iscover
Matt Kelly shot ‘Retro Roo II’, VH-VXQ, at Avalon in 2017.
Traffic #395 | Jet movements at Qantas and Rex
2 comment
Hoo (Retro) Roo
Qantas’ iconic Retro Roo II, VH-VXQ, has been passed over to Flying Colours Aviation in Townsville to be repainted in the new standard livery. If you’re not clued in, Retro Roo II is, or was, a Boeing 737-800 that wears the 1959 Qantas livery akin to what was worn by the airline’s first Boeing 707 intercontinental jets. Retro Roo II was painted and unveiled in 2015 in celebration of the airline’s 95th year in operation. It joined a sister jet, Retro Roo I, VH-XZP, which continues to don the 1970’s-era Qantas livery of the airline’s first flagship Boeing 747s.
Alas, the retro colours on VH-VXQ had long been due for a touch-up. After nearly a decade in the sky, those who have seen Retro Roo II up close in recent years would tell you that the historic colours were severely chipped and peeling. As a result, VH-VXQ was ferried from Sydney to Townsville for repainting on Friday, 25 October, touching down just before 7:30pm after a 2-hour and 17-minute journey. Flying Colours Aviation welcomed the much-loved aircraft by posting a photo of it from the hangar. The photo was met with many anxious aviators curious to know the fate of Retro Roo II, and the company later confirmed that it had been tasked with returning the jet to the standard Qantas livery.
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Comments (2)
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Alan Hume
says:Such a shame that Retro Roo II is to be repainted in current Qantas livery. Since the B737 has the same tube and cockpit profile as the iconic B707, the retro scheme looks terrific on it. In true Qantas custom (nothing to see here, folks!), it may well be for the reasons you have given. Shame!
[email protected]
says:They should repaint the same historic livery. Unlikely to cost that much more than the official current livery but much more interesting.