Qantas 787

[Greg Hyde]

VH-ZNI is reportedly s/n 66073

(Cannot confirm)

[Peter C]

VH-ZNI is now in the Fuel Dock

http://www.paineairport.com/kpae17785tr.htm

[Greg Hyde]

VH-ZNI is reportedly s/n 66073

(Cannot confirm)

Can confirm that ZNI is 66073.

Added to reg on 23/09

[Peter C]

At 2100 GMT on 3rd, VH-ZNI as BOE277 is undergoing its first test flight.

[Dennis McLean]

Flight Aware is showing BOE277as a 788 ????

[Greg Hyde]

ZNI has been named "Kookaburra" not "Longreach"

https://twitter.com/JenSchuld

[Peter C]

Flight Aware is showing BOE277as a 788 ????

A search on flightradar24 for VH-ZNI identifies its first flight as BOE277. Also 277 is the correct 'Variable number' in the ZB sequence in the now updated spreadsheet - which confirms 3rd October as first flight.

VH-ZNJ won't be far behind, as it is now updated to "Undergoing Final Assembly" in position 4

[Peter C]

VH-ZNJ won't be far behind, as it is now updated to "Undergoing Final Assembly" in position 4

After further updates to the spreadsheet today, VH-ZNJ was rolled out on 1st Oct, now on Flightline for Pre-Flight Prep.

[Dennis McLean]

Thanks Peter Just had a look

[Peter C]

The third and final 787-9 of this year's Qantas order, VH-ZNK is now shown in Position 0 'Parts Arriving'

[James Smith]

It looks as though ZNI has had another test flight to Moses Lake as BOE277, now showing correctly on FlightAware as a 789. It landed about an hour ago at 22:41 GMT.

Photo at: https://twitter.com/JenSchuld

[Greg Hyde]

This was a C1 flight

If you look closely at the tail there seems to be an issue with the paint around the feet of the Roo.

[James Smith]

I also noticed the effect around the roos legs and put it down to sun glare on the fuselage as it was not apparent on the tail itself. Looking at an enlargement of the photo it is definitely a paint anomaly, possibly where an area has been scrubbed or had some work done, as the larger one is a defined shape.

Unfortunately, the first flight photo was from the starboard side but there is a photo from the same tweeter on 21 September which as far as can be seen does not seem to have the paint anomaly.

Is the C1 flight an acceptance flight, Greg? Could delivery be delayed?

[Greg Hyde]

The paint problem is on both sides of the fuselage and base of the tail.

It is hard to believe that QF would accept the aircraft if there is a paint issue.

[C Patters]

I'm guessing that some imperfections we're found on the paint work during the check & need to be addressed before Qantas take delivery.

[Dennis McLean]

I understand that flight QF7879, will arrive in SYD from JFK at 06.30am on 24 October on the first of the 3 789 test flights announced by Qantas. I presume it will be VH-ZNI.

[Greg Hyde]

It could be paint that has been "sanded" back to the "white" coat due to finish problems on both sides of the aircraft.

ZNJ was added to the register last week.

Based on previous deliveries you could expect a ff anytime soon.

[Peter C]

The spreadsheet now shows VH-ZNI is scheduled for delivery on 16th

[Greg Hyde]

ZNJ in the paintshop.

https://twitter.com/Qantas/status/1182151355491856388

Any guesses ?

Retro, Oneworld, 100th Anniversary ?

[Peter C]

ZNJ was added to the register last week.

Added on 4th with s/n 66074

As to the paint scheme, the masking visible in the short video suggests an all over one.

[Todd Hendry]

Project Sunset paint scheme?

[James Smith]

I think that they will paint ZNJ in an anniversary scheme showing a visual history of QANTAS over the past 100 years on the fuselage.

They have already painted a 789 in an aboriginal livery, there are no further retro schemes to use without doubling up (unless they use a TAA/Australian Airlines one!!!:)) and they wouldn't promote a One World livery like they have been.

The way that Alan Joyce is talking about the flight crew negotiations they wouldn't paint a Project Sunrise scheme without having a EBA actually signed off. Maybe that would be viable for ZNL in mid 2020 after Project Sunrise is in the bag with agreements and aircraft announcements.

[Brenden S]

Still a bare metal fueselage (Silver) and V Jet to go.

[James Smith]

V Jet with the red cheatline like John Travolta's 707? Mmmm.

Another possibility is if ZNJ is going to do the London to Sydney non stop Project Sunrise Research flight is to promote it on the fuselage.

[Greg Hyde]

Maybe called "Longreach" with Project Sunrise (around the world) livery

[Adam W]

James is correct. 100th anniversary scheme with the various logos used over the years.

[James Smith]

Thanks Adam. Any idea how ZNJ will look or the date the scheme will be revealed to the masses?

ZNI has been named "Kookaburra" not "Longreach"

Maybe QANTAS swapped the names around so that ZNJ could have a name to match the livery, particularly if it is going to fly non-stop from London to Sydney on its delivery flight.

[Greg Hyde]

Looks like 100th Anniversary

https://twitter.com/i/status/1183608418906587141

[Greg Hyde]

100th Anniversary Jet revealed

https://twitter.com/i/status/1183964756329353217

Looks like it has been named "Longreach"

[James Smith]

QANTAS has now posted a Media Release on the following URL which includes a number of photos of the details of the livery.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/gallery/centenary-livery-unveiled-on-newest-qantas-dreamliner/

I'd like to see a photo of what is on the starboard side - the same as the side revealed, other historical symbols or the normal QANTAS livery?

[James Smith]

Further stories on the ZNJ livery and the upcoming first Project Sunrise Research flight on ZNI due to arrive in Sydney on Sunday morning:

Airline Ratings: https://www.airlineratings.com/news/first-pictures-qantass-100th-year-787/

Australian Aviation: https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/10/qantas-unveils-boeing-787-9-painted-in-centenary-livery/

Australian Aviation is saying that:

The first of these research flights, which aimed to test different approaches to crew and passenger wellbeing for Qantas’s proposed ultra-long haul services, was due to occur on Friday, October 18, when 787-9 VH-ZNI was scheduled to fly nonstop from New York JFK to Sydney.

Flight QF7879 was due to take off from New York JFK at 2100 local time on Friday and land at Sydney at 0710 two days later.

I'll eagerly be monitoring this flight and the other two.

[Peter C]

Meanwhile production at Everett continues, with VH-ZNK now shown as undergoing final assembly in Position 1.

[Greg Hyde]

ZNI departed Everett is morning for LAX as QF6027.

The paint on the tail look better.

[James Smith]

Yes Greg, the paint around the kangaroo feet looks okay now. Jen Schuld is certainly proving her worth with her updates and fabulous photos and videos from Everett. The media is also using her Twitter posts.

ZNI must be getting some minor work done at the QANTAS maintenance facility at LAX before she heads off to JFK leading up to her flight home on Friday.

[James Smith]

I refer to your post (#477), Dennis where you were surmising the delivery dates of the last three 789s ordered by QANTAS, particularly the 12th aircraft ZNL, which will be needed for the daily flights to Santiago:

That means that ZNL, number 12 must arrive in June 2020? I understood that the last 3 were all arriving later in 2020.

ZNL, the 12th 789 for QANTAS, in now on the Boeing 787 production spreadsheet with line number 1019. This is a further 90 deliveries from ZNJ, line number 929, which was rolled out on 1/10/19. Based on the 2018 delivery numbers of 12 787s per month it will be 7.5 months until ZNL is rolled out, which equates to mid May, 2020. Given ZNIs conservative one month from roll out to delivery date this would give a delivery date for ZNL of approximately mid June, 2020, tight but in time to operate the first flight to Santiago on 24 June, 2020.

I have no idea of the delivery dates of ZNM or ZNN until they appear on the production spreadsheet and I can do some further calculations.

I appreciate that this is an approximate calculation and numerous issues could occur that delay production of the aircraft but gives an idea of the 12th 789 delivery date. I have done very conservative estimates and the delivery could be as early as the second or even first week of June, 2020, especially if the delivery rate is higher than 12 - it looks to be more like 12.5 for the first nine months of 2019 or the roll out to delivery time is less than a month, as I have seem for some 787s.

