A full tour through VH OJA (retired 747-400 in Wollongong)

[PaulST]

This probably isn't the usual trip report, as the plane never left the ground, but it was very interesting nonetheless!

As I'm sure most of you are aware, VH OJA, the first -400 series 747 delivered to QF (and the one that took part in the record breaking flight from LHR to SYD non-stop) was retired to the HARS aviation museum in Wollongong in 2015 and they now offer several different types of tours.
Yesterday I took part in the $195 premium tour which was taken by a retired 777/747 captain, a former QF engineer and a former QF CSM. The whole tour was really good although the first hour in the coughpit was great fun with the captain running us through the basic controls and then a few scenarios (ie engine failure before V1, engine fire after takeoff, dumping fuel...etc). The CSM then ran us through the interior of the aircraft followed by the engineer running us through the technical side.
Over-all, it was a really great day and the level of technical detail can vary depending on the interest of the visitors.

Here's a video I put together of the day:
[video=youtube_share;SwZy8Wg9bnE]https://youtu.be/SwZy8Wg9bnE[/video]

 

[lathiat]

OK thats awesome, I need to get there and see it for myself!

 

[kelvedon]

Thanks Paul. A fascinating tour, got to see parts of the aircraft I've never seen before. Very informative.

 

[Quickstatus]

Pity about the other 3 engines

 

[kpc]

Nice video. I did a tour of the Boeing 747-238B, City of Bunbury, VH-EBQ at the Qantas Founders' Outback Museum in Longreach a couple years back which featured an earlier version of the 747 shown here...

 

[kermatu]

Tour looks great. Thanks for posting the terrific video too.

 

[PaulST]

Nice video. I did a tour of the Boeing 747-238B, City of Bunbury, VH-EBQ at the Qantas Founders' Outback Museum in Longreach a couple years back which featured an earlier version of the 747 shown here...

Yep the tour of the 742 at Longreach is great although one real plus of this 744 tour is that you get to play with the aircrafts controls. The throttle, for example, on the 742 is locked in position (reverse thrust from memory).

 

[straitman]

This probably isn't the usual trip report, as the plane never left the ground, but it was very interesting nonetheless!

As I'm sure most of you are aware, VH OJA, the first -400 series 747 delivered to QF (and the one that took part in the record breaking flight from LHR to SYD non-stop) was retired to the HARS aviation museum in Wollongong in 2015 and they now offer several different types of tours.
Yesterday I took part in the $195 premium tour which was taken by a retired 777/747 captain, a former QF engineer and a former QF CSM. The whole tour was really good although the first hour in the coughpit was great fun with the captain running us through the basic controls and then a few scenarios (ie engine failure before V1, engine fire after takeoff, dumping fuel...etc). The CSM then ran us through the interior of the aircraft followed by the engineer running us through the technical side.
Over-all, it was a really great day and the level of technical detail can vary depending on the interest of the visitors.

Here's a video I put together of the day:
[video=youtube_share;SwZy8Wg9bnE]https://youtu.be/SwZy8Wg9bnE[/video]

A great little writeup and recording. Thanks PaulST.

 

[Mark1966]

Done the tour myself and DEFINITELY worth it. The HARS volunteers are great and many flew on that 747 and have memories of it. Their love for the plane is palpable