Something to look forward to... (VH-XZP QF Retro Livery)

[Rowan McKeever]

VH-XZP, due to arrive in Oz on 19 November, will be wearing a retro scheme celebrating 70 years of the flying kangaroo.

http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/10/qantas-to-unveil-retro-livery-on-75th-737-800/

[Jaryd stock]

Should be the Ocher 70's/80's livery! But it still will look good!

[Alex Ch]

75th aircraft in the current fleet presumably.

The 100th was delivered last year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsDrhBsJy40&list=UUUS_IE2XRoSvAiaKzOql21g

[Ray P.]

I'm thinking; 75th B737-800 vs last year's 100th B737 (including -300, -400 and -800 variants)

[Alex Ch]

Spot on, Ray. A quick count of the current -800 fleet shows that to be correct, including the ZK regos.

As much as I applaude the retro scheme, the choice of aircraft seems a little strange given the 737 didn't 'join' the QF fleet until 1993 and obviously never flew in a retro scheme.

Maybe it was chosen because it would look similar (the front cross section anyway) to the 707. I think the retro scheme would look brilliant on a 744.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Here it is (https://www.flickr.com/photos/8thnotchphotography/15754814492/in/photostream/) and it looks great.

[JamesL]

I love it!

[Rowan McKeever]

I'll admit, I was hoping it wouldn't be this colour scheme, BUT I love it!

[Daniel M]

Love it, looks killer !

[Mark C]

That is very nice.

[Greg Hyde]

http://yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?p=91693#post91693

[Grahame Hutchison]

High Res image download available from Australian Business Traveller (http://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-to-unveil-retro-livery-on-boeing-737) - this will be a very popular retro livery.

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/ABT Qantas VH-XZP Retro 1200x800.jpg

[Greg Hyde]

Not sure if this photo was Photoshopped or taken before the name was applied. The name was on the aircraft for the first flight.

Qf were trying to keep the name secret but it could be easily read on the ff images.

[Kent Broadhead]

Now we just need a TAA retro - but which scheme? :)

[Sarah C]

Greg, can confirm the name was photoshopped

[Greg Hyde]

Christening ceremony by Johnny T. on tonight's news.

[Grahame Hutchison]

The name is "James Strong".

[Greg Hyde]

http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/11/qantas-takes-delivery-of-its-retroroo-737-2/

Get your cameras ready expected in Sydney on Wednesday

[David Heath]

I'd also like to know when the first revenue flight is. I heard it might be on Thursday(?)

[Rowan McKeever]

Thursday according to QF's press release this morning.

http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-unveils-70s-retro-livery-on-new-aircraft-celebrating-the-best-of-the-past-and-future

[Rowan McKeever]

She's on her way, currently an hour from landing at HNL.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHXZP

[Rowan McKeever]

After a stop of just over an hour, she's on her way to NAN now :)

[Greg Hyde]

I'm a bit late but from Puget Sound:

VH-XZP B737-838 Qantas Delivered
L/N 5164 C/N 44577 B737-838 VH-XZP QANTAS
Dep BFI 08:33 PST ETA HNL 12:10 HST
Call Sign QFA6024 Hex Code 7C7803

[Greg Hyde]

its here

http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/11/the-qantas-retro-roo-touches-down/

[Robert.M]

Revenue flights will start from the 20th November.
https://twitter.com/Qantas/status/534888840348315648

[Grahame Hutchison]

Not the best day for photography (totally overcast and heat haze), and on landing VH-XZP turned right onto Taxiway Alpha for the International Terminal
(presumably because of customs for the Pax). I really like the Retro 1971 Ochre livery, it is simple and clean, and somewhat significant, as VH-ZXP is the
75th and final B738 for Qantas. The aircraft has been named "James Strong", after the former Qantas CEO who passed away in March 2013.

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-XZP D300-20141119-020.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-XZP D300-20141119-022.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-XZP D300-20141119-028.jpg

[Noel White]

Thanks Grahame, enjoyed those photos especially the last one.

It's been a while since seeing those colours in front to that building.

[Grahame Hutchison]

If you like a little colour and movement, here is the 60 Seconds At Sydney (http://youtu.be/t9yrKGB6Bnc) video of VH-XZP's delivery arrival in Sydney.

[Rowan McKeever]

Great pics, Grahame!

I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse from 5C on board QF790 to ASP, she's a stunner! ☺️ Gotta say there was NO water canon salute...

[Greg Hyde]

Nice shoots, Grahame.

Pity about the weather conditions.

It think the whole fleet should be painted this way.

[Jamie D]

Im not a big fan of Retros but I have to say the XZP looks amazing, cant wait to see it in real life.

Also Graham your shots are awesome

[Kent Broadhead]

as VH-ZXP is the
75th and final B738 for Qantas.

Graham

As ever, thanks for the pics and the updates. Much appreciated (and everyone who does this, of course!)

Did I miss something about the 738s? Is this the last of the 1990s order, or has some other decision been made?

[Grahame Hutchison]

From what I have read Kent, VH-XZP was the last of the current orders, who knows where from here.

[Grahame Hutchison]

And for an interesting comparison, here is the Ochre livery back in the 1980s on the Qantas Boeing 747. The only differences appear to be grey paint on
the bottom of the B738 fuselage, rather than the polished metal, and the B747 had the registration in the Ochre window cheat line below the Australian
flag, rather than above the line and further forward on the B738. The B747 also had polished metal engines rather than white on the B738. More images (http://images.16right.com/?querytype=album&queryvalue=29)

B747SP VH-EAA departing Runway 16R in March 1981.
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-EAA NFTN-19810300-001.jpg

B747SP VH-EAA parked at the Qantas Jet Base in November 1981 - 33 years ago, no International Cargo facility, and look at the cars in the car park (Mazda
Capella, a 1965 Ford Falcon and a couple of Ford Fairlanes - not to mention the VW Conbi)
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-EAA NFTN-19811100-001.jpg

B747-238B VH-EBI braking after landing on Runway 16R in May 1980 - my cousin and I would sit on top of the wooden fence to photograph.
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-EBI NFTN-19800500-001.jpg

B747-238B VH-EBN taxiing on Golf for a Runway 25 departure in April 1983
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Images/displayimage.php?image=VH-EBN NFTN-19830421-001.jpg

[Grahame Hutchison]

Qantas just posted a video of the delivery flight and the ceremony in the hanger after arriving in Sydney. They unveiled a Red Bow Tie logo on the aircraft under the name "James Strong (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/qantas-honours-james-strong-adding-his-trademark-bow-tie-to-livery/story-e6frg6nf-1227128419929)", a trademark of the former CEO.

[Brenden S]

So much for first ops on the 20th!!!

[Greg Hyde]

Maybe of bit of miscommunication:

From the AA report:

"VH-XZP is due to ferry to Qantas’s Brisbane maintenance base on Wendesday evening ahead of entering scheduled service on Sunday."

http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/11/the-qantas-retro-roo-touches-down/

Which seems about right based on the previous delivery/service entry times.

[Terence W]

Thanks for the images Grahame - cool to see how things looked

[Grahame Hutchison]

Looks to be in service today, operating QF611 from Brisbane to Melbourne.

VH-XZP QF0611 22/11/2014 09:54 Qantas B737-838 Brisbane-Melbourne

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/VH-XZP First Service 20141122.JPG