Tag Archives: Illawarra Regional Airport

QANTAS signs over VH-OJA to HARS, it may be used for upcoming movies

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) yesterday (March 14) signed over the paperwork of its first Boeing 747, 400, the pictured 747-438 VH-OJA (msn 24354), to the Historic Aviation Restoration Society (HARS), a week after it was flown to Illawarra Regional Airport for permanent display. The Jumbo may be used as a future movie set.

Top Photo: QANTAS Airways. VH-OJA touches down for the last time at Illawarra Regional Airport.

QANTAS issued this statement:

QANTAS on March 14 did a ceremonial sign-over of its historic 747 aircraft VH-OJA to the Historic Aviation Restoration Society, seven days after it touched down in spectacular fashion at Illawarra Regional Airport.

Gareth Evans, CEO of QANTAS International, together with the QANTAS pilots that delivered the aircraft, joined thousands of locals at the HARS Open Day to host tours of the historic 747 where it featured on display for the first time.

Above Photo: QANTAS Photo. The final flight crew of VH-OJA.

It is the only 747-400 type of aircraft to be on public display anywhere in the world and is already proving to be a popular tourist attraction for the region, with hundreds of locals wanting to get up close and personal with the “Queen of The Skies”.

While in retirement the aircraft is also set to begin a new career as a movie star.

QANTAS gets approached on a regular basis for access to its fleet for filming purposes which is challenging to facilitate with most of the aircraft in the air. Having a static 747 on display at HARS provides an opportunity to support filming requests.

Using the historic 747 as a film set, has the potential to bring a number of additional tourism benefits to the region including catering, accommodation and casting from the local area.

QANTAS will facilitate a location visit as early as next month for a scout to tour the HARS facility and OJA. The museum already attracts filming interest due to its vast collection of historic aircraft and the addition of the jumbo jet will provide even further opportunities.

Gareth Evans said: “It is terrific to see OJA at her new home at HARS. It’s clear this iconic Qantas aircraft is in very good company alongside their fantastic collection of historically significant aircraft.

“We are confident the team at HARS will preserve OJA with great care for future generations of Australians, whether here at HARS or up on the big screen.”

Below Photo: QANTAS Airways. The ceremonial hand over of the “keys” of VH-OJA.

QANTAS Airways aircraft slide show:

Video:

QANTAS Airways delivers its first Boeing 747-400 to its final resting spot

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) yesterday (March 7) flew the pictured Boeing 747-438 VH-OJA (msn 24354) to its final resting spot in Australia. VH-OJA was delivered on August 11, 1989. The airline issued this statement:

QANTAS’ first Boeing 747-400, celebrated for having flown the longest commercial flight in history, made its shortest and final journey today when it landed at Illawarra Regional Airport, where it is set to become Shellharbour’s first jumbo tourist attraction.

After less than 15 minutes in flight, the specially numbered QANTAS Flight ‘7474’, scheduled to touch down at 7:47am, was delivered to its new home with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) where it will become the only Boeing 747-400 in the world to be put on public display.

QANTAS Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said donating the aircraft to the HARS museum will provide not only a great tourist attraction for the Illawarra region, but also an opportunity to preserve an important piece of Qantas’ and aviation history.

“Having graced the pages of the record books, revolutionised air travel for Australians, marked a huge technical feat for Qantas and carried millions of passengers on their global adventures and home again, our Boeing 747-400 “City of Canberra” is very deserving of a graceful retirement as the star attraction at one of Australia’s most prestigious aviation museums,” said Mr Joyce.

The delivery flight from Sydney International Airport to Illawarra Regional Airport was the first time a Boeing 747 has landed at the regional port. The QANTAS pilots operating the final flight worked with industry stakeholders on a number of approvals and training procedures given the flight was outside normal QANTAS operations to a non-QANTAS port. A number of considerations were factored in to the preparations including ensuring the appropriate ground handling equipment were positioned at Illawarra Regional Airport for the arrival and giving the aircraft livery a “Permaguard” coating to protect the paintwork for many years to come.

The aircraft interior was also given a full “spruce up” with the only items removed from the aircraft being the Qantas Flight Operations manuals in the cockpit, the galley carts that store in-flight meals and the fresh flowers in the lavatory. Three of OJA’s Rolls Royce engines still have significant life left in them and will be used on other QANTAS Boeing 747s. One engine will be left on OJA, with QANTAS and HARS working on sourcing suitable replacements over time.

Over the past few years, Qantas has been gradually retiring its older Boeing 747s. Nine of its newest jumbos, the last of which was delivered in 2003, have been refurbished and will continue flying into the future. Since 2008, the QANTAS Group has taken delivery of almost 150 new aircraft, lowering its fleet age to an average of just over seven years.

The aircraft will join an impressive lineup of famed aircraft located at HARS including a Lockheed Super Constellation, Catalina, Douglas DC-3 and DC-4 and a Desert Storm US Army Cobra.

The official handover will take place on March 15, 2015 to coincide with HARS monthly open day weekend.

QANTAS Boeing 747-400 “VH-OJA” facts

Years in service

13,833 flights (excluding the final delivery flight)

106,154 flight hours

4,094,568 passengers carried

This aircraft has flown nearly 85 million kilometres, which is equivalent to 110.2 return trips to the moon

“VH-OJA” was QANTAS’ first Boeing 747-400 aircraft and was named the City of Canberra

It was delivered to QANTAS on August 11, 1989 and made its debut flight on August 16, 1989 from London to Sydney

On Thursday August 17, 1989, it set the record for having flown for the longest distance (non-stop London to Sydney) and time over distance by a commercial aircraft. The time over distance record still stands.

All of QANTAS’ Boeing 747-400 aircraft were named ‘Longreach’ as a tribute to our place of origin and to demonstrate the long-range of the aircraft.
QANTAS fleet facts:

Our first 747 was delivered in 1971; last in 2003.

A total of 65 Boeing 747s have been operated by QANTAS.

Between 1979 and 1985 QANTAS was an all-747 airline.

There are 297 aircraft across the QANTAS Group.

Average fleet age 7.2 years.

QANTAS currently has 12 Boeing 747s; 9 of which have been reconfigured and will be kept beyond FY16.

Videos:

The final flight of QANTAS’ historic Boeing 747-438 VH-OJA will be on March 8

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) has confirmed its plans to ferry its first Boeing 747-400, the pictured 747-438 VH-OJA (msn 24354), on Sunday, March 8 to the Historical Aviation Restoration Society (HARS) facility for on-going display. VH-OJA will be ferried to Albion Park (near Wollongong) at the Illawarra Regional Airport as flight 6121 from Sydney. The last flight is expected to take around 20 minutes.

QANTAS Airways aircraft slide show: