A high time engine to be fitted. A few other bits are being swapped too.

So unlikely to fly again then, other than to position to her forever home?

Qantas issued a press release on the 22/ Jan which has now been withdrawn with a promise of a further release on the 30 Jan . In the original it stated that OJA will be donated to HARS and that delivery would be in early March , with the aim of officially handing over the aircraft on 15 March to coincide with the HARS open day ..

Dave C

If rumours are true we might have to start a QF B744 reactivation thread, with 2 rumoured to be coming out of VCV for the VYR flights and possible new and returning routes.

I'm sure others might be able to confirm or deny.

I read this on another forum (airliners.net) and apparently there is significant cost in reactivating any of the parked aircraft.

Not only that the ones that were choose to go into retirement were done so based on how far they were off needing a major check, so an added cost there too.

If they were to bring 2 747's out of VCV which ones are left after the sale to Jet Midwest, are they OJC, OJD & OJO or have these been scrapped?

OJA to HARS now confirmed.

http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/med...viation-museum

This is great news for HARS, the Illawarra and aviation enthusiasts in general - I plan to be there for the arrival, what an amazing event it will be.

I read somewhere earlier (and I can't remember where sorry) that it will be housed in a big building at HARS. I have never been to the airport at Illawarra, but would imagine it to be a small airport and to have a building big enough for a 747, what a boon for the incoming VH-OJA - protected from the elements.

I'd be interested in who's funding such a building. HARS is a great place to visit!

Found the article:

QANTAS 747-400 VH-OJA TO RETIRE IN ILLAWARRA
JANUARY 25, 2015|DR. DARREN DELANEY (THE FLIGHT DOC)|AIRCRAFT, AIRLINE, AIRPORT, BREAKING NEWS, NEWS|0 COMMENTS
In early March 2015 the people of Sydney will witness the last flight of one of Qantas Airways special ‘Jumbo’ Boeing 747 multi-deck airliners. Weather permitting, VH-OJA will be retired on what is to be possibly one of the shortest flights (outside of testing) ever taken by a Boeing 747-400. VH-OJA ‘City of Longreach’ will depart from the Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport at Mascot around the 8/9 March flying to the Illawarra Regional Airport at Wollongong located less than 50 nautical miles to the south of Sydney. The short sector leg for this wide-bodied long-haul aircraft is predicted to take no more than around 10 minutes.

VH-OJA will be the first Boeing 747-400 in the Qantas fleet to retire. It is historically significant as the carrier’s first aircraft to fly the ‘Kangaroo Route’ between Australia and the United Kingdom via Singapore. Although originally thought to be destined for the commercial jet graveyard of California’s Victorville she is set to lay rest on the South Coast of New South Wales as a gift from Qantas keeping her in Australia for perpetuity to celebrate her place in aviation history.

As an artefact of Australian history VH-OJA is likely to become a popular tourist attraction and thus a boon for the economy of the South Coast of New South Wales. However, a difficult problem for her custodians, the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), will be maintaining her fuselage in the harsh onshore environmental conditions that notoriously hits the Illawarra region. Although retired outdoors, the dilapidated and seemingly unloved Boeing 747 (serial number #001), “City of Everett”, located at Seattle’s Museum of Flight in the United States is an example of what can happen to aircraft exposed to unpredictably bitter weather conditions.

HARS, a not-for-profit organisation formed in 1979 by a group of aviation enthusiasts interested in the preservation of Australian aviation history will likely take custody of the Boeing 747-400 in early March. VH-OJA is most suitably to find her place in the Museum and Education Building financed by a Federal Government Grant of $275,000 in the late 1990s. With some 10 flying aircraft, and 3 static aircraft, the addition of the ‘Flying Kangaroo’ Boeing 747-400 to the museum fleet is a huge win for aviation history and the people of the Illawarra region.

HARS Open Days commence on the 2nd Friday of each month including the following Saturday and Sunday at a cost of $10 for adults and $2 for children. The “Wings Over Illawarra” Air Show planned for 2/3 May 2015 also given a fillip by the generous corporate gift is likely to see greater popularity by the general public and involvement of major industry players like Qantas.

http://www.pointsandmiles.com.au/?p=5036

Was OJA's last rev service QF64 on 13/01 ?

