Traffic #397 | Qantas 767F’s new life and Cathay 747s

Qantas 767F off to new charitable life in the US

Much like hundreds of young Australian pilots, the last Qantas Boeing 767 has officially departed Australia for the greener pastures of the US. The dedicated freighter aircraft, previously registered VH-EFR, had flown under Qantas’ freight arm Express Freighters since 2011, and before that, spent five years with Japan’s ANA. Of the 41 Boeing 767s that Qantas operated between 1985 and 2024, this final plane was the only 767-300F straight-to-freight aircraft that the Flying Kangaroo welcomed. After retiring its 767 fleet from passenger service in 2014, Qantas retained just one of its 767s to continue cargo operations – VH-EFR. The plane was quietly retired in May 2024 after 13 years of service and moved into long-term storage in Alice Springs.

It seems now the fate of this plane is sealed. After being axed from the CASA register, VH-EFR was transferred out of storage in Alice Springs on 7 March 2025 and ferried to Phoenix Goodyear Airport, via Cairns and Hawaii, landing one day later local time. The nearly 20-year-old jet appears to have been sold to a Boone, North Carolina-based charitable organisation by the name of Samaritan’s Purse, and re-registered as N367SP. According to the organisation’s website, they provide crisis aid – including food, water, shelter and medicine – to communities around the globe impacted by war, famine, and natural disasters. Currently, it has its own fleet of four cargo and mixed-use aircraft, including a Douglas DC-8-72CF, a Cessna 408C SkyCourier, a Boeing 757-225(PCF) and of course, now, a Boeing 767-300F. While it’s always sad to see a small piece of Australian aviation history being moved offshore, I’m sure we can all admit that it’s nice to know the sacrifice is for a worthy cause!

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