What will become of the retiring QF 743's?

[NickN]

Are their other carriers out there who would buy these aircraft or are they all headed for the glue factory?

[Bruce Bramwell]

Currently they are being offered for sale with prices mentioned around US$6million per frame. [that was a couple of weeks ago]

There has been some interest in the aircraft notably the fact that its a 747-300 with IFE [Qantas the only ones with Personal TV's?]

More than likely they will end up with an ACMI carrier in Europe, Northern Africa where at the moment there is a demand.

The could be converted into freighters?

Time will tell though

[Rhys Xanthis]

They are due for D Checks pretty soon i recall...could be enough to turn any prospective carrier off (unless they can combine a D-Check with the freighter conversion?)

[BradR]

or are they all headed for the glue factory?

Coming to a Coke can near you!!!!

Brad

[NickN]

Coming to a Coke can near you!!!!


That depends, will the Coke can suffer a hole in the side of it?:D

After all those suckers are highly pressurized!

And excuse my daftness what what is an ACMI carrier?

[Nigel C]

A search of google came up with...

http://www.globalplanesearch.com/view/aircraft/aircraft-leasing-def.htm

[Michael Cleary]

I hope that I am wrong, but I suspect that their departure flight from Australia for some of them will follow the same routing as many previous members of the 'family', that being SYD-HNL-MZJ.

And we know what usually happens then.

[Brenden S]

I heard that they are all going where EBT went. The place that got EBT were rather happy with her and wanted the rest. Not sure and I heard that from another Engineer.

[Marty H]

I heard that they are all going where EBT went. The place that got EBT were rather happy with her and wanted the rest. Not sure and I heard that from another Engineer.

Where did EBT go????

[Bob C]

A refurbisehed B747-300 fuselage (minus wings) would look terrific in Perth as a restaurant/photography/viewing platform which would form the centre piece of the proposed spotters area in the airport redevelopment.

[Montague S]

I heard EBT was purchased mainly for its engines...not sure where it is now but it could be at Rome, Griffiss in New York state.

[NickN]

If you throw a 743 with no wings in the middle of a city people might start getting worried. Especially with the Qantas bashing going on right now folks may prefer to fly on an aircraft with no wings over some of the other wrecks Qantas have going around right now:D:D

[Bob C]

Even the most simple Sandgroper would realise that an aircraft sans wings and engines ain't goin' nowhere !!!

And we still have BAe146 VH-JJT getting moved around the airport like a chess piece so perhaps that could be refurbished and repainted into Ansett colours and also be an attraction.

[Marty H]

I would take a 'wild guess' and say VH-EBU will be scrapped at AVV.

[Brenden S]

Didn't EBT go to trans aero in Russia? They have the ex Air NZ/Virgin 747-219B's

[Montague S]

Transaero has taken ex JL machines JA8173, cn 23482, JA8179, cn 23640, JA8189, cn 24156 and that's it.

the entire Transaero 743 fleet is P&W powered.

http://i34.tinypic.com/2e35280.jpg

that's a shot of it at Griffiss, Rome in NY state.

[Bruce Bramwell]

Didn't EBT go to trans aero in Russia? They have the ex Air NZ/Virgin 747-219B's

No, they took the ex Virgin Atalantic / Air New Zealand 747-219's aswell as South Africa's 743 / 744's

QF 743 went to the states for an ACMI carrier?

[Bruce Bramwell]

A refurbisehed B747-300 fuselage (minus wings) would look terrific in Perth as a restaurant/photography/viewing platform which would form the centre piece of the proposed spotters area in the airport redevelopment.


could solve Perth's accomodation crisis. Remember there is a guy over in England who has purchase an ex EAL / BA 747-200 and converting it into a hotel.

[Paul Hunter]

EBT is now registered N747ZZ. Owned by Midair USA Inc.

Apparently still stored at Rome, NY as Monty said.

Still shows as destined for Transaero - 2008.

Regards.

[Bruce Bramwell]

EBT is now registered N747ZZ. Owned by Midair USA Inc.

Apparently still stored at Rome, NY as Monty said.

Still shows as destined for Transaero - 2008.

Regards.


not going to happen

[Bernie P]

Hey everyone,
With regards to these 743's and apart from age, what is the main reason for them going 'tech' so often, and why would another operator want them if it means the same problems are transfered as well?

Thoughts/comments?

[NickN]

Maybe after the D Check and some work they will go on to live long lives. There are plenty of older aircraft out there still working just fine. And seeing Qantas does (Did?) have such a great reputation for maintenance etc many airlines would be queing to buy their 743's over the same model run by less reputable carriers.

Plus as previously mentioned the Qantas 743's are all fitted out well for IFE.

[Brenden S]

The aircraft are built for LONG haul, not short Haul. The quick turn arounds and minimal maintenance to keep them going (ie applying MEL's etc) has taken its toll. However now that they are "resting" more they seem to be getting better.

[Bernie P]

The aircraft are built for LONG haul, not short Haul. The quick turn arounds and minimal maintenance to keep them going (ie applying MEL's etc) has taken its toll. However now that they are "resting" more they seem to be getting better.

So simply put, they are going tech due to overuse and minimal turn around times leading to a lack of checks? Rather than an inherint underlining problem?

Also, is there a time when 'LONG HAUL' applies? greater than 4 hours or more??

[Bruce Bramwell]

So simply put, they are going tech due to overuse and minimal turn around times leading to a lack of checks? Rather than an inherint underlining problem?

Also, is there a time when 'LONG HAUL' applies? greater than 4 hours or more??


Although any aircraft that are built for long haul can be used for short haul. However its how the aircraft is used that plays a huge amount in how the aircraft operates. In QF case they have been 'flogged' knowning that they a.c would be retired shortly

[Brenden S]

With the A330's going to Jetstar QF had to use something in its place, that was the 747-300's as Jetstar took over some of the QF intl routes where the 747-300's were flying. Unfortunately when they started on the domestic runs with the short turn around times us engineers couldn't fix up to many defects that the aircraft had, so we deferred those defects iaw the maintenance manual and DDG (MEL book) Once the defects start building up you start getting no dispatch problems where you have to fix a fault to allow another permissible un-serviceability to be put on hold. Its all perfectly legal and within the manuals that Boeing have put into place. There is plenty of checks, there is just not enough time to fix all the problems.

[Chris Roope]

Also, is there a time when 'LONG HAUL' applies? greater than 4 hours or more??

Where does a shorthaul flight end and a longhaul flight begin? Ah yes, Amsterdam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SwECTyXaA4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp6ryKn0v5o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4LLPWRac0Y

[Adam P.]

"Before every flight, either the captain or the first officer carries out an analysis of the aircraft's technical condition... by walking around it, and looking at it".

Pure gold, Mr Roope!!!

[Edward Terry]

Thanks, Chris!! I've been looking for this video for years!

[NickN]

Thats a fantastic video!

A few of my favourite quotes......

"Flying is 99% boredom and 1% sheer terror"



"Are the engines alright?

We'll find out when we start it"



"See that little aircraft there?

If I press this button here on the control column I can shoot it down!

Don't do that!!!"


There were hundreds of others but those were great.

[Kent Broadhead]

The DVD of series 2 of People Like Us had only been available in Portugal (go figure) due to some soundtrack licensing issues in the English speaking world.

However, it's been available here in Oz since earlier this year - http://www.devoteddvd.com.au/shop/product_info.php?products_id=41889

Kent

[NickN]

I'll definately be getting myself a copy. Great script writing.