Qantas Fleet Disposals/Aircraft Retirement

[markis10]

RU you sure of this?

I saw OED depart AKL on Saturday evening operating QF25. It would have arrived in LAX Saturday morning. If it operated any of the commercial flights back to Oz that day it would not have arrived back until this morning.

yes

DateRegistrationTypeOperatorFlightnumRouteMsgNoMessage
13/09/2009 15:25VH-OEDB744QantasQF0107SYD-LAX-JFKS56A

No trace of ACARS reports for OED at AKL in the last 7 days.

OJD operated QF25 on Sat

VH-OJD (B744 QF) 0926 20090912 QF0025 (NZAA-LAX) [[+12:00] Auckland [1.70RC3]]

 

[anat0l]

Interesting how the two 747s that are being retired have been "recently" fitted with Y+. My guess - and most probable outcome - will be that they will recover the hardware to refit some of the other 747s, notably one or two of the remaining 2-class 747s, creating 3-class J/Y+/Y config'ed 747s.

I think QF will have enough to cover the retirements in the fleet. What do they do with all those 2-class 747s? There can't be that many routes that use all of them, let alone the entire 747 fleet. What's going on here?

 

[NM]

Importantly they also had unique engines and both the ex MH aircraft developed airframe issues as a result of poor maintenance. OED left Australian soil today for probaly the last time as QF107 and will fly to the desert (VCV) after returning to LAX as QF108 for JFK.

The "unique engines" was actually an advantage to Qantas. The GE engines were every so slightly more efficient than the RB211-524G/H on the rest of the 744 fleet, allowing less weight restrictions on the Pacific route and better ability to compete with UA's 744s operating on the route. That is why they were almost exclusively used trans-Pacific.

 

[markis10]

The "unique engines" was actually an advantage to Qantas. The GE engines were every so slightly more efficient than the RB211-524G/H on the rest of the 744 fleet, allowing less weight restrictions on the Pacific route and better ability to compete with UA's 744s operating on the route. That is why they were almost exclusively used trans-Pacific.

The advantages offered by the GE engines did not overcome the other costs, QF simply operated them on the Pacific route because it was the best route to minimise costs and the most profitable for QF, once the situation changed with the GFC and more operators came onboard it was an easy decision to work out which aircraft could be retired, despite the fact there are 6 other 747's that are older.

Interstingly someone at QF had a sense of humour, naming all of the ugly sisters after islands .


Looks like OED maybe on its way back, perhaps its got a slight reprieve, would be interesting to here what current interior its got given the trip to the boneyard is not too far away and it had a week off !

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Interesting how the two 747s that are being retired have been "recently" fitted with Y+. My guess - and most probable outcome - will be that they will recover the hardware to refit some of the other 747s, notably one or two of the remaining 2-class 747s, creating 3-class J/Y+/Y config'ed 747s.

I think QF will have enough to cover the retirements in the fleet. What do they do with all those 2-class 747s? There can't be that many routes that use all of them, let alone the entire 747 fleet. What's going on here?

A set of Skybeds anyone?

The QF disposals team were selling Dreamtime seats a few years ago at $900 a set (+ freight).. v1.0 Skybeds would certainly make a nice addition to one's loungeroom..

ZK-JNN departed NZ today bound for the US..

Cheers

 

[anat0l]

v1.0 Skybeds would certainly make a nice addition to one's loungeroom..

Skybed 1.5 - now with a 51" plasma AVOD

ZK-JNN departed NZ today bound for the US..

How does a 733 get across the Pacific?

Sounds like the plot for a new children's story title for it's kiddie's fun packs: "The little 737-300 that could"

 

[NM]

How does a 733 get across the Pacific?

Perhaps SYD-APW-HNL-LAX for a 733 with no pax.

 

[markis10]

Perhaps SYD-APW-HNL-LAX for a 733 with no pax.

Got it in 1 NM! JNN departed AKL around 0600NZST bound for Apia and Honolulu as QF6024. It had not operated since arriving in AKL from SYD Sept 8 as QF 113.

