Another Points Plane?? - Final flight for one of our 'Queen of the Skies'

[Matt_01]

Not sure if this one is new or not, saw this after logging into my account.

Clicking on the link brings up this

 

[RooFlyer]

Its being sold as a normal revenue flight (as well).

Biz is wide open on EF.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Its being sold as a normal revenue flight (as well).

Biz is wide open on EF.

Pay market rate for our 17yo plane...no thanks.

I have been on several of these recently (QF27-QF28) and many seats are failing, IFE failing, AC not working etc. I love the 747 but these birds are long past their use-by date.

 

[kpro]

Is this the first ER to be retired?

many seats are failing, IFE failing,

That's interesting, haven't been on a 747 for a while. The ones still in service had their interiors refurbished 7 years ago though, so they're all relatively new. Newer then the A380 interiors anyway (albeit those are currently being refreshed). Beyond the Skybed MK2 droop, what is failing?

 

[justinbrett]

Pay market rate for our 17yo plane...no thanks.

I have been on several of these recently (QF27-QF28) and many seats are failing, IFE failing, AC not working etc. I love the 747 but these birds are long past their use-by date.

17 years is not old in this industry. The 767s were 29 years old when they were retired. I miss them.

 

[robtemt]

This showed up on my +1's roster bid. I told him based on feedback from others on 747 retirement flights to not bother, he wants to crew it. I'll let you (who are going) know if he is crew on board.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

17 years is not old in this industry. The 767s were 29 years old when they were retired. I miss them.

I never had an issue with 767s...great domestic flights on them however one time SYD-HNL was a bit tough in Y.

 

[justinbrett]

I never had an issue with 767s...great domestic flights on them however one time SYD-HNL was a bit tough in Y.

I’m about to get on Q3 tonight in Y, I’m not sure it is much better on an A330!

 

[moa999]

Is this the first ER to be retired?

Yes. All 6 remaining 747s are the only ERs.

Believe 3 expected to go by mid-year.
Then you've got 3 more 787 deliveries and the remainder are going by the end of the year.

Will mean QF will be down 3 aircraft for next year's holiday schedule versus this year, so some speculation some may be retained a little longer or some JQ 788s come across as JQ gets its first 321neoLRs, or schedule changes (no YVR or extra US flights)

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Was there a timeline where the 747s were gone earlier? I didn't think they would be around until the end of 2020?

 

[justinbrett]

Was there a timeline where the 747s were gone earlier? I didn't think they would be around until the end of 2020?

There’s no way they’ll be retired until after their 100th anniversary celebrations

 

[jpp42]

Are any 747-400ER's being preserved? Or is the one at Albion Park airport (non-ER) the only one that will be preserved by Qantas? I recognize that the average punter won't really care about the difference between ER and non-ER.

 

[jb747]

Are any 747-400ER's being preserved? Or is the one at Albion Park airport (non-ER) the only one that will be preserved by Qantas? I recognize that the average punter won't really care about the difference between ER and non-ER.

The ER was an excellent update to the standard -400. The could still be going strong, but....

 

[flyer89]

The ER was an excellent update to the standard -400. The could still be going strong, but....

having flown on them several times recently I still find them to be in very good nick. It’s a joy of an aircraft with a great sound. How did they handle in comparison to the ‘classics’? Bit more sports car like?

 

[jb747]

having flown on them several times recently I still find them to be in very good nick. It’s a joy of an aircraft with a great sound. How did they handle in comparison to the ‘classics’? Bit more sports car like?

If memory serves correctly, there was a bit more power and a bit more weight. So they tend to cancel out. But, it seemed to perform the same at its heavier maximum as the standard aircraft at the lower figure. The pilots, especially those from the 767, had quite a liking for the CF6 engines though, and they had a more sprightly feel to them than the RRs.

There were many detail differences. More fuel, via another central tank. Different screens (the CRTs giving way to LCD).

 

[Danger]

The config for this aircraft seems to be non-refurbed, with old F, is that correct?

 

[Fergo747]

The config for this aircraft seems to be non-refurbed, with old F, is that correct?

No, EF is showing that it's a 'refurbed' (I use that term very lightly) 747. Also still wide open!

 

[Carrots]

The ER was an excellent update to the standard -400. The could still be going strong, but....

But if they don't have money spent on them they tend to fall (not literally) in a heap?