[Dennis McLean]

VH-ZNI is on the way. QF6027 departed PAE at 16.16 PDT 15/10 and arrived at LAX at 18.25 PDT, just over 4 hours ago. Looks like it will be a resident in LAX for a few days.

[Dennis McLean]

Hi James, thanks. I see that the spreadsheets have been updated again

[Erik H. Bakke]

ZNI must be getting some minor work done at the QANTAS maintenance facility at LAX before she heads off to JFK leading up to her flight home on Friday.

Do you know the expected arrival date/time back in Australia?

[Dennis McLean]

QF 7879, departs JFK at 21.00 on Friday arrives SYD 07.10am Sunday.

[James Smith]

Yes, the Boeing 787 production spreadsheet seems to be right on the knocker showing ZNIs delivery date as 15/10/19 - yesterday.

[Erik H. Bakke]

Thanks a lot, Dennis.

Perfect time...

[Greg Hyde]

It seems we weren't seeing things.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EG57Se0UYAAdk-K.jpg:large

Cherry pickers working on ZNI tail as well as several other aircraft.

[Dennis McLean]

There is no word yet as to when ZNI will be ferried from LAX to JFK. Anyone know??

[James Smith]

No sign on FlightAware as yet of VH-ZNI or QF6027 flying from LAX to JFK. Not sure if QF6027 will be the flight number used. If not? I'm keeping my eye on QANTAS Source as well.

To depart JFK at 21:00 on Friday local time (12 noon Saturday, Sydney time) with a 5 hour flight from LAX means that with a 2 hour turnaround ZNI needs to leave LAX in the next 13 hours.

[Max C]

QF7879 is the flight number to SYD.

[Greg Hyde]

James you might want to use Flightradar24 as well

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-zni

It seems to be better for overseas flights

[James Smith]

Thanks Greg. Yes, I have been using both but only Flightradar currently recognises VH-ZNI. I didn't want to miss the flight from LAX to JFK if QANTAS used another flight number than QF6027 or QF7879.

[Peter C]

VH-ZNI is currently positioning LAX to JFK as QF6027 - about 25% of the way across the USA.

[Noel White]

VH-ZNI QFA6027 just arr JFK

[James Smith]

ZNI has just landed in JFK with 3 hours until she departs as QF7879.

[Bob C]

An appropriate Flight Number for an historic occasion.

[James Smith]

ZNI as QF7879 is airborne from runway 31L at JFK for SYD at 21:27 NY time or 12:27 Sydney time. The pilots predicted a 19 hour and 5 minute flight.

Kennedy Ground wished the crew a good flight and hoped that they had plenty of pilots and lots of coffee on board. Love the ATC humour.

[Greg Hyde]

This is where Qantas hopes that there are no big news stories to knock this story off the top of tomorrows news.

Landing on a Sunday morning (slow news day).

Good speed to all involved.

[James Smith]

And hopefully no fog in Sydney on arrival, although the weather looks okay! Does anyone know if there are any journalists on board the flight?

[Greg Hyde]

Qantas takes Project Sunrise evaluation to 40,000ft

"invited media"

https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/10/qantas-takes-project-sunrise-evaluation-to-40000ft/

[Adrian B]

Currently near the Grand Canyon at FL 360.

According to FlightAware (https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHZNI/history/20191019/0100ZZ/KJFK/YSSY)

[Sean L]

Sadley, I won't make it to the landing. Anyone know when it will take off?

[Greg Hyde]

Sean,
Click on the flightaware link above.

One the left side is the "Took Off" details.

All times are shown as local time

[Sean L]

Sorry, I meant when is it taking off from SYD, not JFK.

[Michael Cleary]

Halfway point reached at approx 250nm SSE of Hilo, Hawaii. FL400. ETA SYD between 07:15 and 07:32 depending on the sources (FA or FR24).

[Todd Hendry]

Sorry, I meant when is it taking off from SYD, not JFK.

Landing????

[James Smith]

Sean, do you mean ZNIs next flight? We don't know that until we see it on one of the flight tracking sites. A 789 is needed for QF30/31 MEL-HKG-MEL on and from 2/11/19 but it may not necessarily be ZNI operating the first flight.

It will probably be put into service on one of the other 789 QANTAS routes in the meantime after a few days and could also operate a few domestic flights for the next 2 weeks.

[James Smith]

QF7879, ZNI has just commenced descent from 42,000 north-east of SYD. It and QF12 were quiet close together in the cruise and QF12 (41,000) has been vectored further east for separation. Not sure if ZNI will get any further ATC favours.

[Noel White]

Pilot's comment when calling SYD tower "Good to be here!"

[Noel White]

Landed at 07:43

[James Smith]

ZNI just landed on 16R at 7:43am after a 19 hour 16 minute flight. The Tower controller wished the pilots a good sleep. It is taxiing to cargo bay 3.

[Sean L]

ZNI just landed on 16R at 7:43am after a 19 hour 16 minute flight. The Tower controller wished the pilots a good sleep. It is taxiing to cargo bay 3.

Was there a water salute?

[C Patters]

Does anyone know when ZNI will enter commercial service?

[Dennis McLean]

ZNI is 10 minutes out of MEL as QF6027

[Greg Hyde]

https://7news.com.au/travel/new-york-sydney-non-stop-qantas-flight-c-513120

AJ called into Airbus on his way to NY.

[Radi K]

The A350 is going to win the Sunrise challenge. Boeing is dead in the water.

[Oliver Gigacz]

Wanna bet mate? Care to elaborate on "dead in the water"?

[James Smith]

ZNJ has made an appearance at PAE now that ZNI has had its time in the spotlight.

https://twitter.com/JenSchuld

[Radi K]

Wanna bet mate? Care to elaborate on "dead in the water"?

The Boeing 777-8 development has been put on hold.
The Airbus 350-1000 already has nine weight variants with different MTOW.
The A350-1000 put forward by Airbus has a 8,700nm range with a typical 375-passenger load.

The A350 has huge runs on the board with ULR variants already in service. Beyond Singapore, Qatar and other airlines are also already in talks with Airbus about new ULR models.

It is also is over 10% cheaper (list price).

I'd love to be wrong.

[Greg Hyde]

I agree that Airbus is the leader based on Boeing's current woes and its ability to have a aircraft ready and flying to meet QF delivery time frames.

Also to the above Boeing has:

- B737 MAX aircraft that are estimated to be grounded until 2020,
- B777-8 had a cargo door blowout during recent ground testing
- B777-8 has yet to fly
- B777-8 will have MORE THAN RIGOROUS/STRENUOUS certification process after the MAX debacle
- USAF are predicting that the KC-46A (B767 Tanker) will not be operational for at least four years due to at least 4 X CAT1 deficiencies. (A CAT1 deficiency is defined as affecting the aircraft and classified as an identified risk that jeopardises lives or
critical assets)

The A350 is flying and operational.
QF has some bargaining power based on the A321LR orders.

[James Smith]

Also problems with the B777-8 engines.

[Phil Stevens]

And the A350 is a super plane in which to fly. I have done London-Taipei-Sydney-Taipei-London in an A350, and really enjoyed all 4 sectors. Given a choice of airlines, I would go for the one using A350 rather than B787, and yes I have flown in both types.

[Kent Broadhead]

Phil - not meaning to go OT, but what did you see as the major differences? I've done multiple 787 sectors and find it quieter and smoother than the 777, but don't have my first A350 sector until Dec.

It is very difficult to see how Boeing can compete on Sunrise with the 777 variants given all the current issues.

[MarkR]

I have done a number of A350 trips in the various cabins of CX, MH and SQ over the past 18 months, in the case of SQ I actually found the 787 experience from the same airline much better. Some of the early delivery A350s are looking really ratty interior wise, of course some of that may well be airline dependant re cabin fitout, but toilets seem to be an issue with a number of A350 flights having U/S loos I have travelled on.

[Brenden S]

I have done 3 flights on the B787 and 1 on the A350. To be honest I felt that the A350 had more space in the cabin than the 787's did.

[MarkR]

NZ today announced direct JFK flights ex AKL, using 787-9 aircraft, no doubt QF will be watching that one closely!

