Queen of the sky makes graceful exit

[Old Farang]

Queen of the sky makes graceful exit | Flight Safety Australia (https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2020/07/queen-of-the-sky-makes-graceful-exit/)

A piece of Australian aviation history leaves our shores today, on its way to a Californian aircraft boneyard. It is the last flight of a Qantas Boeing 747.
At 2 pm, Qantas flight 7474 will push back for Los Angeles and fly over Albion Park Airport, south of Sydney, before crossing the Pacific for the last time. Two days later it is scheduled to make the short flight from Los Angeles to an aircraft storage park in the Mojave Desert. The aircraft type that made international travel an affordable reality for millions of Australians will have gone.

Over 48 years and 11 months, Qantas operated 65 747s, accepting its first delivery in 1971. For several years beginning in 1979, Qantas was a 747-only international airline. And in 1989, a 747-400 made headlines for Qantas with a record-breaking non-stop London to Sydney delivery flight. In the 21st century Qantas was the only operator of the long-range 747-ER.

[Tote]

And they did this as well....
163146

Very cool and I'm pretty sure I flew to Santiago on VH-OEJ a couple of years ago

Regards,
Tote

[Old Farang]

Was that "Longreach" name on the side of the nose because of the range or the place?

[101RRS]

Longreach is the name given by QANTAS to that class of 747 - from 1989 in addition to their usual city names, all Boeing 747-400 aircraft carried the word "Longreach" as part of the livery.The actual name of the last 747 is Wunala (meaning Kangaroo) and it was delivered in 2003.

[Hugh Jars]

It was 'affectionately' known by another name by staff [smilebigeye]

[JDNSW]

Longreach was for years the HQ of Qantas.

[Old Farang]

And they did this as well....
163146

Very cool and I'm pretty sure I flew to Santiago on VH-OEJ a couple of years ago

Regards,
Tote

How this came about:

The secrets behind the flying radar ‘Roo

The secrets behind the flying radar ‘Roo | Flight Safety Australia (https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2020/11/the-secrets-behind-the-flying-radar-roo/)

[Hugh Jars]

Hahaha I know 3 of the captains, and the second officer personally [bigsmile][bigsmile]

The second officer is one of the funniest guys I've ever met. I remember meeting him for the first time at the Royal Aero Club Bankstown in 1989. I almost wet my pants at some of his jokes. A genuinely funny guy, and very clever.

"Basil" was my boss when I was doing pilot recruiting over there in the 2000's.
"Chocks" was an instructor at Bankstown many years ago.
Owen W was a cadet pilot at the college I was teaching at in the early 90's.

Small world!

[Old Farang]

Hahaha I know 3 of the captains, and the second officer personally [bigsmile][bigsmile]

The second officer is one of the funniest guys I've ever met. I remember meeting him for the first time at the Royal Aero Club Bankstown in 1989. I almost wet my pants at some of his jokes. A genuinely funny guy, and very clever.

"Basil" was my boss when I was doing pilot recruiting over there in the 2000's.
"Chocks" was an instructor at Bankstown many years ago.
Owen W was a cadet pilot at the college I was teaching at in the early 90's.

Small world!

Just in case it may be an even smaller world, and as it is Junior Grandpa's in question; do you know a Captain Dooley *****?
Famous (or infamous), for proposing to his wife over the PA from the flight deck!

[Hugh Jars]

Just in case it may be an even smaller world, and as it is Junior Grandpa's in question; do you know a Captain Dooley *****?
Famous (or infamous), for proposing to his wife over the PA from the flight deck!
Sadly, I can't say I do, mate. I've witnessed some funny PA's but never a proposal [biggrin]

[Old Farang]

Sadly, I can't say I do, mate. I've witnessed some funny PA's but never a proposal [biggrin]

He must be getting near retirement age by now. I met him in Bangkok in 1988 while he was still a first officer. His Father (Barry?) was a Qantas captain, and he said that he had flown with him from time to time. The last that I heard of him he was a 380 captain.

Are you still getting some time in? What has happened with the Sim sessions?