VH-VZF first flight.

[Scott Lindsell]

Qantas' newest 738 just departed RNT a few minutes ago. Still green and flying as 'Boeing 566'.
34200/2989.

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Scott...where have you been? Have sent emails, PMs and tried to call recently without success!

Drop me a line mate!

[Scott Lindsell]

Andrew,
Check your PM's :)
Scott.

[Scott Lindsell]

Hi all,
Can someone inform me about the next batch of QF 738's. Are they heading across the pond? I shot a QF 738 today with the reg VH-VZG 'Sir William Hudson', only to see later the nose gear door and top of tail with the code 'ZQB' not 'VZG'. Assuming it is flying under the Aussie company title until a rereg in NZ after delivery. Looking closer it has an NZ flag on the fuselage too.:confused:
Scott.

[Torin Wilson]

Jetconnect 738

[Sarah C]

Hi all,
Can someone inform me about the next batch of QF 738's. Are they heading across the pond?

Scott - the next batch are going direct to Jetconnect. There have been problems with the first ones so there have been a few slight delays.

ZK-ZQA, with ZK-ZQB and ZK-ZQC will start operation during September. The 6 aircraft (to rego ZQF) have PTV's.

[NickN]

Will that mean the end of the -300's and -400's? Or are the new -800's in addition to the existing fleet.

[Ryan N]

Any tentative updates on their schedules yet. Hope I get to fly on one of them on my return flight from CHC in mid September.

[Lee M]

Jetconnect don't fly to CHC anymore. Only 767's on the SYD-CHC run.

[Ryan N]

Oh bugger.

[Mike W]

Oh bugger.

You're joking right?

Give me the 767 any day of the week... oh yeah, and the nights as well :D

[Kelvin R]

After my last few trans tasman flights I will take the NZ 320 thanks in Space+ with the gate to gate AVOD over the very tired and literally falling apart 733, 734, 73H or 763 that QF send across the ditch. While I am sure the QF fleet is OK mechanically sometime I can't work out who looks more tired, the plane's interior or the crew from having to apologies for broken seats, failed to load DVD players or the shortage of food & drinks.

Fortunatly a quick dig around the seats usually turns up a vast supply of half eaten breadrolls, cashews and almonds, salt and pepper, sweets, a plastic knife and some sugar which comes in handy if you find the food a bit light on. I guess it will take VH-VZF a few months to build up its own stockpile of in seat goodies so you might want to give it a miss until early next year or run the risk of going hungry.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

VZF is just overhead Wollongong on its way to MEL. Operating as QF6020 this a/c will eventually become ZK-ZQA for Jet Connect from what has been reported on other forums.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Destination YMML Runway 27

ACARS mode: 2 Aircraft reg: .VH-VZF
Message label: H1 Block id: 8 Msg. no: F35A
Flight id: QF6020
Message content:-
#M1BPRG/FNQFA6020/DTYMML,27O,122,073546,304191
-------------------------------------[03/09/2009 16:53]

[Joseph Saragozza.]

wasnt sure if anyone notice but VH-VZF/ZX-ZQA is Qantas 75th 737 along with nose art.

image can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smartjunco/3880372614/

speaking of images, is there any others pictures other than this one?

[Mick B]

Hmm...should that read "Qantas 75th 737" or "Jetconnect 1st 737-800"?

Bit misleading if you ask me...doesn't it have a NZ flag on it and will end up with a NZ rego?

[Jason Carruthers]

Looks a bit awkward having "Spirit of Australia" next to the kiwi flag. I suppose QF will remove this eventually? be nice if thet replaced it with "Jetconnect" titles.


*EDIT

Maybe not. I know JTS kept it but I thought that was only to get into service quickly but as it would turn out JTR (http://myaviation.net/?pid=01631650) now also has it too!

[Sarah C]

It is the 75th 737 delivered to Qantas..........they have purchased the aircraft, they will just change the rego so it is operated by Jetconnect. It is just timing that it will go straight into operation with Jetconnect.

[Dave Dale]

I believe that sister ship VH-VZG is not far behind. Departed Honolulu on 4th September on route to Australia.

[Sarah C]

For those who are interested, these 738's won't continue the tradition of the exisiting 738's in the fleet. The existing 738's are named after places (except for Yananyi Dreaming) - the new ones are named after people.

ZK-ZQA is named "Jean Batten" and ZK-ZQB is named "Sir William Hudson".

[Dave Dale]

Thanks Sarah. I do like Qantas' 738's and the name changes will be a nice touch.

[Gerard M]

wasnt sure if anyone notice but VH-VZF/ZX-ZQA is Qantas 75th 737 along with nose art.

image can be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smartjunco/3880372614/

speaking of images, is there any others pictures other than this one?

Found this one with the new rego. ZK-ZQA taken a couple of days ago in Melbourne.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brucek68/3928321920/sizes/l/in/pool-72295329@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brucek68/3928320750/sizes/l/

There are a couple of others out there too.

Not sure on the other days but today it was operating Brisbane-Auckland as QF125

[Brandon Giacomin]

ZK-ZQC will be named "Katherine Mansfield"

[Mike W]

^ Isn't Mansfield a New Zealand author?

[Lee M]

Sure is. Wrote a number of famous (in NZ atleast) short stories

[Peter Agatsiotis]

VH-VZH is on its way; ferried Boeing Field - Honolulu on the 6th Oct.

I haven't seen any reports of it yesterday or today so far.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

VZH is now tracking Noumea-Melbourne eta MEL is 1700 (courtesy Ian Gains)

On Planeplotter to the east of Brisbane.

[Dave Dale]

Hi all

Just doing some research and came to a dead end. Does anyone know if the jetconnect 738's are owned outright by Qantas or are they leased? I recall when they came through Australia on their way to New Zealand they arrived under companies like VH-VZG Pty Ltd. Is there anyone who maybe able to shed some light on this?

Dave

[Sarah C]

- Ordered new by Qantas Airways Ltd
- Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VZH. Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-ZQC
- Leased to Qantas Airways Ltd as registered operator. Leased to Jetconnect Ltd, Auckland as registered operator
- Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 21, 2009

[Oliver Gigacz]

Does anyone know when the next batch of 738s for Qantas are scheduled to arrive?

[Dave Dale]

A media statement from 25/08/2010 states that the next five 737-800's arrive from March 2011.

http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2010/aug10/5013

Dave