VH-OJA City of Canberra going to Albion Park

[Rosco8]

For those that don't know, Qantas's 1st 744 VH-OJA City of Canberra that did London to Sydney non stop, will be doing a very short flight from Mascot to Albion Park to finish its days at their museum. It should be within the next 10 days and would be a 8 minute flight climbing to 4000ft, though may do a fly past over Sydney Harbour. Should be pretty spectacular. Quite a few Qantas people are planning to go down and watch it land.

[Scouse]

Thanks for the info, I'll try & get down there for the landing.


Any chance of a heads up for the definite date?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

HARS at Albion Park almost has more Qantas engineers than Qantas these days. It will be like coming home for OJA

[ramblingboy42]

I've seen reference to a 744 on here before.

Is it a special model of a 747?

[JDNSW]

I've seen reference to a 744 on here before.

Is it a special model of a 747?

Isn't it shorthand for 747-400?

John

[p38arover]

I believe it's planned for 15th March.

Pilots are practising in the flight simulator for the short runway landing - it's only 1839 metres long. They say landing it will be easy. Stopping it, however....

[Scouse]

It should be within the next 10 days


I believe it's planned for 15th March.That's quite a difference :(.


Pilots are practising in the flight simulator for the short runway landing - it's only 1839 metres long. They say landing it will be easy. Stopping it, however....It's only Albion Park - will anyone notice any damage if it overshoots?;)

[Bushie]

Short and probably not that wide. May prevent reverse thrust on 1 & 4 (or I could be wrong). Thinking they may be looking for a nice brisk southerly.

I believe the landing at Longreach (City of Bunbury) was also quite an undertaking.

Martyn

[p38arover]

I understood it will be delivered, if possible, on the March HARS open day.

[Scouse]

From here:
World's longest flight record-holder, Qantas 'City of Canberra' 747-400, retires (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/worlds-longest-flight-recordholder-qantas-city-of-canberra-747400-retires-20150129-1314lo.html)
the official handover is planned to be at the March open day.


From here though:
Qantas first 744 to make an amazing last flight into history | Plane Talking (http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2015/01/29/qantas-first-747-400-to-make-an-amazing-last-flight-into-history/)
it's the actual flight is planned for a day in early March but the exact day will be determined by the weather forecast so maybe they do need some stopping assistance as Martyn suggested.


The ABC today suggest it may be mid-March:
'Aviation nirvana' : Qantas captain prepares 747 to land at Albion Park Rail - ABC Illawarra NSW - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/01/30/4171125.htm)

[Rosco8]

I talked to one of the pilots scheduled to operate the flight yesterday before i posted. The official handover is 15th march but Engineering need to do a couple of days work before the handover.

The secondary issue is it has to land from the North, due to some sort of obstruction so if they landed from the South it would shorten the length of the runway, down from approx 1800m to 1300m. I think that the one into Longreach stopped in just over 1000m with heavy braking, quoted nearly put the pilots thru the window :D:D

He said it would likely be between 8th and 11th, and dependent on wind conditions. Length of runway is not a problem at 1800 but its 15m narrower than International wide body runways so I assume you wouldn't want to be fighting a heavy cross wind.

Once I hear the initial target day I will post as I plan in being there. But it may get cancelled on the day due to wind conditions. I assume media will be all over it as well, so I am sure we will get better information closer to the day.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I talked to one of the pilots scheduled ...
The secondary issue is it has to land from the North, due to some sort of obstruction so if they landed from the South it would shorten the length of the runway, down from approx 1800m to 1300m. ....That obstruction would be a mountain just south of the runway. They would have to do a touch and go on the top of the waterslide at the Jamberoo Adventure Park during their decent to the YWOL 16/34 Runway

[Rosco8]

'Plan' they are working I heard yesterday is 7:30am Sunday 8th March, Weather dependent. Its early because there will be road closures.

[V8Ian]

I believe the landing at Longreach (City of Bunbury) was also quite an undertaking.

Martyn
I'm led to believe they used every inch of the runway and the pilots had to leave their jackets and lunch in Sydney, to save weight. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDJOtwGUAcI

A sinking feeling for Longreach's 747 exhibit - ABC Western Queensland - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/02/17/3433486.htm)

Qantas 747-200 To Be Retired To Longreach Today ? Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/966260/)

[Rosco8]

QF 7474 is scheduled to Depart Sydney at 0730 and arrive Wollongong 0747 Sunday 8th March, weather permitting.

So VH-OJA holds the longest 744 flight and after this flight also the shortest. Luv' the Flight number and landing time :):)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Now not to be a doubting Thomas, but Boeing - King County International to Seattle-Tecoma International is only 5 nautical miles. You can bet that at least one B744 has made that BFI-SEA flight even though the actual flight was longer.

[JDNSW]

Now not to be a doubting Thomas, but Boeing - King County International to Seattle-Tecoma International is only 5 nautical miles. You can bet that at least one B744 has made that BFI-SEA flight even though the actual flight was longer.

Probably the shortest given a flight number though.

John

[V8Ian]

No room for error as Qantas prepares to land 747-400 at regional airport - 9news.com.au (http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/05/16/59/no-room-for-error-as-qantas-prepares-for-one-of-the-toughest-scheduled-landings-in-its-history)