VH-EDA Douglas
DC-4-1009
(c/n 42917)
The top three photos seen here
are images of this
Qantas DC-4 in various stages of its career with
the airline. All excellent
shots by Greg Banfield,
and all at Mascot. At the foot of the page is a color
slide from the Ken Watson
collection showing -EDA about to depart Mascot for Norfolk Island in
1967 resplendent with black radar nose, and amidst a cloud of smoke
emanating from the No. 2
engine. The above
shot , taken in January 1963 under some
nice cumulus
effect shows -EDA
as "Malayan Trader"
(see inset)
This
purpose-built DC-4 was delivered new to Western Air Lines in
1946. It was then purchased by
ANA in April 1947 as the first VH-ANF, before
being
seconded to BCPA a year later as VH-BPC.
Qantas acquired it in 1949 when it was
re-registered
VH-EBK. It was re-registered VH-EDA in 1959.
By 1966 it had acquired a new livery as
well
as a new name (immediately below, with accompanying inset)..
Finally, just before being withdrawn from
use
by the airline it is seen in 1976 with jet-age livery and radar
nose (bottom of page), although still
retaining the name "Pacific
Trader".
It was purchased by Air
Express in Australia in 1977 (who also
operated as Kwikasair ) and then went to
Basler Flight Service in
January 1980 ostensibly as N5581T*. Three
pictures
of it in Air Express, Kwikasair and Basler
titling
appear on a seperate page. Finally, at the
end
of 1981 it was
sold to Calm Air
International becoming
C-GPFG.
As
such it was damaged beyond repair after
under-shooting a landing at Hidden Bay,
Saskatchewan on 16
June 1987.
*
VH-EDB was to have become N5581S and -EDA N5581T. Either
originally in Melbourne, or some-
where
along the way, these got reversed and -EDA wound up as N5581S and
-EDB as N5581T.
