Qantas Retires Last Boeing B747
On Wednesday 22nd July 2020, Qantas retired the last Boeing B747 in their Fleet, after operating the Type for 49 years. VH-OEJ was the last retirement, and Qantas hosted a Farewell Ceremony in Hangar 96 to mark this sad occasion.Because of COVID-19 guest numbers were restricted to 150, mainly Qantas Staff, however I was fortunate to be invited to attend by Qantas. Boeing B747-400ER VH-OEJ was moved into Hangar 96 for the Farewell Ceremony, with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, and Boeing Australia President Brendan Nelson, addressing the invited guests. A highlight of the B747 Final Flight Farewell was a poem written by B747 First Officer Jeff Cowell. Jeff has logged more than 12,500 hours in the 747’s cockpit, and a copy of his poem will be left in the logbook of VH-OEJ when she is finally parked in the Mojave Desert.
Flight Crew: Captain Sharelle Quinn, Ewan Cameron, Gregory Fitzgerald, Owen Weaver; F/O Quin Ledden; S/O Owen Zupp
Hangar 96 Farewell Ceremony - VH-OEJ
The formal part of the B747 Farewell Ceremony included a Welcome To Country with dance, an address by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Boeing Australia President Brendan Nelson, and a poem by B747 First Officer Geoff Cowell
B747 First Officer Geoff Cowell reciting his moving poem about the Boeing B747
With the Farewell Ceremony completed, it was time to push VH-OEJ out of Hangar 96 in preparation for final flight from Australia
After 90 flights on the Boeing B747-200, -300, -400, and -400ER, including one flight on VH-OEJ Wunala, this was probably my last chance to be up close with the Queen Of The Skies, and think back on some of the great memories I have, of flying on this magnificant aircraft. I also managed two flights on the original Wunala Dreaming VH-OJB
The Qantas B747-400ER were powered by GE engines, while the B747-400 were Rolls Royce Powered
A close up of the Nose Gear with those two now historic letters "EJ" on the Bay Doors
A view of the full nose gear and tyres
None of the B747 Fleet were painted in the current Qantas livery, because of their planned retirement, however it is some what of an acknowledgement of the long history of service, the B747 has had with Qantas
The Wunala name and Logo are a reminder of the impressive Wunala Dreaming livery this aircraft once carried
The stairs are in place for the final Crew to board the aircraft, and fly her to retirement in the Mojave desert
Guests were both sad and excited to walk around the aircraft one last time
The last Qantas Boeing B747 Tail to be seen at Sydney Airport
Hangar 96 is normally the home of Qantas Airbus A380 undergoing maintenance, however OEJ filled the hangar beautifully
The 1.8m winglets stand tall on this proud day
Qantas Cabin Crew uniforms from the early days of B747 operations
Guests were invited to write some parting words on the fuselage of VH-OEJ
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce writing some final words on OEJ
These were my parting words to OEJ - Joe Sutter managed the Design Team on the B747, and became known as the "Father of the 747". To design an aircraft that has remained in production for over 50 years is an impressive achievement
More heart felt words from a Qantas Cabin Crew Member
Once pushed back out of Hangar 96, VH-OEJ made one final stop at the Domestic Terminal to load some cargo, before heading off to the Mojave desert
This is the final VH-OEJ Push Back from the Domestic Terminal, ahead of a Water Cannon Salute, and a lap of honour of Sydney Airport
VH-OEJ taxies for her final takeoff in Australia
ARFF Tenders 2 & 5 provided the Water Cannon Salute as OEJ crossed Runway 07/25
There were plenty of Aviation Enthusiasts on hand at Shep's Mound, to say a final close up farewell to OEJ as she taxied by
A late change of Runway allowed OEJ to cross Runway 16R/34L, and head back to the north past the International Terminal, where a good crowd had gathered for some final shots
Rolling on Runway 16R for her final takeoff on Australian soil
OEJ looked magnificent as she climbed out from Runway 16R at Sydney Airport
After takeoff, OEJ turned west, and then came back over the Airport for a final fly by
From Sydney Airport, OEJ headed up the coast and then made a pass along Sydney Harbour in both directions. A right turn off the coast and OEJ headed for Shellharbour Airport to the south of Sydney, where she made a low pass over the first Qantas Boeing B747-400 VH-OJA, which is on display at HARS
In a totally unexpected move, VH-OEJ started heading for the US, then deviated to draw a Flying Kangaroo in the sky (seen here on FlightRadar24)
On display in Hangar 96 was a series of historic images of the Boeing B747
The first manufactured B747 at Boeing's Everett Factory in 1968, with Cabin Crew representing all the Airlines with orders for the aircraft
The first Qantas B747, VH-EBA on an early test flight from Seattle in 1971
Qantas' first B747 interiors embraced the 1970s aesthetic, most notable the First Class Upper Deck Lounge
Between 1971 and 1984, Qantas B747s carried the distinctive "ochre stripe" livery
In 1989, the London-Sydney delivery flight of the first Qantas B747-400 variant (VH-OJA) set a non-stop world record for a commercial aircraft, travelling 18,000 km in just over 20hrs
The Queen greets guests after arriving on a Qantas B747 to commence the 1992 Royal Tour of Australia
In the 1990s Qantas commissioned two striking Indigenous liveries for B747s as part of its Flying Art series. The Nalanji Dreaming livery featured on VH-EBU (front), with Wunala Dreaming (behind) adorning two B747s (VH-OJB and VH-OEJ)
A parting photograph of me with VH-OEJ, the Queen Of The Skies - Long Live The Queen
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