Wing Walking on a 747! – A Trip to Longreach, Australia


Looking up to the nose of the 747 at Longreach

This report features the following:


- Qantas Club Sydney (Domestic Lounge SYD T3)
- Qantas Boeing 767-336 to Brisbane in Economy
- Qantas Club Brisbane (Domestic Lounge)
- QantasLink Dash 8 Q400 to Longreach, Queensland in Economy
- Albert Park Motor Inn, Longreach
- Qantas Founders Musueum, Longreach
- The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Longreach
- QantasLink Dash 8 Q400 to Brisbane in Economy
- Qantas Boeing 767-338 to Sydney in Economy


Background

Ever since I was a small child I’ve always been fascinated by the Boeing 747. Before the Airbus A380 came out, it was the largest commercial passenger aircraft in the world, and arguably remains the most loved. I can remember my first flight on a 747. I must have been about 10 or 11. My parents had surprised my sister and me by announcing a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando. They did this about a week before we were due to fly out (from Gatwick) so we were very excited! I’d only ever flown on short trips before, on single aisle aircraft. I don’t actually think that I was aware that we’d be flying on a 747 until we reached the gate. I remember being unable to comprehend the size of the thing, and I certainly couldn’t understand how it was able to get off the ground. It was a great flight, one of many to come on British Airways. I do remember my Mum speaking to the crew to ask if both my sister and I were able to visit the cockpit, which we did. There’s a Polaroid kicking around somewhere of us all in the cockpit, in flight (unlikely to happen again anytime soon).
Roll forward 20 years and I've had the pleasure of sitting in every cabin on this fantastic aircraft but I haven’t been able to visit the cockpit again and certainly I've not had the opportunity to climb into one of the engines, get up close and personal or wander around the cargo hold. These are all things that I knew it was possible to do; I just needed to plan a trip to do it.

There are several locations around the world where an aviation enthusiast can explore a 747 including (the places that I know of):

- The Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget, France
- The Teknik Museum at Speyer, Germany
- Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach, Australia


I’d never managed to book a trip to the two locations in Europe during the whole time of living there, but now that I’d moved to Sydney, Australia and hadn’t made any plans for the Christmas break, the ideal opportunity arose to take a trip out to Longreach, the birthplace of Qantas.

I banded this idea around my friends and it turns out that there was a fellow enthusiast in the midst. So, it was to be, we’d take 3 days in December, between Christmas and New Year to travel out to Longreach, and fulfil a dream for both of us, to clamber all over a 747!


Why Longreach?

Well, Q.A.N.T.A.S. was founded at Longreach by Paul McGuiness, Hudson Fysh, Fergus McMaster and Arthur Baird, operating out of a hanger at the airport. The original hangar is still at Longreach today and forms part of the Qantas Founders Museum. The museum tells the tale of the founding and history of Qantas and has several aircraft in it’s collection, including the first jet aircraft for Qantas, the 707 as well as a 747-200 which was donated by Qantas in 2002.

If you’ve ever travelled on a 747 with Qantas, you might have noticed the word ‘Longreach’ on the side. Well, this is in reference to Qantas’ birthplace.


Longreach painted on every Qantas 747 in service

For me, the main attraction is the 747, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with this amazing aircraft and even walk out on to the wing!


Route



Longreach happens to be quite a small town, located in the middle of the Queensland outback, approx. 1200 km (740 miles) from Brisbane. Getting there from Sydney meant taking a flight to Brisbane and then connecting to a Dash 8 operated flight to Longreach, with a small stop in Barcaldine along the way.
Here is the full routing:

- Sydney T3 (Domestic) (SYD) to Brisbane Domestic (BNE): Qantas (QF), Domestic Economy (Y), Boeing 767
- Brisbane Domestic (BNE) to Longreach (LRE) via Barcaldine (BCI): Qantas (QF), Domestic Economy (Y), Dash 8-400
- Longreach (LRE) to Brisbane Domestic (BNE): Qantas (QF), Domestic Economy (Y), Dash 8-300
- Brisbane Domestic (BNE) to Sydney T3 (Domestic) (SYD): Qantas (QF), Domestic Economy (Y), Boeing 767



Sydney to Brisbane on Qantas

Just before the trip, it was Christmas, and just before that I had the pleasure of the company of Moomba for a couple of days before he headed off to be with his family for Christmas. I was lucky enough to convince my friend to take us out sailing on the harbour on Christmas Eve in his 23ft yacht. The weather was fantastic, beautiful sunshine, about 25 degrees and around 10-12 knots, perfect for a nice, relaxing sail. I think that it's fair to say that we all enjoyed it. Then Christmas happened. It was ok although I felt petty homesick. Australia just doesn't have the build-up that the UK does. I decided that next year I would fly home for Christmas.