[Phil Stevens]

Phil - not meaning to go OT, but what did you see as the major differences? I've done multiple 787 sectors and find it quieter and smoother than the 777, but don't have my first A350 sector until Dec.

It is very difficult to see how Boeing can compete on Sunrise with the 777 variants given all the current issues.

As much as anything, I think the effective air pressure might be better on the 350, as I felt more fresh after these flights than the 787. I was also conscious of the lower engine noise on the 350 compared to 330, whereas on 787 I did not notice it being significantly quieter than 777.

Personal choice ultimately, I expect.

[Greg Hyde]

ZNJ has moved to the Fuel Dock and commenced APU testing.

[C Patters]

Is ZNI scheduled to operate a service soon?

[Todd Hendry]

Dubai airshow may reveal some news.

[James Smith]

That's certainly an interesting teaser, Todd that us very curious spotters can contemplate for the next 24+ days, as the Dubai Air Show is on from 17 - 21 November, 2019.

Is the news to do with a visit by ZNJ, more orders for 789s, Project Sunrise winning aircraft and an order, new routes, 100th year celebrations, personnel changes or ???

[Todd Hendry]

That's certainly an interesting teaser, Todd that us very curious spotters can contemplate for the next 24+ days, as the Dubai Air Show is on from 17 - 21 November, 2019.

Is the news to do with a visit by ZNJ, more orders for 789s, Project Sunrise winning aircraft and an order, new routes, 100th year celebrations, personnel changes or ???

To be honest the rumours are varied. And don’t hold me to anything. They are only rumours and I’ll wait till I see anything before I believe anything.
Sorry I can’t offer more.

[Justin L]

NZ today announced direct JFK flights ex AKL, using 787-9 aircraft, no doubt QF will be watching that one closely!

NZ's flights are to EWR, not JFK ex AKL (but still to the New York market).

[Alex Lui]

It would seem VH-ZNI is doing its first revenue flight tonight.

QF95 is scheduled to leave from Gate 7

QF10 is scheduled to arrive at Gate 14A.

Normally QF10 turns around to either QF95 / QF49 but tonight they are from different gates.

[James Smith]

Great detective work, Alex. ZNI is indeed operating QF95 this evening from MEL - LAX as its first revenue flight and has just crossed the border into NSW.

[Peter C]

As to what Qantas is doing with it's extra 787-9 in the short term, it appears that one plane will provide a daily service to Hong Kong from Melbourne (QF29 / QF 30) from 1st November.

[James Smith]

Yes Peter. The 789 operates QF29/30 MEL - HKG and vv from 2/11/19 - 29/3/20 ex MEL. The aircraft will then be used on QF127/128 SYD - HKG and vv to replace the seasonal A380 on this route. See post #478 on page 48 of this thread for more information.

[Peter C]

Thanks James, thought I'd read that somewhere, just didn't have a start date.

So VH-ZNJ will arrive in time for Qantas to cover the new Sydney-Auckland 787-9 service between 4 Dec 2019 & 28 Mar 2020 ?

[Dennis McLean]

I understand that QF7879, VH-ZNJ, will arrive in SYD from LHR at 11.45am on 15/11. However, ZNI was due to arrive on 24/10 and came on 20/10. Seeing that Alan Joyce mentioned that ZNJ would go into service by the middle of November, I presume that it will arrive earlier than 15/11.

[James Smith]

Peter, QANTAS will take delivery of ZNJ and ZNK prior to commencing B789 SYD-SFO-SYD flights on QF73/74 from 4/12/19. With a 6:05 arrival and 17:55 departure from/to SFO, the AKL flights will operate when the B789 would otherwise be inactive during the day in SYD. The AKL flights QF141/144 will depart at 7:40 and arrive back at 15:45 with the flight sequence being SYD-SFO-SYD-AKL-SYD-SFO etc every day with the two B789s.

[Dennis McLean]

ZNI now taxing in LAX on QF16 for BNE

[Dennis McLean]

I meant taxiing not taxing!!!!!!!

[Peter C]

I understand that QF7879, VH-ZNJ, will arrive in SYD from LHR at 11.45am on 15/11. However, ZNI was due to arrive on 24/10 and came on 20/10. Seeing that Alan Joyce mentioned that ZNJ would go into service by the middle of November, I presume that it will arrive earlier than 15/11.

There have been rumours that this flight might depart London on 12 November to coincide with the Centenary of the departure of the first UK Australia flight in 1919 ?

[Peter C]

Peter, QANTAS will take delivery of ZNJ and ZNK prior to commencing B789 SYD-SFO-SYD flights on QF73/74 from 4/12/19.

Thanks James, I missed the announcement of this addition.

[Dennis McLean]

Just checked Boeing Test flights site, updated to 26/10, no sign of ZNJ moving yet

[Greg Hyde]

There was talk earlier this year of Alliance re-enacting the UK to Darwin flight with a Fokker. Since the 100th anniversary logo jet is already in Oz. Not sure.

Also QF might do a LHR to SYD direct for the anniversary ?

Since they had planned a LHR to SYD and another JFK to SYD test flight.

[Dennis McLean]

VH ZNJ as BOE278 is scheduled Monday 2.40pm PDT from PAE to Spokane to MWH to PAE. B1 flight.

[Dennis McLean]

Now changed to 2.45pm

[James Smith]

It looks as though ZNK is now in pre-flight preparation.

[Peter C]

VH ZNJ as BOE278 is scheduled Monday 2.40pm PDT from PAE to Spokane to MWH to PAE. B1 flight.

Now changed to 2.45pm

While the Test Flight spreadsheet shows the flight filed on 28 Oct PDT, the Deliveries spreadsheet shows it as occuring on 29 Oct PDT.

The FlightAware link from the Test Flight spreadsheet has conflicting Scheduled timings (and for the last two legs only), all of which are as of this moment in the past.

FlightRadar24 still has nothing, so 29 Oct PDT seems more likely.

[Dennis McLean]

BOE278 is on the way. Departed PAE for MWH at 12.57pm PDT, due back at PAE at 3.33pm PDT in 24 minutes

[James Smith]

BOE278/ZNJ is currently returning to PAE after its 2 hour and 5 minute flight to MWH.

Has anyone had any success with the webcam at PAE? It needs to be refreshed to get updated still shots. URL below:

https://www.painefield.com/133/Webcam

[James Smith]

I got a nice view of the port side of ZNJ on the still shot webcam at PAE as it taxied off the runway after landing. I'm still keen to see what insignia's are on the starboard side. Hopefully, Jennifer Schuld was there to capture a landing photo.

[James Smith]

I found a photo of ZNJ landing after its first flight:

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Qantas/Boeing-787-9-Dreamliner/5747019/L

[Greg Hyde]

ZNJ from every (nearly) angle

https://twitter.com/KPAE_Spotter

[Peter C]

The first cancellations of Qantas 787-9 flights in 51 days occurred yesterday - starting with VH-ZNC returning to Perth terminal without taking off for the Perth - London (LHR) sector of QF9.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/qf9#22a9f531

The QF10 London (LHR) - Perth sector departing 30 Oct was also cancelled (see Qantas Flight Status and FlightRadar24).

Today's QF10 Perth - Melbourne sector is being operated by VH-ZNC after it's over-night stop in Perth. This flight was delayed until after the arrival of the Emirates A380 (Qantas codeshare) flight EK420/QF8420 - linking from EK002/QF8002 - presumably with some priority passengers transferring from the cancelled QF10 flight.

[Brenden S]

That service has a pretty good track record. I think since it has been operating that is the 5th Cancellation.

[Greg Hyde]

ZNJ conducted her C1 test flight on 1/11/19 as BOE278

[James Smith]

ZNJ is now showing as ready for delivery by Boeing. It will possibly re-position to LAX for a few days, similar to ZNI, before flying to LHR for the non-stop flight to SYD. No flight showing for VH-ZNJ or QF7879 at this stage.

[C Patters]

ZNJ is just about to depart PAE on her delivery flight to LAX!

[James Smith]

Thanks for that Mr Patters. ZNJ is operating as QF6027 on a 4 hour and 55 minute flight to LAX, currently flying north-west from Everett. It must be flying the tourist route or doing some preparation for its non-stop flight from LHR on the way to LAX.