 

[serfty]

Got it in 1 NM! JNN departed AKL around 0600NZST bound for Apia and Honolulu as QF6024. It had not operated since arriving in AKL from SYD Sept 8 as QF 113.

And even then it had not been scheduled to operate the 114/113 turnaround; it was a late notice sub - arriving back into AKL over 4½ hours later than scheduled.

 

[NM]

Got it in 1 NM! JNN departed AKL around 0600NZST bound for Apia and Honolulu as QF6024. It had not operated since arriving in AKL from SYD Sept 8 as QF 113.

A good guess then. NAN-HNL just looked a little too far, so APW looks like a better break for the journey. Not too many other options though, apart from going around the North Pacific ferry run as is often used for short-range aircraft deliveries, but that is a LOT further.

 

[djfuzz]

A set of Skybeds anyone?

The QF disposals team were selling Dreamtime seats a few years ago at $900 a set (+ freight).. v1.0 Skybeds would certainly make a nice addition to one's loungeroom..

You'll keep us posted right Wunala Dreaming? I'd definitely be up for one.

 

[Harpoon]

This is going back a bit, but did the 743 Nalanji Dreaming get stripped and/or dismantled at Avalon?

I recall driving past Avalon a few times and seeing a big green/aqua body and red tail that looked like a 747 getting torn apart. Or was it something else stripped to the bare metal which is green?

 

[drewbles]

This is going back a bit, but did the 743 Nalanji Dreaming get stripped and/or dismantled at Avalon?

I recall driving past Avalon a few times and seeing a big green/aqua body and red tail that looked like a 747 getting torn apart. Or was it something else stripped to the bare metal which is green?

Last time I was down that way (a few months ago) she was in the hangar without much on and was just blue without the artwork anymore. Was missing just about everything off her except the fuselage itself. There was talk of making her into a diving wreck, but I never heard anything come of it. I'm sure someone here who's closer to AVV may know

 

[Cynicor]

So if they're getting rid of some 767s eventually, does this offer hope that, god willing, I can do PER-NRT on QF with AVOD one day?

It's got to be one of the worst routes in Y, even if it is a night flight and you should be sleeping....

 

[oz_mark]

So if they're getting rid of some 767s eventually, does this offer hope that, god willing, I can do PER-NRT on QF with AVOD one day?

I would say that the answer is 'one day' it will happen. I am not so sure that day is any time soon,however.

There's still a bunch of int config 767's in the fleet, and some of them are 'only' 10-11 years old.

 

[NM]

So if they're getting rid of some 767s eventually, does this offer hope that, god willing, I can do PER-NRT on QF with AVOD one day?

It's got to be one of the worst routes in Y, even if it is a night flight and you should be sleeping....

Yeah, but the solution may be to pay for the "Entertain Me" pack on the Jetstar flight .

 

[dede]

Does anyone know if there is an aircraft around somewhere that could be used to shoot interiors for a TV production? It would need to have seats but apart from that wouldn't need any other functionality, it doesn't even need to fly.
I was wondering if there is a graveyard for planes in Australia?

It would have to be a larger passenger jet.

The airlines are not very forthcoming with info...but this forum seems to have all the answers.

 

[mannej]

Is Nalanji Dreaming (VH-EBU) still at parked at AVV?

Or has it been turned into coke cans yet?

I can't help you Dede but seem to remember that EBU was stripped bare at AVV. Not sure if she is still there or elsewhere?

 

[mannej]

Dede, I have found this online, Status Of VH-EBU Nalanji Dreaming — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net so it would seem that EBU is still at AVV

 

[Flashback]

So if they're getting rid of some 767s eventually, does this offer hope that, god willing, I can do PER-NRT on QF with AVOD one day?

It's got to be one of the worst routes in Y, even if it is a night flight and you should be sleeping....

Agreed. When I last did that leg, the IFE was broken; too! Was given $30 to spend at the Newslink. Bought a few mags, and some snacks.

Got on the plane, had a few "sleep helpers" and woke up an hour before landing; great flight

The mags came in handy when on the Shinkansen on my way down to Kyoto