[not] Last 734 flight send off! 15th Feb

[moa999]

Interesting this thread on pprune suggesting the 717s may not be the perfect replacement for CBR routes.

Qlink Cobham 717s payload limited - PPRuNe Forums

 

[samh004]

Long thread... seemed to be conjecture with a whole load dispelling the rumour, though whether they know what they're talking about or not I wouldn't know. They seem like it.

Basically, seems like someone at QF wanted them to do a fuel stop, thinking it'll save them more money than updating the thrust on the engines, but most say it'll be short lived and they'll work out fast that it'll cost them more.

 

[moa999]

Agreed that it was an awful lot of conjecture...

I also suspect that it might be very different if it was a mainline route, not QLink Cobham.
There are some who seem determined to drive QF to the wall.

 

[JohnK]

Hope people have flexible tickets...

On AFF? Isnt the most popular thing to book the cheapest flights possible for these type of events?

 

[vertisol]

Currently sitting on a 734 in MEL awaiting takeoff for CBR. The dream isn't over yet....

 

[samh004]

The final flight appears to have been pushed back a week to the 22nd Feb. ADL-SYD.

Post #8:

Friday 21/2/14
QF783 Dep SYD 1745 Arr ADL 1900 (Aircraft will overnight)
Saturday 22/2/14
QF732 Dep ADL 0700 Arr SYD 0910

I've looked at new flights and changing existing flights and will live with not taking the final flight, but having a good time in ADL nonetheless.

 

[serfty]

Looking ahead, 2 appear to be scheduled to operate several MEL/CBR segments on the 23rd with the one SYD/CBR early in the day.

 

[samh004]

The final flight has, at this stage, been confirmed to be QF819 CBR-MEL on Sunday 23rd February 2014. Nothing special has been planned. As relayed to me from the P1 SST.

 

[penegal]

The final flight has, at this stage, been confirmed to be QF819 CBR-MEL on Sunday 23rd February 2014. Nothing special has been planned. As relayed to me from the P1 SST.

Did they give you a ticket on that service?

 

[samh004]

Did they give you a ticket on that service?

No, I considered booking a BNE-CBR-MEL-BNE trip but it priced at $550!

Besides, my favourite seats were 1D/F and I'm not stumping for them

 

[vertisol]

My favourite seat has become one on a 717 looking over at the 734 I just avoided getting on..

 

[harvyk]

I'll be honest, there is a little bit of nostalgia for me and the 734's. They where the type which took me for my very first visit to PER back in 94 / 95 as a wee young lad, back when main screen was the be all and end all of on board entertainment, music was via audio pipe, and every flight had a full 3 course meal even in Y... That said, that nostalgia is not enough to make me actually want to go on the last service.

 

[Lowjhg]

QF763 on the 16th of Feb is a 734, i wonder if that's the last flight?

 

[serfty]

23rd Feb are the last currently scheduled flights. There will be two 734 aircraft operating that day mainly flying between MEL and CBR.

 

[samh004]

I'm in ADL! Will be guesting a fellow AFFer into the lounge tomorrow so not a total loss.

 

[serfty]

The two remaining QF 734 are TJX and TJS.

Their current last operational flights scheduled are QF815 and QF819, both being CBR-MEL.

At MEL, the current plan is for some post operational cleanup for a week or so.

As for where they are to be retired to, on March 5th, they are both off to SYD 'in convoy'.

Next day, with an early start (still 'in convoy') they are off to Honolulu via Apia. After overnighting there they are flying the 4200Km or so direct to Victorville.

 

[PeteJ]

Thanks serfty for the update. They've been great workhorses for Qantas.

I'm on QF819 this Sunday, just for old times' sake.

Any other AFFers on this flight?

The two remaining QF 734 are TJX and TJS.

Their current last operational flights scheduled are QF815 and QF819, both being CBR-MEL.

At MEL, the current plan is for some post operational cleanup for a week or so.

As for where they are to be retired to, on March 5th, they are both off to SYD 'in convoy'.

Next day, with an early start (still 'in convoy') they are off to Honolulu via Apia. After overnighting there they are flying the 4200Km or so direct to Victorville.

 

[markis10]

Keeping aircraft too long brings some unique problems:

Southwest Airlines is beginning to run up against reliability, parts obsolescence and supply challenges with the attitude display indicator (ADI) on the 737 Classic fleet, says Kent Horton, Southwest’s director of engineering.
“Right now, the situation is manageable, but we are monitoring it closely as unit availability on the open market shrinks and repair capacity also diminishes,” he says. “At this juncture, we are looking at whether we will need to change suppliers, or purchase additional spares to ensure a ready supply on hand. However, we are always looking for alternative sources of supply, as well as repairs in the supply chain.”
Despite reliability and spare parts issues, Southwest does not have any plans—at least for now—to replace the electro-mechanical coughpits on the 130 Boeing 737-300s and -500s it still flies, Horton says: “We are always evaluating the future of our 737-300s and -500s, which includes possible coughpit modifications as fleet planning warrants.”

Southwest Faces 737 Classics Avionics Problems

 

[Boris spatsky]

Yep, obsolescence is a major issue, especially when sub manufacturers stop supporting key aircraft components.

 

[AIRwin]

I'm on QF819 this Sunday, just for old times' sake.

Welcome back! Was it a full flight and any special acknowledgment?