A cute post on Twitter of the impending delivery by Katie Bailey:

https://twitter.com/KPAE_Spotter

[Dennis McLean]

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I believe that ZNJ is expected to arrive in SYD from LHR around 11.45am on Friday 15/11 as QF7879. So that would give time for a few days in LAX like ZNI and the ferry to LHR.

[James Smith]

ZNJ has flown north-west over Vancouver Island up the Canadian inland passage for 1,100 kms to Graham Island turned east for 500 kms and turned south, presumably along the British Columbia mountains. She has just overflown Everett and continuing to LAX.

It looks to be very scenic flight with maybe some VIPs on board. Hopefully, the weather was clear for viewing.

[Greg Hyde]

Does ZNJ have a different color than the previous aircraft.

The red/orange look darker (richer) or is it a trick of the light ?

[Peter C]

As of this moment all ten 787-9s are showing on Flightradar24

[Sean L]

ZNJ just landed in LAX

[Peter C]

ZNJ has flown north-west over Vancouver Island up the Canadian inland passage for 1,100 kms to Graham Island turned east for 500 kms and turned south, presumably along the British Columbia mountains. She has just overflown Everett and continuing to LAX.

It looks to be very scenic flight with maybe some VIPs on board. Hopefully, the weather was clear for viewing.

According to the Paine Field blog "Qantas 787-9 VH-ZNJ departed on a performance test flight before delivery to LAX, engineers discovered a carpet problem. Audio here"

The audio link is http://www.paineairport.com/sounds/qfa6027.mp3

[James Smith]

Thanks for the information and link, Peter. I would have thought that for a test flight the aircraft would have flown large patterns closer to the airport from which it departed, similar to the first flight of a Boeing aircraft, while keeping away from established air routes.

[Peter C]

James, since the long loop north was at 34,000' +, there must have been a minor issue on the C1 flight that has been fixed, and which they wanted to double check - that straight forward flight path gave them the option of a PAE return.

[James Smith]

Thanks for that Peter. It makes perfect sense to keep the option of returning the aircraft to the dealer before leaving the showroom area for good. The issue must have been something more than the rising carpet in the premium economy section.

The last thing that QANTAS will want is for the aircraft to not be able to complete the LHR nonstop flight due to a nagging pre-existing issue.

[Greg Hyde]

It looks like Singapore Airlines will pick up l/n 1000

[James Smith]

Wow, their 16th 787-10 and the 1,000th 787 delivered by Boeing in less than 8 years. I estimate something like an April 2020 delivery to SQ with ZNL 19 slots later.

[James Smith]

I have been doing some research into the upcoming non-stop flight of ZNJ from LHR - SYD. There have been two suggested dates for the flight mentioned in this QANTAS 787 thread, one that the flight will take off from LHR at the time of the first flight to Australia in 1919 and the other that the flight will have an arrival time in SYD of 11:45am on Friday 15/11/19.

I have calculated a flight time of 20 hours from LHR - SYD, based on the flightime of 20 hours and 9 minutes by OJA on its non-stop flight in 1989. For an 11:45 am arrival time in SYD the flight would need to leave LHR at 4:45 am on Thursday 14/11/19, which I believe would not be possible with the Heathrow curfew. A slightly later departure time would get around this but not make SYD at the time mentioned.

The first flight from London to Australia left from Hounslow Heath, near Heathrow at 8:00 am on Tuesday 12/11/1919. If ZNJ leaves LHR at this time to commemorate the flight it will arrive in SYD around 3:00 pm on Wednesday 13/11/2019. The flight arrived in Darwin on 10/12/1919 and QANTAS may also celebrate this event but in another way.

To me it sounds like a great publicity exercise for QANTAS to commemorate the 1919 flight 100 years later with a flight over a similar flight path on its latest aircraft that has 100 years emblazoned on its fuselage.

The real mystery is the expected departure time from LHR. There may even be a third scenario! Just a few days to wait before ZNJ re-positions to LHR. If anyone has any further information please share it with the group.

[Greg Hyde]

ZNK/66075 B789 added to reg on 05/11

[Radi K]

James, I think it's leaving Thursday at 5pm London time.

Another fun fact, the same dispatcher that flight planned the 1989 flight, is planning this one too!

[James Smith]

How interesting Radi. I wonder if the dispatcher had retired and been brought back for the occasion or is still employed.

A 17:00 departure on Thursday from LHR would give an arrival time of midnight on Friday in SYD based on a 20 hour flight time. I wonder if QANTAS would receive a dispensation for arrival during the curfew for this special flight? The arrival could well be earlier than that if ZNJ has some decent tail winds on the way but she wouldn't in all likelihood arrive by 11:00 pm.

[Peter C]

The red tail tip of ZNK is just visible in the background of several Paine Field pics at https://twitter.com/JenSchuld - the one of the UPS 747-8F, and a couple in the El Al 787-8 set.

[MarkR]

A 17:00 departure on Thursday from LHR would give an arrival time of midnight on Friday in SYD based on a 20 hour flight time. I wonder if QANTAS would receive a dispensation for arrival during the curfew for this special flight? The arrival could well be earlier than that if ZNJ has some decent tail winds on the way but she wouldn't in all likelihood arrive by 11:00 pm.

I wouldn’t rely on the prior flights details in terms of duration, these days much more optimal flight paths can be taken then existed back then, to take advantage of winds and RNAV

[James Smith]

The item below from the Independent tells us that the LHR - SYD nonstop QANTAS flight will leave at 6:00 am on Thursday 14/11/19. This is 5:00 pm Sydney time which will give it an arrival time of 1:00 pm on Friday 15/11/19, using a 20 hour flight time. It could even arrive by 11:45 am, which is the time that you heard, Dennis. If so, it would better the time of the JFK - SYD flight, although it was flying into the prevailing winds and the flight from LHR will be flying with the winds.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/qantas-flight-sydney-heathrow-london-direct-boeing-climate-change-a9198826.html

[Greg Hyde]

If the 14th is the departure day then they need to ferry (re-position) to LHR in the next 24 hrs.

Can they fly LAX - LHR direct of will they need to top the tanks on the East Coast (NY) ?

[Erik H. Bakke]

Compared to LHR-SYD, I'd expect LAX-LHR to be the easy bit :)

[Greg Hyde]

VH-ZNJ is scheduled to fly LAX to LHR as QF6027.

Expected to depart LAX 23:50 local time tonight (in about 3hrs)

Arriving LHR 13/11/19 at 18:19 GMT

[Peter C]

VH-ZNJ has been 'live' on flightradar24 in the Qantas facility area at LAX since about noon AEDST today. It was also briefly 'live' at that time yesterday.

[Peter C]

Can they fly LAX - LHR direct of will they need to top the tanks on the East Coast (NY) ?

Virgin Atlantic 787-9s do the east-west crossing LAX-LHR in something less than 10 hours, so as Erik says it will be the easy bit.

[James Smith]

QF6027 arrived at LHR just prior to 19:00 local time on Wednesday which gives ZNJ just over 11 hours before departure non-stop to SYD, departing at 6:00 Thursday local time, 17:00 Sydney time today.

QANTAS has now published a Media Release on the flight which, among other things, gives the intended route of the non-stop flight. It will overfly Russia, China and the Philippines which will mean it will fly north of the Himalayas and the Tibet plateau. The URL is:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-to-operate-non-stop-london-to-sydney-research-flight/

[Greg Hyde]

A couple of news reports on LHR to SYD

Qantas Prepares For London to Sydney Non-Stop Test Flight

https://samchui.com/2019/11/13/qantas-prepares-for-london-sydney-test-flight/#.Xcyp-9VS9c9

Qantas CEO dials back Project Sunrise expectations

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the airline will choose between the Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777X within the next 12 months as partners in its non-stop Project Sunrise flights to London and New York.

However, regardless of the jet chosen to make those marathon 18-20 hour treks, there’s no longer an expectation that it will carry the airline’s previously-stated goal of 300+ passengers across four classes.

“Our belief is [ultra-long-haul flights are] not going to be full passenger payload and freight, but there is sufficient capability to make it commercially viable,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has told The South China Morning Post.