Anyway, skip past boxing day, nothing much happened. On the morning of the 27th I was up nice and early, around 6am in order to catch the 08.35 flight to Brisbane. I'd packed a little the night before but still had a few last minute bits to sort out. I had already check in online the morning before, securing 23A at the front of the economy cabin on the 767 and then 3D near to the front of the Dash-8 to Longreach. Qantas doesn't allow seat allocation on the Dash-8 prior to check in, so I had to wait until then to select my seat. I advised my friend of my seat number but he wasn't able to secure seats near to me for himself and his wife, probably due to his lack of Oneworld status. Not that it mattered too much though, as we'd see each other before during and after the flight anyway.

It was a warmish day in Sydney, perhaps around 22 degrees by the time I was up. I was aiming for the 07.09 train from Milsons Point, changing at Central and getting me to the Domestic Airport at around 7.35. I scrambled out of my flat and made it to the train on time.


Milsons Point station


As you may expect on the day after Boxing day, there was hardly anyone around. I made the 07.09 train and after a quick change at Central, I arrived as planned around 7.35. Quite a few people had gotten onto the train at Central, armed with suitcases. I wondered if this was actually going to be a busy travel day.

After getting some cash out (thinking that it would be difficult to get cash at Longreach) I headed up the escalators to the check in area. As I'm sure you know by now, Qantas has replaced 'human' check in desks with electronic machines. These are pretty easy to use, and you can always go and see a real person at a real desk if you need to. There are plenty of Qantas staff roaming around to help people with the electronic machines if people are not familiar.


Flight information in the departure hall


Looking towards security

I checked in, using the machine, checked my seats and then printed my luggage tag. I've got the hang of this now, as the first time was quite tricky. I made my way to security and although it was quick I got the usual 'bomb' check. By 07.50 I was in the Qantas Club lounge and settled down towards the front of the lounge where there are views of the arriving aircraft, plus it's quieter.


My spot

I went off to the main food area to get some toast and apple juice, as I’d not had any breakfast yet. The Qantas Club offers a continental breakfast, with cereal, toast and pastries, fresh fruit and tea and coffee. The lounge wasn’t too busy, perhaps only around 30% full. I can’t imagine what it must be like on a Friday evening.


DIY toast


Toast and juice

As I sat, I was able to see a few longhauls come in, including a shiny looking Asiana 777 and a United/Continental 747 (in the new, ugly, boring livery).

It was getting close to boarding time, so I spent a few minutes wandering around the lounge taking some snaps. It can be quite difficult doing this, because a camera is always treated with suspicion. I usually attempt to get photos with people looking away, or buried in their newspaper. Full frontal face shots aren’t very polite!

As I have described previously, the lounge is rather large. It is separated into four or five main sections, including the central atrium which has the main food service area, reception, a small news agency, seating and the work centre. To the left and forward is the main bar with seats facing large screens showing the news and sometimes sporting events. Moving forward is the area where I like to sit, a large row of chairs, facing the runway. To the right is the children’s corner and then moving on down from that is the work centre. Moving further back is a large seating area and a second work area, bar and food service area. It’s a rather large lounge, comparable in size to the Melbourne Qantas Club.

Here are the photos:


Children’s play area


Looking outside, a 767 being pushed back


Central seating area and the news agency


The main food service area


The main bar area


Secondary (arguably bigger) work area


Large seating area, looking back into the lounge


Looking down on a 767 at a gate

At 08.20, I left the lounge and made my way to gate 3 for boarding. This was already underway and there was a long queue. Qantas has recently introduced priority boarding, however, it is only for Business Class passengers and those holding a Qantas Platinum or Oneworld Emerald card. As a BA Silver card holder (Oneworld Sapphire) I had to join the main queue.

The aircraft that I’d be travelling on today was VH-ZXA, the first ex-BA 767 to be received by Qantas in 2000.