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Qantas has begun the long goodbye for aviation’s most iconic figure, the Boeing 747.
The finishing tape has been set for 2020, the year of the airline’s centenary.
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Stephen Boyce
says:it will be interesting what Qantas uses to replace the boeing 747 for project sunrise whether QANTAS orders a350-100ulr or Boeing 777-8 is the one i like then Boeing 777-9 to replace airbus a380 but airlines like Cathay Pacific and Singapore have A350 ansd Boeing 777-9 on order so Qantas can do the same thing but having the same fleet manufacurer will be easier to contend with
Ron Bohm
says:I was an Apprentice when the first 747 arrived, there was a parade going past the Avro comprising of DC3, DC4, Electra, Super Connie, 707, it was a very important day for Qantas and its employees being a part of that day one I know I will never forget, I would like to be there for the last 747 in the Qantas Fleet a sad day and a lot of History…
Francisco Miguez Vaca
says:Come 2050, and I guess there might be perhaps just a few 747s still flying around as freighters. It has a truly well deserved place in Aviation History.
Mick C
says:Tickets will be very scarce for the last flight, remember when the Jumbo was the only Jet flying under the Flying Kangaroo.
William Jenkins
says:OCTOBER 1976 I was invited to take a journey a new 747 from SYDNEY TO VANCOVER a long journey Nandi’Hawaii’L A’ San Francisco’ then Vancouver wonderful journey . After three weeks touring around I decided to come home .I was upgraded to 1st class WOW the service was superb. I have along with my children never gone overseas unless it is with QANTAS
tropicalcat
says:I remember my first international flight. Many many years ago…
On a Pam Am 747 from Auckland to LA. Most vivid memory was of entering from the nose and beginning the long trek back to Economy past that Iconic spiral staircase…
Alan Bond
says:Yes,my wife and I have travelled on 747-400’s many times to LA and the 747-200SP to Manila prior to its withdrawal of service,most recently we have travelled to the USA on the A380’s with a very smooth flight we also travel on the A330-200’s & 300’s to Manila frequently,yes we will miss the queen of the skies when they do retire,one such retirement was the 1st 747-400 that Qantas has is now a museum exhibition at HASS at Albion Park south of Sydney,where we witnessed history being made when it landed on a runway not very long in distance but with a great crew on board they did it.
Rocket
says:“Qantas’s relationship with the 747 dates back to 1967, when it first ordered four 747Bs.”
No, this is NOT correct. Why don’t journalists these days do proper research???
Qantas ordered the 747-100 (would have been a 747-138) but when the ‘B’ model was announced, Qantas switched its initial order for 100 series (x4 aircraft) to the 747-200B (-238B) instead.
The -SPs were slots on the production line offered to Qantas when the sanctions were placed on Iran after the 1979 hostage taking, the spots on the line were originally to be 747-SP-86s but were manufactured as 747-SP-38 when Qantas took the spots over.
The last 707-338C was retired in 1979 NOT 1978 – the last flight was from Wellington to Melbourne – these facts are not hard to find, which is seriously sad when an article like this about such an iconic aircraft is riddled with mistakes.
AlanH
says:Does Alan Joyce’s comments about “2 engines good, 4 engines bad”, mean that the A380 is on its last legs with Qantas too? Could be! And given that the B747-400ER flies the Sydney-Joburg and Sydney-Santiago trips on the southern great circle route (almost reaching the Antarctic continent in the process) will the B787-9s be forced to take a more northerly route, because of ETOPS and all that (esp with the current furore over the RR Trent engines)?
Gerard
says:I’m reading this a few months later, but Qantas has cancelled their options on further A380s and stated that they won’t be buying any more. That said, they’ve got about 15 years of life left in them so last-legs is a bit of a stretch. I admit I’m not sure sure about the ETOPS issues with the 787s, but as they’re sending A350s over the north-pole these days I’m wondering if the regulations have changed. LAN do the flight with 787s but I’m not sure of the route. If someone knows I’d be interested.
Craigy
says:I remember my first B747 flight. As an unaccompanied child flying from Port Moresby to Sydney in 1977. Qantas upgraded me to First and in those days the lounge upstairs was still open. Fond memories as I was invited into the flight deck and was well taken care of by the crew.
John Harrison
says:Yes my 1st B747 flight was on Qantas B747-238B (VH-EBA) from Sydney to London (I worked for Qantas London in those days) Since then have flown in every Qantas B747 model including the B747SP. Loved every minute of it. Having since flown dozens of B747 legs, will miss the old bird. Good to read Qantas will be putting a B747-438 on the SYD-PER flights for awhile, I’ll will have a flight for sure, last flight maybe. Thanks Boeing and Qantas for all those wonderful flights (and in all classes too !!)
David Fix
says:What a great aircraft the 747 is I will really miss it.
Tony G
says:Please paint a couple in retro schemes before they go.
MERVYN CROWE
says:YES WE WILL ALL (EXCEPT THE ACCOUNTANTS) BE SORRY TO SEE THE 747 LEAVE QANTAS SERVICE AND THE REMAINING AIRLINES. HAD MY FIRST FLIGHT IN ONE IN JULY 1971 PANAM LAX/LHR AND MY LATEST IN 2014. FORTUNATE TO HAVE ALSO HAD MANY JUMPSEAT TRIPS IN THEM, A MAGICAL FLIGHT DECK. THE 747 STILL TURNS HEADS WHEN IT APPEARS, THERES NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT.