Joyce has until now been bullish on expectations that the non-stop flights would have over 300 seats spread across first class, business class, premium economy and economy.

Read: Qantas wants four classes, 300+ passengers in ultra-long range jets

The airline is already talking with seatmakers regarding new designs for the ultra-long flights “to see what kind of a step change we can create for our customers,” Qantas International CEO Alison Webster told Australia Business Traveller earlier this year.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/qantas-ceo-dials-back-project-sunrise-expectations

[Greg Hyde]

QF7879

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHZNJ


VH-ZNJ
QFA7879 / QF7879
Expected to depart in 1 hour 48 minutes
Operating as Qantas 7879
LHR London, United Kingdom

Thursday 14/11/2019 06:10AM GMT


landing at Sydney - SYD

Friday 15/11/2019 12:18PM AEDT

[David C]

I’m led to believe that if all goes well with ATC etc. there will be an over flight of OJA at Albion Park by the 787 prior to landing at SYD .

Dave C

[James Smith]

QF7879 was airborne from LHR runway 27L at 6:09 local and has just crossed into Europe.

[Brenden S]

Potential RWY 25 Arrival tomorrow too.

[James Smith]

They have flight planned via Parkes and Rivet so could easily continue onto the Wollongong area but may need a tailwind and the smell of an oily rag to get to Sydney! I thought that they may do a flyover of the harbour as well which could lend itself for a 25 arrival.

They have planned to fly at an groundspeed on 902 kph but have been around the low 800 kph for the last hour or so but have gone back up to 920 kph after turning a little more southerly over Kazakhstan.

When the first Project Sunrise flight from JFK was arriving in SYD I thought that ATC may give them a 25 arrival which would have saved 7 or 8 minutes of flight time in the circuit for 16R, especially after they were given priority over QF12 which was given a short vector for separation prior to commencing descent.

[MarkR]

They have planned to fly at an airspeed on 902 kph but have been around the low 800 kph for the last hour or so but have gone back up to 920 kph after turning a little more southerly over Kazakhstan.



Think you may mean groundspeed!

[James Smith]

Thanks Mark. I have corrected the post.

The flight is just about to cross the island of Maluku in eastern Indonesia with an estimated 4 hours and 45 minutes to SYD.

[Greg Hyde]

Lost some time, revised arrival time 12:25

[Erik H. Bakke]

Just turning final approach for 34L, now.

No overflight of Albion Park, nor of the harbour, it seems. Just a stock standard conga line approach from the Southwest.

[James Smith]

QF7879 has flown into SYD as planned and arrived on runway 34L at 12:28 local giving a flight time of 19 hours and 19 minutes from LHR.

[James Smith]

QF7879/ZNJ is being towed into hanger 96 where, no doubt there will be lots of pomp and celebration, unlike ZNI which arrived on one of the cargo bays.

[Noel White]

According to the CASA aircraft register the following QFA B789 regos have four lots of completely different Boeing serial numbers.

VH-ZNA - 39038
VH-ZNB - 39039
VH-ZNC - 39040
VH-ZND - 63390
VH-ZNE - 63391
VH-ZNF - 36239
VH-ZNG - 36240
VH-ZNH - 36241
VH-ZNI - 66073
VH-ZNJ - 66074
VH-ZNK - 66075

Anybody know why this has occurred.

TIA.

[Greg Hyde]

It is based on when the firm order is placed with Boeing.

The 36 series followed on from the JQ 788 that weren't taken up but converted to QF 789.

Each NEW order gets a NEW serial number block

[Noel White]

It is based on when the firm order is placed with Boeing.

The 36 series followed on from the JQ 788 that weren't taken up but converted to QF 789.

Each NEW order gets a NEW serial number block

Thanks Greg. That explains it, just seemed strange how the sequence of numbers jumped about.

[Dennis McLean]

according to Flight Aware ZNJ is off to HKG on QF127 this morning at 09.35am. This is quick for a new delivery!!!!!, not even here 24 hours.

[James Smith]

It is a bit quicker than with ZNIs entry into service. I guess QANTAS are wanting to get as much promotion from the 100 year livery as possible. I wonder if while having an extra 787-9 in the fleet ZNJ can assist QANTAS for the next week or so while OQB is still having its door repaired? Maybe do a LAX rotation or SFO and put a 744 onto LAX for a service or two to allow daily A380s to LHR again. It looks as though Sunday's QF1 is operating as is QF11, QF7 & QF1 for today, Sunday and Monday. It will be interesting to see how they balance to fleet in the next week or so.

[Sean L]

according to Flight Aware ZNJ is off to HKG on QF127 this morning at 09.35am. This is quick for a new delivery!!!!!, not even here 24 hours.

Delayed till 10:35am

[Greg Hyde]

This could be due to the lack of spare capacity within the QF fleet.

There didn't plan (or expect) to have 3 x B738 and 1 x A380 (broken door) grounded at this time of year.

[Greg Hyde]

ZNJ is on its way as QF127 to HKG.

May explain why it didn't ferry to Melbourne yesterday like its predecessors

[Peter C]

Whatever the earlier speculation, VH-ZND is about to position Sydney-Melbourne as QF6101, having arrived earlier as the weekly QF513 from Brisbane. Leaving VH-ZNG, which arrived in the early hours with QF128 from Hong Kong, to operate QF540 back to Brisbane before operating QF55 to Los Angeles.

[Peter C]

I wonder if while having an extra 787-9 in the fleet ZNJ can assist QANTAS for the next week or so while OQB is still having its door repaired?

The repair to VH-ZNG after damage by a ramp vehicle back in January at Melbourne, took 23 days to fix (3+ weeks). So it's very much a matter of how much damage was done to OQB, as to how long its out of service (8 days so far).

[James Smith]

Are the QF513/540 Saturday 787-9 flights to rotate the aircraft around the fleet now that QF127/128 is no longer operated by an A330 on a Wednesday (ex SYD) when the NW schedules commenced?

[Greg Hyde]

Initial reports were that the OQB door would take 2 weeks to fix.

[Peter C]

Are the QF513/540 Saturday 787-9 flights to rotate the aircraft around the fleet now that QF127/128 is no longer operated by an A330 on a Wednesday (ex SYD) when the NW schedules commenced?

Those swaps for the Sydney 787-9 services seem to have stayed at Hong Kong - now between the daily MEL-HKG and the SYD-HKG 787-9 rotations. Only two of the Saturday BNE-SYD-BNE 787-9 domestic rotations have been used to swap aircraft since they began on 7th September. The first on the second week of the service, and the other today. The BNE-SYD leg started with the earlier QF505, then QF509, before settling on QF513, the return leg has always been QF540.

The MEL / BNE swaps in LAX between QF 95 arrivals and QF 96 departures continue. The last time there was no swap was on 4th/5th October rotation.

[James Smith]

Just looking at QANTAS source and ZNH did not operate QF30 on Thursday evening 14/11/19 or the return QF29 on Friday 15/11/19, which may explain the QF6101 flight from SYD - MEL this morning to get all 787-9 flights back on schedule.

[Dennis McLean]

Earlier Greg mentioned about QF groundings at the moment. This is the current situation, apart from OQB, OQH and J.

VXA (MEL), F and U (BNE) repairs. Also VXC (15/10)and M (18/10) under maintenance in BNE together with QPF (2/11).

[Peter C]

Just looking at QANTAS source and ZNH did not operate QF30 on Thursday evening 14/11/19 or the return QF29 on Friday 15/11/19, which may explain the QF6101 flight from SYD - MEL this morning to get all 787-9 flights back on schedule.

With VH-ZNJ going straight into service from Sydney, this positioning flight now places an extra 787-9 in Melbourne. I doubt that Qantas will leave it on the ground for long, it is still 18 days until the new 4th December flights start, by which time VH-ZNK should have arrived.

I suspect that VH-ZNJ with its 100 livery will follow the lead of VH-ZNI and be swapped around the International Routes in quick succession. The only international rotation that ZNI hasn't done since its arrival is QF55/QF56, and it has of course already visited both BNE & LAX via QF15 etc.

[C Patters]

Two quick questions for everyone.

1). Is ZND currently undergoing maintenance as its been in MEL since 16/11 after positioning from SYD?

