30 years ago today (Aug 16th) - First QF 747 delivery flight LHR-SYD
Aug 16, 2019 | 7:46 am
#1
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30 years ago today (Aug 16th) - First QF 747 delivery flight LHR-SYD
First Unrefueled Non-Stop Flight from England to Australia
Spotted this on great circle mapper and thought the QF forum would appreciate this important moment in the airlines history. I'm guessing future deliveries went direct from Boeing in Seattle.
(Mods- Feel free to move if this is covered in another thread)
Spotted this on great circle mapper and thought the QF forum would appreciate this important moment in the airlines history. I'm guessing future deliveries went direct from Boeing in Seattle.
(Mods- Feel free to move if this is covered in another thread)
Aug 16, 2019 | 2:40 pm
#2
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ISTR is was nothing normal. Supposedly RR kitted it out with good engines, it had special ATC clearances throughout, was towed to the runway (?), minimal load etc. Certainly not a commercial flight as we know it. Apparently it was touch and go whether the flight would be abandoned short of its destination due fuel. I think Aust Aviation did a good article on it.
Aug 16, 2019 | 5:10 pm
#3
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This was exactly 17 years after Qantas took delivery of its first 747 (a 747-238B).
The 747 clocks up 47 years in the Qantas fleet (Aug 16, 2018) - Australian Aviation
I don't think the dates (Aug 16th) were a coincidence.
Last edited by serfty; Aug 17, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Aug 17, 2019 | 12:13 am
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Aug 17, 2019 | 12:16 am
#6
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AIUI
SCL goes to double daily 787 (half of those on LA, 3-4 of which are via AKL the rest direct)
JNB will be a daily A380
HND was slated to be a 380 but apparently the airport has said no, havent heard any more since
any other dedicated 747 routes?
(sorry a bit OT)
Aug 17, 2019 | 12:16 pm
#9
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The most important question of course is are we having some kind of *do* for the retirement of the thing. I am quite sad about it having worked my entire (brief) aviation career on it and thus have been trying to align my travel with it for the last couple of years and will be attempting another flight deck visit on the way back from joburg in a couple of days time
can we have a party please?
(I will ask questions about dates although my information last time was not entirely accurate)
can we have a party please?
(I will ask questions about dates although my information last time was not entirely accurate)
Aug 17, 2019 | 2:51 pm
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Aug 17, 2019 | 3:01 pm
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Aug 17, 2019 | 3:07 pm
#12
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ISTR is was nothing normal. Supposedly RR kitted it out with good engines, it had special ATC clearances throughout, was towed to the runway (?), minimal load etc. Certainly not a commercial flight as we know it. Apparently it was touch and go whether the flight would be abandoned short of its destination due fuel.
It would have been a pity, though, if after all of that planning and preparation, the stronger-than-forecast winds had led to the flight having to divert for fuel reasons.
Aug 17, 2019 | 4:39 pm
#13
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Even the fuel was special. And yes, the aircraft was towed to the runway and only started its engines after that.
It would have been a pity, though, if after all of that planning and preparation, the stronger-than-forecast winds had led to the flight having to divert for fuel reasons.
It would have been a pity, though, if after all of that planning and preparation, the stronger-than-forecast winds had led to the flight having to divert for fuel reasons.
Aug 17, 2019 | 6:22 pm
#14
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The aircraft was a 747-438.
This was exactly 17 years after Qantas took delivery of its first 747 (a 747-238B).
The 747 clocks up 47 years in the Qantas fleet (Aug 16, 2018) - Australian Aviation
I don't think the dates (Aug 16th) were a coincidence.
This was exactly 17 years after Qantas took delivery of its first 747 (a 747-238B).
The 747 clocks up 47 years in the Qantas fleet (Aug 16, 2018) - Australian Aviation
I don't think the dates (Aug 16th) were a coincidence.