Paul
says:I flew over 13000 hours as a pilot on 200,300 and 400 series 747. An aircraft that was so nice to fly, so reliable and redundant systems that never let you down. My memories of this Queen will always be treasured and she will be sadly missed.
Michael
says:I remember the day I, with the help of others that I took that photo of the 2 aboriginal painted aircraft, we used a Qantas cherry picker at max height for the job. Both aircraft were in for maintenance at the same time “very rare”, so just prior to one aircraft being towed to the SIT to commence it’s service we positioned the cherry picker near Lake Gaunt and took the shot, I still have the original negative somewhere!! I have not seen any other photos of these two aircraft side by side.
Alan Joyce why not on the day of the airlines centenary, have the last 747 leave then – with those who worked on the 747 form a guard of honour to this mighty revenue raiser for Qantas????
Mac Carter
says:Love the photographs accompanying this feature.
Sad to see such an iconic aircraft withdrawn from revenue service.
Hopefully the remainder of the fleet wont end up in a dismantlers yard.
Another life converted to freighter might be considered.
Possibly one could be preserved as a flying museum exhibit.
Alan
says:Atlas Air also operate B747-400 (ex JAL frames) passenger aircraft into Rockhampton on military charters, operating two flights here in June for Operation Hamel. This military operation continues yearly, so we should see these flights continue for a bit longer.
Ben
says:Wasn’t it amazing how the 747 looked immediately dated the moment the A380 touched down? Credit to Qantas for upgrading the interiors of their 747 fleet, putting the new style business class seat from the A380 in some of the 747s. But, the fleet was tired and old – I took a flight to JNB on QF63/64 December 2017 – I made a comment to the cabin crew member about the age of the aircraft and he replied: “not only that, this is the oldest one we have c1989” or something like that! Imagine the metal fatigue!! I was a little concerned!
Angus Webster
says:Hi Ben,
It could be worse – imagine being ‘rescued’ by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules, approaching 50 years old – and expected to remain in operation until 2025. I think I would take my chances and remain on terra firmer! (and the more firmer the less terra).
PAUL
says:Yes but the Kiwi Hercs have had their winds rebuilt plus new avionics – I was in an AirNZ B777-300 taxying out & saw a Qanta B747 taxing as we turned onto the runway & marvelled at how impressive & unique the Jumbo still looks. Would be good to see more airlines operating the 747-8 which is a superior machine using 787 engines & wings.
Tracy Wright
says:Just flew on the final Quantas 747 flight from Brisbane to LAX yesterday Sept 22nd. Felt bad for the pilot and crew, but everything always comes back to the almighty dollar.
Peter Briant
says:Isnt there anyway possible QANTAS can have their last 747s stationws/displayed at the major airports? I flew in my first 747 (400) in 1989/ QF 93 to LA, Couldnt get the smile off my face for the first hour. I was on my own,..I must have looked like a real goose!! haha
Ronald Johnston
says:I have flown to London 16 times from memory, 14 of those with the Kangaroo, only once by 707.
The seats I chased, 70,71,72,73, A,B,J&K.
Qantas staff are exceptional!! Love that reliable old Jumbo!!
Stuart lawrence
says:I love the Qantas 747 and flew on the 400 and 200. In 1977 qantas 747 200 t0 HNL and 1978 747 200 SIN MEL SYD and in 1980 747 200 to CHC and AKL to SYD. In 1994 747 400 from London singapore and then to sydney. In 2016 LAX to JFK on 747 400 and from SFO to SYD. I reckon a few 747 800 on long haul to london would do
Mark
says:My Father Bruce Costello was the sole Flight Engineer on the first 747 Delivery flight. Not sure if he is the only surviving member of the delivery Crew. His is now 96years old in and in a wheel chair, but would love to be able to show him the las Landing of his Last Aircraft he help fly. Is it possible to get updates?
Peter Lewis
says:Just wondering what (if anything) will do the annual Antarctic flights to replace the 747. I’m thinking the only capability is with an A380 but would that work??
Michael Andrew
says:Come on Alan,
Do something memorable for those who looked after the 747 fleet, from cleaners to the pilots, the bag chuckers and the toilet truck drivers, the fabric girls the caters, the maintenance workers and painters. With the current shit storm we are in we ex 747 custodians would like to be there for the last Qantas 747. We took great care of these Qantas aircraft and now knowing they are going to the scrappers is sad, I suppose not as sad as seeing the Qantas SP’s chopped up, 2 of only 3 ever aircraft with RB 211 engines.
ladysmt
says:Joyce is all gung-ho about the 787, but has he ever ridden in the middle seat (E) in the middle section at the back of the plane – row 50+? Has he even walked down the plane in flight to see this part? He had/has no feel for the Queen of the Sky. Does he not know that the first commercial flight of a Qantas 747 was in August 1971? Why is at least one kept to fly out with the fire engines spraying, a band playing, and crowds cheering and/or crying as she flies away? That would give the only plane type Qantas has had or will ever have that grace(d) the skies for 50 years her Golden Anniversary. Joyce knows the value of a dollar, but has absolutely NO feel for the company. Fly safely, lovely Queen, as you leave Australia forever.
Mark
says:Actually Qantas will have a 747 at August 2021 – admittedly a wet lease one – but a 747 nevertheless – maybe they can persuade Atlas to paint it with a Roo on the tail.