2). Does anyone know when ZNK will have its first test flight?

Thanks in advance.

[Greg Hyde]

Qantas asks Airbus, Boeing to “sharpen their pencils” on Project Sunrise

Qantas international chief executive Tino La Spina says the airline has asked Airbus and Boeing “to sharpen their pencils” on their Project Sunrise proposals.

Airbus has put forward its A350-1000 as the candidate aircraft for Qantas to mount nonstop flights from Australia’s east coast to London, New York and other ultra long-haul destinations currently being evaluated under the Project Sunrise banner.

The airline has said previously it hoped to reach a decision on whether to proceed with the project before the end of calendar 2019, with flights slated to begin in 2023 should the business case stack up.

Meanwhile, Boeing has proposed its 777-8X platform alongside an “interim solution” with an undisclosed aircraft type. The interim solution was proposed after Boeing pushed back the development timetable for the 777-8X, meaning the aircraft would not be in service by the time Qantas wanted to launch these ultra long-haul services.

Qantas said in August that Airbus and Boeing had submitted their best and final offers, following a request for proposal (RFP) process, that covered pricing, performance guarantees and details of potential delivery streams, among other matters.

The technical evaluation showed Airbus and Boeing could offer an aircraft that would be able to operate a full payload between Sydney and New York, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said earlier in 2019.

For Sydney-London, Joyce said the aircraft would not be able to operate with a full payload. Instead, the manufacturers told Qantas they were able to achieve a payload that made the business case potentially work.

La Spina said the further discussions with the manufacturers were about looking to make sure the aircraft were future proof.

“We’ve got the Airbus A350ULR and we’ve got the 777-X. Both products can do the mission,” La Spina said during Qantas’s investor day presentations in Sydney on Tuesday.

“The economics and what we have been asking from the manufacturers, we went through a best-and-final offer phase.

“We’ve asked them to go back and re-look at that, to sharpen their pencils, because there still was a gap there. We are still eagerly awaiting to see what we get back from that.”

“That is just not around price. That covers things like guarantees, the what ifs, because this aircraft is going to be in the fleet for the next 20 years and we want to cover off eventualities.”

https://thewofa.com/2019/11/qantas-asks-airbus-boeing-to-sharpen-their-pencils-on-project-sunrise/

[Greg Hyde]

Two quick questions for everyone.

1). Is ZND currently undergoing maintenance as its been in MEL since 16/11 after positioning from SYD?

2). Does anyone know when ZNK will have its first test flight?

Thanks in advance.

1) Checked QF Source and no mention of ZND maintenance

2) ZNK expected ff, within 1-2 wks (seen nothing scheduled)

[Peter C]

Two quick questions for everyone.

1). Is ZND currently undergoing maintenance as its been in MEL since 16/11 after positioning from SYD?

2). Does anyone know when ZNK will have its first test flight?

Thanks in advance.

Re Q1, seems to be scheduled, as a couple of days after ZNI arrived, ZNB spent 4 days in Melbourne maintenance. Similarly a couple of days after ZNJ arrived, ZND went into Melbourne maintenance (today is day 4). It should be noted that to appear in QF Source Maintenance listings, the duration has to be greater than 5 days.

Re Q2, there has been no sign of ZNK since it was in Fuel Dock at PAE a week ago on 13th.

http://www.paineairport.com/kpae17942dr.htm

Possibly an issue with the APU ?

Alternatively it may be in the paint hangar getting a "100" paint job ?

[C Patters]

Thanks everyone for their response.
FYI QF9 MEL to PER has been cancelled tonight

[Peter C]

Thanks everyone for their response.
FYI QF9 MEL to PER has been cancelled tonight

For the full picture, see http://theqantassource.com/qantas-b787-9-vh-zna-qf10-qf9-perth-turnaround/

[Peter C]

VH-ZND is now listed in the Maintenance table on the 787-9 page of the Qantas Source - no explanation yet.

http://theqantassource.com/aircraft/b787-9/

[Peter C]

The spreadsheets are now showing 1st flight for VH-ZNK as 3rd Dec, with delivery 16th.

Seems there may be/have been a test flight slots issue, as the sheets also show the 3rd & 4th 787-9s for Bangladesh Airlines have had 12 and 8 test flights respectively.

[Peter C]

Oops correction, that link in #675 above for VH-ZND (well all 789) maintenance should be ...

http://theqantassource.com/aircraft/b787-9/#QF789Mx

[James Smith]

ZND is operating QF95 from MEL - LAX tonight and is about to overfly just to the west of CBR.

[Peter C]

Something odd happening with 787-9 services to LAX this week.
ZNE operated QF55 to LAX yesterday, but there is no return QF56 until the Saturday afternoon LAX departure.
Meanwhile the Friday MEL-LAX QF95/QF96 rotation has also been dropped ????

[James Smith]

Forty days in pre-flight seems a long time for ZNK. I always thought that this aircraft would be needed for the start of daily 787-9 services to SFO and AKL on 4/12/19 but A380 services to HKG were to commence on the same day which would free up an existing 787-9.

Checking the A380 commencement date I found that QANTAS has delayed the date of these services which will now run from 18/12/19 through to 28/3/20 with 744 services operating QF127/128 from 4/12/19 to 14/12/19 and on 16/12/19 with an A330 on 15/12 & 17/12/19. This could be due to the unrest in Hong Kong affecting demand or a delay in the return from maintenance or refurbishment of an A380. QANTAS will need both their 11th and 12th A380s for HKG and QF17/18 LAX services from 18/12/19 and 13/12/19 respectively.

Two 744s will be freed from SFO services allowing for the 12 return flights to HKG as well as YVR from 12/12/19 to 25/1/20.

A 787-9 will still be freed up to operate the SFO services on alternate days with 744 operations to HKG.

[Peter C]

Forty days in pre-flight seems a long time for ZNK ...

VH-ZNK has been "tucked away" on one of the three bays immediately north of the Boeing Everett Delivery Centre since it was moved from the Fuel Dock sometime between 13th and 22nd. Its tail is visible there, in the centre background of two pics on the Paine Field Blog on 22nd ...

http://www.paineairport.com/kpae17979hf.htm

http://www.paineairport.com/kpae17981tx.htm

We haven't seen a Flightline panorama shot on the Paine Field Blog since the 8th, which is generally the only pic that shows the whole aircraft in those bays.

[C Patters]

Interesting to see what name they have given VH-ZNK

[Dennis McLean]

There are 3 787's on the ground in LAX as of NOW. D arrived from MEL on 25/11 their time as did E from BNE. A has not long arrived from JFK and is off to MEL. J has been in MEL since 26/11. It appears no 55 today from BNE so I assume that either D or E will do 16 to BNE soon???

[Peter C]

There are 3 787's on the ground in LAX as of NOW. D arrived from MEL on 25/11 their time as did E from BNE. A has not long arrived from JFK and is off to MEL. J has been in MEL since 26/11. It appears no 55 today from BNE so I assume that either D or E will do 16 to BNE soon???

ZNE is now operating QF16.

The Qantas Source still has ZND under maintenance in Melbourne!

With the cancelled QF55/QF56 & QF95/QF96 flights this week, it appears that ZND operated revenue service QF95 as a positioning flight to LAX maintenance.

The domestic 787-9 services out of BNE this week : Friday's QF589/QF654 BNE-PER rotation and Saturday's QF513/QF540 BNE-SYD rotation, are being operated by 737s.

Leaves ZNE & ZNI to cope with the remaining 787-9 BNE-LAX connection, the daily QF 15/11/12/16 rotations.

ZNJ sitting in Melbourne - well, it was rather rushed into service with ZNDs sudden move to Melbourne Maintenance - possibly just a catch up.

[Peter C]

Just found a domestic 787-9 MEL-SYD-MEL rotation QF420/QF459 this coming Saturday.

[Erik H. Bakke]

Saw one arrive at the domestic terminal last Saturday, so there may have been one last weekend as well.

[Peter C]

Saw one arrive at the domestic terminal last Saturday, so there may have been one last weekend as well.

Depending on the times of course, that would probably have been the weekly BNE-SYD-BNE QF513/QF540 domestic 787-9 service, which has reverted to 737s for next weekend at least.

