.
It is seen here
operating the airline’s
final commercial
DC-4 f light in
Februar y 1977.
KEY C

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