Return of the 777 (SIC)
Author: Seven Network | Mar 19, 2007, 16:27
A thrilling documentary exploring a momentous occasion in Australian aviation history will be jetting to Channel 7 on Wednesday, April 4 at 7.30pm.

Australia now has back the first Boeing produced for Qantas – and the first sold outside of the US – more than 47 years after it first arrived Down Under.

The 1959 Boeing 707-1318B – known as the City of Canberra – which flew the likes of Fred Astaire, Gregory Peck and Bob Hope to our shores, has been restored to its former glory following one of aviation’s most technical restoration projects.

The painstaking process is captured in Return of the 707 – an hour-long documentary airing on Channel 7, which takes us back to the beginning of jet travel in Australia and details the arduous restoration process of the 707-1318B.

The jet was the first in Australian aviation history, making international travel more accessible and halving the flying time.

More than 60 volunteers put in 15,000 hours to restore the plane to its former glory, a feat believed to be unmatched in aviation history.

The volunteers came from all over Australia – former engineers, pilots and crew, all sharing a consuming passion for aviation – and helped along by a $1million grant from the Australian Government.

They scoured the world for the rare spare parts needed to get the aircraft back to flight readiness after it lay idle for six years in an English airfield at Southend-on-Sea.

The aircraft was earmarked for scrap until it was spotted by the Qantas Foundation Memorial (QFM) and following negotiations with the previous owner, the plane was gifted to the QFM who undertook the mammoth restoration project.

The City of Canberra’s final journey back to Australia was a 35,000km, eight-day journey through Ireland, the Canary Islands, Bermuda, the United States and Fiji.

The tour included a stop to visit Hollywood actor and Qantas ambassador John Travolta, who owns and pilots the last Qantas 707 in the fleet, which is painted in the Qantas livery of the 1960s. The documentary shows the two aircraft in Florida for an historical meeting.

It will fly to its new home at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, Queensland at Easter.

“Return of the 707” airs on Channel 7 on Wednesday, April 4 at 7.30pm.

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Should be good - Well done Southend, my old stomping ground.

Is it true that it's in JetStar colours???

Nice one Buster...

No but the crew did have to pay for meals and drinks on the flight home....

They brought their own pillows and blankets though

What day is it now schedualled into YLRE. Easter might be a good time for a drive

ETA 1030 (0030UTC) Saturday 07-04-07.

Shoot me down if you wish, but would it not be better for an aircraft such as this, and in flying condition to be kept flying for the occasional airshow etc? Old birds flying overhead.... much better than a static display
Maybe I am wrong and this is the plan?

I totally agree, especially after all that time and effort in making her airworthy again.

Thanks for the info OZAZTEC. Look forward to viewing the doco.

Thanks Jamair for the info.

I'm sure they would love to keep it flying, equally I'd expect the time and cost in doing so would be prohibitive, just to get it back to Oz must have been a Herculian effort. Well done boys.

Whilst it is a most noble aspiration to want to keep old aeroplanes flying, we need to get away from the mind set that it must be done in every case regardless of cost, for there are times when it just doesn't make sense. The money is better spent on saving other aeroplanes from the scrappers and putting a roof over them.

I understand what you Guys are saying re cost and it would likely be correct. But the cost to get this to flying condition to just bring home would have been massive.
For the effort the volunteers put in they must want to see it fly once in a while.... but maybe the achievement of that one flight was enough.
Either way, glad to see her home

I was lucky enough to work the old girl on airtest out of Southend a couple of months ago. Got them to do a low approach at Wattisham on the way home. If you're reading this, thanks BP! She really is beautiful.

ap

I have some wonderful photo's of the 707 during a visit to RAAF Richmond, here in New South Wales, Australia.
No interior shots, as that was banned by contractual agreement.
Can I post full size (4Meg) shots here, or do I have to compress them.

Mike.

You can post a link to your photos. Or you can post smaller pictures, maximum 640 x 480 (less than 100 kb) hosted on another site.

But if you even think about posting a 4 MB image here Danny will thow a terrible spat and possibly send you sit in the corner for at least the next month! Not to mention I will either delete the post or delete the thread - I don't have 20 minutes to wait for a graphics download!!!



Tail Wheel


Mike

Seeing as Capt Bloggs doesn't seem to have a sense of humour today (see below), if you don't know how to re-size and host photos on a web site, contact me by PM or email and I'll explain. If you are still stuck, email one of your best photos to [email protected] and I'll re-size, host for you, send you the link and explain how to post on PPRuNe.

Here is a link to an explanation on posting pictures on PPRuNe.

If you want to have a go yourself, download Irfanview to re-size pictures and get yourself a free picture hosting site at Photobucket.

Can't remember but I think the PPRuNe software automatically blocks JPG images over 100 kb, around 800 x 600.

Tail Wheel

Does anyone know where the 707 is at the moment and how long it will be there before it goes to Longreach?

lowerlobe
Currently the aeroplane is in Sydney, probably in Hangar 245.
You can find details of planned flights here (scroll to the foot of the page):
http://www.adastron.com/707/flyhome/diary-3.htm
Regards

Fris B. Fairing.........Thanks for the info and web site.

Cheers
LL

Typical. The poor guy probably doesn't know the first thing about graphics, let alone resizing them for the web or hosting them, and all he does is get bashed with a cricket bat. Who's banging who's head against a brick wall?

What outstanding shots of the 707!

Rumour has it that the 707 is now NOT GOING TO LAND at LRE, but will do 3 low passes and return to Sydney.

Anyone have the good oil on this?

Dr

Here is said good oil:
http://www.adastron.com/707/qfm/707-news.htm

Ah! Decisions, decisions!

Do I go to LRE on Easter Saturday to wave to XBA when I still have to go back before June 30 for a more up close and personnel greeting?

Will the same sparkling company be there?

Dr