[Dennis McLean]

The current situation of the fleet as of NOW.
ZNA - PER/LHR, ZNB - MEL/HKG, ZNC - In MEL from SFO, ZND - In LAX since 25/11, ZNE - JFK/LAX, ZNF - SYD/HKG, ZNG - LHR/PER, ZNH - MEL/SFO, ZNI - In BNE from LAX, ZNJ - In MEL since 26/11.
There was no QF56 LAX/BNE on Mon and Wed this week and no QF55 BNE/LAX Wed.

[Peter C]

ZNK is timetabled for its C1 on 9th December according to the Notes on the spreadsheet.

Now some crystal ball gazing ... up to now, since its arrival, ZND has been used to inaugurate new 787-9 services.

With the cancellation of the various LAX services this week as noted in #684 above, the earliest likely return of ZND from LAX is via either QF16 or QF56 on Saturday to Brisbane. It then appears to be committed to BNE-LAX-JFK rotations, before it could be swapped to Melbourne via QF96 on Tuesday 3rd. Arriving in Melbourne in the early hours of the 5th and even without positioning to Sydney - too late for the inaugural service on the 4th.

However with arrival of ZNJ in its 100 livery, it is now the most likely 787-9 to be used for inaugural flights, commencing with the SYD-AKL & SYD-SFO 787-9 services on 4th. This means it will either need to transfer to Sydney via the MEL-HKG-SYD swap route before SYD-HKG 787-9 services end on 3rd, or position there by 3rd.

[Greg Hyde]

The 9 Dec. could be right since the US shuts down for a very long weekend for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Eve/ Weekend are the BUSIEST time of the year for US Airlines/Airports

[James Smith]

Excuse my ignorance but is B1 the first flight with B2, B3 ... subsequent flights to check the correction of any issues that arise on B1? If that is correct, is C1 the acceptance flight with C2, C3 ... subsequent flights if some issues arise on C1?

Also can someone let me know what the Load Date is? Is it the date that the aircraft is first placed and supported on its landing gear?

The Boeing spreadsheet that I use has the first flight of ZNK on 3 December and delivery on 16 December with C1 on 9 December.

[Greg Hyde]

B0 has been used for taxi runs
B1 is the first flight.
B+ are Boeing test flights to fix problems found on previous B flight(s).

One Boeing is happy it is handed over the Customer for testing.

C1 is the CUSTOMER acceptance testing.

Customer runs through a customer specific list of tests.

C+ are Customer test flight to check fixes from the previous C tests.

Delivery consists of signing document and transferring of funds.

I think (could be wrong) that the load date was when it was added to the spreadsheet.

[Peter C]

Also can someone let me know what the Load Date is? Is it the date that the aircraft is first placed and supported on its landing gear?


Load date is the date when the first (central) body section is brought into the assembly building i.e. start date in Position 1.

[James Smith]

Thanks very much guys for the explanation.

[Peter C]

Just found a domestic 787-9 MEL-SYD-MEL rotation QF420/QF459 this coming Saturday.

While the first leg was operated by ZNB, it turned around back to Melbourne as a positioning flight QF6157, before operating QF9. QF459 was cancelled.

[Peter C]

Seems part of my Crystal Ball gazing was correct, ZND is currently en-route LAX-BNE operating QF56.
No explanation yet for the Melbourne 9 day maintenance lay over, nor the Los Angeles 5 day maintenance lay over.

[James Smith]

VH-ZNJ is currently operating QF29 MEL-HKG which l predict will turnaround to operate QF128 back to SYD overnight. This will enable ZNJ to operate the first QANTAS B789 QF141/144/73/74 SYD-AKL-SYD-SFO-SYD services tomorrow 4/12/19.

[James Smith]

Well, I was wrong with the swap over of 789s in HKG. ZNG is returning to SYD as QF128 and ZNJ is returning to MEL as QF30, which means that it looks as though ZNG will operate the inaugural QANTAS 789 flights to AKL and SFO from SYD tomorrow.

[Peter C]

Possibly not, as VH-ZNC positioned Melbourne - Sydney this afternoon as QF6002, so either it or VH-ZNG will do the inaugural flights, and unless there is another swap, the other will do the day 2 flights - time will tell.

[James Smith]

Well Peter, ZNC was a dark horse so to speak, relocating to SYD. ZNC is currently operating QF141 to AKL and will return as QF144 at 15:25. No movement of ZNG as yet, either as a domestic or positioning flight. You're right that a 789 needs to be in SYD for tomorrow's flights as there will not be any inbound aircraft from SFO to operate the flights to AKL and SFO.

Will see what happens during the day as to the aircraft that will be operating today's QF73 to SFO. B744 OEI is operating QF127 to HKG this morning so there hasn't been a change of aircraft there with a 789 substituted.

[Adam W]

ZNC currently scheduled to operate QF73 today.

[C Patters]

Does anyone know what's happening with ZNK's first flight as it was meant to be 4/12 but nothing is showing that this has occurred?

[James Smith]

With ZNC operating the first 789 service to SFO yesterday, ZNG is on its way to AKL and on its return will operate today's flight to SFO.

Looking at the current timetable, the 789s operating to SFO will be able to swap with the aircraft operating MEL-SFO flights on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in SFO. From February, 2020 when BRI-SFO commence three flights per week the ability to swap aircraft in SFO will be on a daily basis.

VNH is currently operating QF49 MEL-SFO and could operate QF74 back to SYD to arrive tomorrow, instead of ZNC.

[Dennis McLean]

BOE279 is scheduled PAE/GEG(Spokane)/PAE at 3.25pm US time 4/12, but as usual Flight Aware is all over the place with the plane arriving at GEG 1hr 7min after it is due to go back to PAE. It is also show as a 788?????

[Dennis McLean]

Changed to 3.40pm which was 20 minutes ago BNE time.

[Peter C]

The old FlightRadar24 phone app also shows BOE279 as a 787-8 with two sectors PAE-GEG (Spokane) & GEG-PAE, but with now 5 hours delay, it is past 7pm PST on 4th at Paine Field. Neither the newest FlightRadar24 phone app, nor the FlightRadar24 website show anything at all for BOE279.
So looks as though ZNK will not have its B1 flight until 5th PST

[Dennis McLean]

The flights have disappeared from Flight Aware as well, so obviously did not go.

[Peter C]

Glimpses of VH-ZNK's tail can be seen on the Flightline opposite the Delivery Centre, between the 11 sec & 14 sec mark of Jennifer Schuld's latest video at

https://twitter.com/JenSchuld/status/1202282783286026241

Firstly in front of, then behind the landing Dreamlifter.

[James Smith]

ZNC has been turned around in SFO and is operating QF74 back to SYD tonight.

ZNG will be operating QF73 today.

Yes, good to notice ZNK in the background, Peter. It has obviously been moved from its more obscure place in the background behind the United 773.

[James Smith]

According to FlightAware BOE279 is due to depart on its first flight at 12:00 local time which was over half an hour ago now.

[James Smith]

BOE279 has just departed Everett on its first flight of 2 hours to Moses Lake and half an hour back to Everett.

[C Patters]

Be interesting to see what name they give ZNK

[James Smith]

A Twitter photo of ZNK line up on the runway from the ever reliable Jennifer Schuld:

https://twitter.com/JenSchuld

I can't read the name from the photo.

[Greg Hyde]

Shot from other direction with name tapped over.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ELD2iZCU8AA8KZp.jpg:large

[Adrian B]

Compliments of Jennifer Schuld twitter page:

Click Here (https://twitter.com/JenSchuld)

[Greg Hyde]

From QF Source


QANTAS B787-9 VH-ZNC Operates Sydney – Auckland and San Francisco Dreamliner Inaugurals.

Dec 4, 2019

QANTAS switched operation of the QF141/QF144 Sydney – Auckland rotation from Boeing 737-800 to Boeing 787-9 operation and the QF73/QF74 Sydney – San Francisco rotation from Boeing 747-400ER to Boeing 787-9 operation today with QANTAS Boeing 787-9 VH-ZNC operating the inaugural Dreamliner services on both routes.

[Peter C]

...

