Qantas’s first Boeing 747-400 has landed at Illawarra Airport, Australia

[xtemujin 0]

VH-OJA touches down at Illawarra Airport

By australianaviation.com.au | 8 March 2015 Sunday

 

Qantas’s first Boeing 747-400 has landed at Illawarra Airport, bringing to an end to the historic aircraft’s 25-year flying career.

Operating its last flight at QF7474, the jumbo, registration VH-OJA, took off from Sydney Airport on Runway 16R with Captain Greg Matthews, Second Officer Michael East and Captain Ossie Miller in the flight deck at 0737 local time on Sunday.

It landed at Illawarra Airport on time a couple of minutes later than the scheduled 0747 touchdown.

Huge crowds were on hand on the NSW south coast to greet the aircraft, which rolled off the Boeing production line in 1989 and entered the record books with its non-stop London to Sydney delivery flight later that same year.

VH-OJA will be handed over to the Historical Aviation Restoration Society and be open to the public.

More to come later today

http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/03/vh-oja-touches-down-at-illawarra-airport/

Edited March 7, 2015 by xtemujin

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

The relatively short and narrow runway at Illawara Airport WOL makes the landing of VH-OJA a very challenging task.

VH-OJA carried approx 25 tonne of fuel for this mission

 

 

Here are some interesting reads regadring the prep works

 

 

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/05/16/59/no-room-for-error-as-qantas-prepares-for-one-of-the-toughest-scheduled-landings-in-its-history

 

http://hars.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/QF7474-arrival-FAQ.pdf

 

 

 

While waiting for the arrival of VH-OJA City of Canberra

Outside airport fence @ Illawara Regional Airport (WOL)

 

 

 

 

 

Outside HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society) Museum hangar, where the final resting place for VH-OJA

Edited March 8, 2015 by Kee Hooi Yen

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

With less than 10 mins to STA, the spectators were waiting patiently

 

 

[zeqa 1]

wow..Keep updating & post a vid

[S V Choong 4]

Illawara is also the airport for Wollongong, right?

 

Wonder if the Qantas Museum at Longreach, QLD will receive another 744 for preservation too? Would be good if they preserve the 747-400ER model as it is one of a kind.

 

Videos:

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/03/08/08/18/masterful-touchdown-as-qantas-flight-crew-land-historical-747-at-regional-airport

Edited March 8, 2015 by S V Choong

[BC Tam 2]

25 tonnes of fuel for a 17 minute hop ?!

I'm guessing it's the effort required to get the bird off the ground that guzzles juice most rapidly

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

25 tonnes of fuel for a 17 minute hop ?!

I'm guessing it's the effort required to get the bird off the ground that guzzles juice most rapidly

 

There is a provision for go around until 10am and return to SYD if the weather is not favaourable. There is low threshold for cross wind and tail wind due to the challenging runway for a B744

 

 

The very last landing of VH-OJA..... a smooth landing. Bravo to the pilots

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 8, 2015 by Kee Hooi Yen

[BC Tam 2]

There is a provision for go around until 10am and return to SYD if the weather is not favaourable. There is low threshold for cross wind and tail wind due to the challenging runway for a B744

Meaning they had to carry extra fuel (weight) because the meteorological boys/girls could not confidently forecast the weather conditions over a 17 minute gap ?!

Wonder how they dealt with the fuel leftover from the flight (assuming there was leftovers) ?

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Wonder how they dealt with the fuel leftover from the flight (assuming there was leftovers) ?

 

The aircraft will be de-fuelled

 

 

 

VH-OJA went all the way to the end of runway

 

 

 

Wait for the wheel brake to cool down before towed to HARS

 

I believe the fire truck was sent down from SYD airport for the landing of VH-OJA this morning

[Radzi 2]

Meaning they had to carry extra fuel (weight) because the meteorological boys/girls could not confidently forecast the weather conditions over a 17 minute gap ?!

Wonder how they dealt with the fuel leftover from the flight (assuming there was leftovers) ?

 

Don't think those pilots will touch the aircraft unless there is enough fuel to the destination + alternate + reserve, just like any other flight.

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Illawara is also the airport for Wollongong, right?

 

 

I think so, it is only 20km from Wollongong albeit it only serves for light aircrafts, no scheduled commercial flights

 

 

 

Edited March 8, 2015 by Kee Hooi Yen

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

GoPro footage from the flightdeck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0f8srL_mq4#t=204

[zeqa 1]

So I guess in 10 years time . A380 will be displayed at one of Australia municipal airport.

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

From the local council meeting minutes :

http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/filedata/pdf/20150209_BPExtraordinaryCouncilMeeting9February2015web.pdf

 

 

Some key points :

• Under a 5 year lease agreement, HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society - the recipient of VH-OJA as a gift from QF) will pay the council $10,400 per annum being 'licence to park aircraft' (ie parking fee). However, the council will subsidy $5,626 per annum
• HARS will also be imposed a $650 fee per annum being 'Lease of Airspace' as sections of the aircraft including left wing and tail wing will overhang 6.9m above council road.

 

[zeqa 1]

^^They should consider it as a free shade for cars..

