Qantas retires Boeing 747-438 VH-OJE

Qantas is now down to 15 Boeing 747-400s after the retirement of VH-OJE yesterday. After operating QF22 rom NRT-SYD, the aircraft spent 11 days in Sydney being prepared for retirement. Yesterday (August 25) the aircraft ferried from SYD-BNE as QF6013 to operate her last revenue service, QF15 BNE-LAX. VH-OJE will then ferry from LAX-VCV in the next couple of days. Here are some photos of OJE departing Brisbane and Australia for the last time.

 

VH-OJE was rolled off the production line on September 22, 1989

 

She first flew on January 5, 1990

 

On Australia Day 1990 she entered the Australian register and was accepted by Qantas

 

On January 27, 1990 she ferried Seattle-London...

 

and the following day she entered service operating QF2 from London-Singapore-Sydney

 

VH-OJE is named "City of Adelaide"

 

She first touched down on Aussie soil on January 30, 1990

 

Over 23 years later she departs Brisbane to Los Angeles as QF15 on her final revenue service for Qantas

 

Rolling down RWY19 for the last time

 

Goodbye VH-OJE! Thanks for 23 years service to Qantas!

Brisbane Airport Photos August 25

I went out to Brisbane Airport to drop somebody off at the domestic terminal, afterwards I went to the loop for some spotting. The main reason was to see VH-OJE operate QF15 to LAX, as this was her last revenue service for Qantas (I will cover this in a separate post). I was just going to stick around for her departure until I found out that the Fiji Airways flight from the night before had been severally delayed and was operating at the same time as the day time service. To make things even better, Boeing 737-700 DQ-FJF was operating the delayed service. This aircraft is a very uncommon visitor to Brisbane, it also wears the awesome new livery!

 

 

Jetstar Airbus A321 VH-VWZ

 

Three Qantaslink Dash 8-Q400s

 

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-200ER ZK-OKA

 

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBZ

 

Qantas Boeing 737-400 VH-TJR

 

Virgin  Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBV

 

Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 B-LAX

 

Queensland Government Hawker 850XP VH-SGY

 

Qantas Boeing 747-400 VH-OJS

 

Virgin Australia Boeing 777-300ER VH-VPD

 

Qantas Boeing 767-338ER VH-OGH

 

Fiji Airways Boeing 737-800 DQ-FJH

 

Qantaslink Boeing 717-200 VH-NXR

 

Qantas Boeing 737-400 VH-TJR

 

China Airlines Airbus A330-300 B-18310

 

Qantas Boeing 737-400 VH-TJS

 

Fiji Airways Boeing 737-700 DQ-FJF

Brisbane Airport Photos August 22

I went out to Brisbane Airport on Thursday 22 August for some spotting. I was there from about 8-12. Managed to capture the two newbies to Brisbane, Philippine Airlines and Garuda Indonesia. RAAF BBJ A36-001 departed just after 8, probably with Kevin Rudd on-board after the debate the night before. Lynden Air Cargo Hercules N403LC departed for a quick test flight after experiencing some mechanical issues the night before. Fiji Airways Boeing 737-800 DQ-FJH was in, lovely looking livery! All aircraft in their fleet are in the new colours except for their last remaining 747, so no more Air Pacific in Brisbane! And lastly, Hi-Fly Airbus A340-300 CS-TQM arrived from Sydney just after 12.

 

 

Philippine Airlines Airbus A320 RP-C8618

 

Emirates Boeing 777-300ER A6-EBR

 

RAAF BBJ A36-001

 

Alliance Fokker 70 VH-JFB

 

Qantas Boeing 767-338ERs VH-OGL and VH-OGM

 

Korean Air Airbus A330-300 HL7553

 

Air Niugini Boeing 757-200 TF-FIW

 

Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-800 PK-GMU

 

Virgin Australia Airbus A330-200 VH-XFE

 

China Southern Airbus A330-200 B-6526

 

Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-XZF (just a couple months old)

 

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-800 VH-VUA

 

Philippine Airlines Airbus A320 RP-C8618

 

Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 9V-STF

 

Etihad Airbus A330-200 A6-EYL

 

Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 B-HLR

 

Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 9V-STG

 

Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-VXG "Bring it on" livery

 

Qantas Boeing 747-438ER VH-OEH

 

China Southern Airbus A330-200 B-6526

 

Qantas Airbus A330-300 VH-QPD

 

Qantas Boeing 747-438ER VH-OEJ

 

Air Niugini Boeing 757-200 TF-FIW

 

Lynden Air Cargo Hercules N403LC

 

Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 B-HLR

 

Qantas Boeing 737-400 VH-TJZ (one of five left in the fleet)

 

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-200ER ZK-OKG

 

Thai Airways Boeing 777-200ER HS-TJV

 

Fiji Airways Boeing 737-800 DQ-FJH

 

Hi-Fly Airbus A340-300 CS-TQM