Affirmative, Greg. QF64 departing JNB 13/1 and arriving SYD 14/1.

Interesting that, having broken a long distance flight record early in her career, OJA is now set to break a short distance record to see that career out! I'm not a huge fan of the 747 (although I don't dislike them), but what an aircraft!

Thks Rowan,

The B747 changed commercial aviation for ever with the introduction of larger loads and cheaper flights.

I don't think the A380 has had that impact.

The problem is how to replace a B747 ?

Unfortunately Boeing missed the boat by not having a fuel hungry replacement ready to go.

We live in interesting times.

Would Qantas have bought them by the dozens so they could keep using 'the fuel costs are killing us' line? ;)


You did mean a fuel efficient replacement for the current fuel hungry aircraft?

They have, the 777-300ER has killed the 747.

And the 777X

That article has a heap of factual errors, makes you wonder what else is not accurate in it.

Sorry "efficient" was the word.

Why hasn't QF bought B777 ?

HAHAHAHA Greg. That's funny.

Been discussed many times before.

When the 777 came out the models on offer were too big for domestic and too big for Asia (where the 767 was still king) and without legs to go to the US and from Asia to Europe.

By the time the LR's and ER's had come out Qantas had already decided to go for the A380 for long haul, added some 747ER's too, the smaller A330 for Asia and later ordered the 787 for domestic. Remembering the original 787 plan was 788's to JQ, then when 789's came these would replace JQ 788's which would go as is to Qantas for domestic to replace 767's.

Of course the A380 program was delayed which meant the 747's stayed longer than planned, the 787 was also delayed which in turn delayed the 767's being removed, and of course we have had the Qantas restructure which has resulted in orders for long haul aircraft being deferred or cancelled.

So whilst one could say in hindsight Qantas should have ordered the 777, specifically the 777-300ER simple fact is they made other fleet decisions that they felt were right at the time, repeat AT THE TIME. Of course even now Qantas may be able to use a couple of 777-300ER's, the fact is they would only need a couple for niche routes, so hardly worth introducing a new type into the fleet for just a few a/c is it? More so when you think there are now aircraft available in the 789, and even the A350-900 or -1000's that would better suit Qantas.

Its great that this has been confirmed. The OJA deserves to be preserved and have many stories told and many youngsters learn many lessons. Being so accessible is an added bonus.

You can say that again! My head hurts from trying to read it..:rolleyes:

The "no more than about ten minutes" comment hurts too!

I'm by no means a grammar expert, far far from it and guilty of many errors, but if that was published that's embarrassing!!

Cheers

M

Worst kept secret really. Going to see if I can fit in a trip to the Gong (depending on time and money).

Out of OJI, OJM and OEB, who will be the NEXT TO GO?

I would expect OJI as it is the only one in the old livery, however it could be any of the three, will all depend on cycles, when maintenance is due, etc.

OJI is next to go.

Then no further retirements with OJM and OEB hanging around.

QF can't afford to drop any more B744s if they still plan to operate the existing schedule plus the seasonal extras etc.

This is going to be very interesting to watch as the old 744s go, there may not be enough. I wonder if they'll decide to take at least some of the remaining 8 a380s and / or b789s. Would QF be interested in the two Skymarks a380 frames that they cancelled?

Apparently Shellharbour Council has just formally approved OJA to come to Albion Park. Great news!

Now to wait for the date!

Fingers crossed for either 8th or 9th of March.

Ditto to that Matthew!

Looking like mid-March going by http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/...30/4171125.htm

March 8 will be the date when OJA positions to YWOL:

http://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-first...n=home-flipper

Although I'm pleased it's happening, I'm not entirely pleased - I have to drive through Albion Park on my way to Nowra and back.

Will have to keep my eyes wide open on traffic arrangements along the highway.

http://australianaviation.com.au/201...t-for-march-8/

Nice overhead shop of final location.

You can either go via Warilla, or if you know the back roads, through the back of Dapto and Marshall Mount which then brings you out in Albion Park - from there you can go via the scenic Jamberoo run to Kiama http://goo.gl/maps/o4WU8, or take the East-West link and rejoin the highway at the south end of Albion Park Rail http://goo.gl/maps/MGoHw

Any news on the next 747 retirement?