[S V Choong 4]

Wow Mr. Kee did you go and witness this once-in-a-lifetime event? That would be awesome!

 

Haha the one world livery 744 in the photoshoped picture looked to be VH-OJU rather than VH-OJA

 

Thats pretty generous of Qantas. Hope something of this nature can be done in Malaysia too.

Edited March 9, 2015 by S V Choong

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Wow Mr. Kee did you go and witness this once-in-a-lifetime event? That would be awesome!

 

 

Yes, I caught the first train out of Sydney Central Station at approx 5am. My carriage was full of youngsters going back to Wollongong after party all night long at Sydney Mardi Gras.

 

Sydney Central Station at 5am.

 

 

More photos from yesterday event

 

VH-OJA being towed to temporary parking bay next to HARS museum hangar

 

 

So this was the flight crew that took the GoPro shoots

 

 

 

 

 

 

VH-OJA was temporary parked on existing apron before moving onto a permanent concrete slab. Some big plastic mats were placed under the wheels to help to spread the load across a bigger area hence reducing loading to the existing asphalt apron

 

 

Permission was granted from Boeing to reduce the tyre presssure in all eighteen wheels to ensure that the weight of the aircraft was evenly distributed on the runway surface, reducing the risk of damage to the runway

 

 

The crowds

 

 

VIPs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tired of B744 ? Here is a side dish

 

 

[BC Tam 2]

Hope something of this nature can be done in Malaysia too.

Don't hold your breath, Waiping has reported arrest of spotter at KLIA recently

http://www.malaysianwings.com/forum/index.php?s=82b486464e88e9b44722d914a13d9a17&showtopic=20287&hl=

Doesn't seem our appreciation of things aviation here is appreciated that much by those in authority here

[Alif A. F. 0]

I still remember back when QF sent their B747-200 into retirement and donated it to Qantas Founders Outback Museum in Longreach, QLD. The pilots had to practice the landing at Longreach Airport for several times in the simulator due to the airport's short runway.

 

Can we suggests to MAS to donate their last Boeing 747 or 777 to some small airports too to spur local economy and initiate interest of aviation among the public outside Klang Valley?

[S V Choong 4]

I still remember back when QF sent their B747-200 into retirement and donated it to Qantas Founders Outback Museum in Longreach, QLD. The pilots had to practice the landing at Longreach Airport for several times in the simulator due to the airport's short runway.

 

Can we suggests to MAS to donate their last Boeing 747 or 777 to some small airports too to spur local economy and initiate interest of aviation among the public outside Klang Valley?

 

Please send to the hinterland out East... we need the economic stimulation there. TWU or SDK please. Both should be 747/777 ready (from what I heard)?

 

Whoa Mr. Kee, that's looks like a good 300mm to 400mm zoom lens at your disposal! Great coverage of this bird. Was this event widely advertised? I would hop onto the plane from Melbourne too, if I am still based in Australia.

 

Hope the drunken kids on the train did not cause too much of a chaos in the train you boarded to Wollongong...

Edited March 9, 2015 by S V Choong

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

 

Please send to the hinterland out East... we need the economic stimulation there. TWU or SDK please. Both should be 747/777 ready (from what I heard)?

 

Whoa Mr. Kee, that's looks like a good 300mm to 400mm zoom lens at your disposal! Great coverage of this bird. Was this event widely advertised? I would hop onto the plane from Melbourne too, if I am still based in Australia.

 

Hope the drunken kids on the train did not cause too much of a chaos in the train you boarded to Wollongong...

 

The thing is I don't recall there is any aviation museum in Malaysia.......

 

 

Yes, the event was widely reported by the local media. QF held a briefing session explaining the planning and preparation works few days before the event.

 

I know many came from outstation to the small town of Albion Park to witness this historical moment. It was reported some even camped outside the perimeter fence a night before.

 

The kids on the train were not too bad, only thing was I couldn't get a good sleep on the 2 hours train journey.

 

After the kids had set down at Wollongong train station, with another approx 20 minutes to my destination ~ empty car

 

After I set down at my stop only I realised that many others who came for the same event were in other carriages in the same train I took.........

[xtemujin 0]

Many thanks for the trip report and great photos.

 

Cheers.

 

 

GoPro footage from the flightdeck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0f8srL_mq4#t=204

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Made a visit to Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in Illawarra Regional Airport, Albion Park, NSW. It is also the final resting place for QF's 1st B747-400, VH-OJA.

 

VH-OJA was donated to HARS by QF after QF has retired her in Mar 2015.

 

 

The engines are still in working condition. QF is planning to take back the engines to service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economy

 

Our tour guide. There are many volunteers from HARS offering their service for the guided tour. This is business class at the front end

 

Some messages left by QF crew & engineering staffs at her retirement

 

Stairs to the upper deck

 

Business Class at the upper deck

 

 

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Some other displays

 

 

DC-3

 

Mirage IIIO

 

 

One of my favourite, Super Constellation (Connie)

[JuliusWong 0]

Thanks Ken for the picture. There are some rumours QF wanted to take back the engines, glad they put them back on.