Looking at the current timetable, the 789s operating to SFO will be able to swap with the aircraft operating MEL-SFO flights on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in SFO. From February, 2020 when BRI-SFO commence three flights per week the ability to swap aircraft in SFO will be on a daily basis.

...

Spot on James, VH-ZNF swapped with VH-ZNG in SFO yesterday.

[Peter C]

...

From February, 2020 when BRI-SFO commence three flights per week the ability to swap aircraft in SFO will be on a daily basis.

...

Had another look at this James, MEL-SFO is 4 days a week - on 1,4,5,7.
The three BNE-SFO flights are proposed to be 1,3,5 - so only adding one new day to the SYD-SFO swap possibilities, plus providing 2 swap days between MEL & BNE.

The schedulers are ringing the changes in SFO at the moment with swaps on the last three available days.

[James Smith]

Peter, the MEL-SFO-MEL flights will change operating days to Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat from the second week in February, 2020 when the BNE-SFO-BNE flights commence operating on Tue, Thu, Sun. This will then give QANTAS the ability to swap 787-9s in SFO on a daily basis.

[Peter C]

So that's the same schedule as the BNE-ORD-BNE flights commencing 21 April ?

[Peter C]

VH-ZNK as BOE279 completed a second flight from Paine Field to Moses Lake and return, however unlike previous Qantas 787-9 C1 flights it did not touch down at MWH.

FlightAware has an incomplete later BOE279 flight by an unidentified aircraft, while FlightRadar24 has a full PAE-PAE flight, but again an unidentified aircraft, with the whole flight being under 10,000' ???

Was second flight VH-ZNK, and if so were these C1 / C2 or B2 / B3 ???

[James Smith]

So that's the same schedule as the BNE-ORD-BNE flights commencing 21 April?

Yes, the ORD flights from BNE will operate on the same days in the week as the MEL-SFO flights. I assume that QANTAS would rather not have three flights to SFO on one day of the week and only one on another day of the week to keep airport and staff costs down, not to mention the productivity of their 787-9 fleet.

[James Smith]

VH-ZNK is now showing on the Boeing spreadsheet as ready for delivery.

It is a pity that the delivery flight will be from JFK again as it would have been great to see the 787-9 fly non stop from Rio de Janeiro, for example, which was shown on the Project Sunrise map of potential destinations from the east coast of Australia.

[Peter C]

FlightRadar24 has now been updated to show the short (29 minute) 2nd flight of BOE279 on the afternoon of the 9th, as being a 789 so with the Boeing spreadsheet update, a C2 flight for VH-ZNK. FlightAware still shows an incomplete track for this second flight.

[C Patters]

Does anyone know what is wrong with ZNJ? Looks like QF9 has been either delayed or cancelled the last two days & appears to be because of ZNJ out of action

[Greg Hyde]

Several pictures of ZNK on the 9/12 in heavy fog

https://twitter.com/propandkerosene

Reporting it as a 2nd flight which means that is B2 or C1.

[Peter C]

...
Reporting it as a 2nd flight which means that is B2 or C1.

Checking back through the tweets, actually reporting 2nd flight for the day : so C1 & C2 [see also earlier posts this page]

[Peter C]

Does anyone know what is wrong with ZNJ? Looks like QF9 has been either delayed or cancelled the last two days & appears to be because of ZNJ out of action

Just the Melbourne-Perth QF9 & Perth-Melbourne QF10 sectors were delayed/cancelled after ZNC took over the MEL-HKG-MEL service from ZNJ. QF10 arrivals in Perth from LHR have turned around to operate the PER-LHR sector of QF9 for these two days - see reports on The Qantas Source. The other effect of ZNJ's absence is the cancellation of today's QF49/QF50 MEL-SFO rotation.

If ZNJ continues to be unavailable, then more of the same.

There certainly seem to be issues with ZNJ - it took over the HKG route immediately after the 2nd Project Sunrise flight when ZND went to Melbourne Maintenance. Did 10 HKG rotations through either SYD or MEL (mostly MEL) - all flights of less than 10 hours duration, then 7 days in Melbourne Maintenance. Followed this by 7 days MEL-HKG-MEL, and now another (at least) two days in Melbourne Maintenance.

Also begs the question, was the ZND move to LAX Maintenance made to free up space for ZNJ in Melbourne?

[David C]

Perhaps the maintenance issue with ZNJ on its pre delivery flight from PAE to LAX was a little more than “ raised carpet” ? .

Dave C

[Peter C]

Perhaps the maintenance issue with ZNJ on its pre delivery flight from PAE to LAX was a little more than “ raised carpet” ? .

Dave C

Could also explain why ZNK spent so much time in Pre-Flight ?

[C Patters]

QF9 Melbourne to Perth cancelled again today. Anyone have any updates on what's going on with ZNJ? I'm guessing they would want to have this sorted very quickly with the peak Xmas travel season about to begin.

[Christopher Campbell]

QF9 Melbourne to Perth cancelled again today. Anyone have any updates on what's going on with ZNJ? I'm guessing they would want to have this sorted very quickly with the peak Xmas travel season about to begin.

Yeah I was going to travel on the QF9 to Perth today until just before I got to the airport saying it was cancelled and instead have been put on QF777.

[Christopher Campbell]

ZNJ will back in service tonight operating QF95 after a hydraulic leak. ZNF will turnaround to operate QF9 from operating QF10

[Peter C]

Is there something wrong with ZNF too with QF10 Perth to Melbourne cancelled?

No, this is simply due to the fact that for the second time this week, VH-ZNF will turn around in Perth having arrived in the early afternoon with QF10 from LHR, and later this afternoon operate today's QF9 PER-LHR sector.

With ZNJ apparently still out of service, I suspect tonight's QF95/QF96 rotation will also be cancelled.

[Peter C]

All these recent issues with the Qantas 787-9s no doubt had some impact on the decision reported on "The Qantas Source" today that Qantas will go with the A350-1000 for the Project Sunrise flights.

[Christopher Campbell]

No, this is simply due to the fact that for the second time this week, VH-ZNF will turn around in Perth having arrived in the early afternoon with QF10 from LHR, and later this afternoon operate today's QF9 PER-LHR sector.

With ZNJ apparently still out of service, I suspect tonight's QF95/QF96 rotation will also be cancelled.

Ah I see yeah of course

[Peter C]

Seems the VH-ZNJ hydraulic leak is more troublesome than sources believed, as tonight's QF95 has been cancelled.

[Dennis McLean]

VH ZNK as QF6027 departed PAE at 13.27 PST Time Friday 13/12 and arrived at LAX at 15.32 PST Time 43 minutes ago.

[Dennis McLean]

ZNK's serial number is 66075

[Greg Hyde]

ZNK is named "Gangurru"

[C Patters]

Has ZNK been added to the register as I can see it on Flightradar24?

[Peter C]

Meanwhile the flow on from the absence of ZNJ continues ...

QF16 LAX-BNE cancelled as ZNB transferred to QF96 LAX-MEL, leaving BNE one 787-9 short for tomorrow departures ?

Today's QF141/QF144 SYD-AKL-SYD 787-9 rotation is being operated by 737-800 VH-XZF

[James Smith]

Today's QF141/144 is in the QANTAS timetable as being operated by a 738 which looks to be a one off. The 789 is operating on all Saturdays until 25 January, 2020. VH-ZND operated QF74 inbound this morning and is just pushing back to operate QF73 now. It hasn't done any other flights today.

[James Smith]

From the QANTAS media release entitled "QANTAS Update on Project Sunrise" the following sentence gives the date of the last Sunrise 787-9 delivery flight:

The last of three Project Sunrise research flights (New York to Sydney) will be conducted on 17 December.

[Dennis McLean]

ZNC has ferried to BNE from MEL today for QF15 to LAX and QF29 MEL/HKG has been cancelled. ZNJ still in MEL since 10/12.

[Peter C]

Qantas must be loosing money on all these cancelled 787-9 flights - now a full QF9/QF10 rotation starting with PER-MEL this afternoon has been cancelled.

[Dennis McLean]

What really is the problem with ZNJ???????

[Sean L]

Hydraulic leak

[Brian Wilkes]

Hydraulic leak

Are you sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[James Smith]

ZNK is one hour into its positioning flight from LAX to JFK as QF6027.