Originally Posted by
Wunwing
The 747 100 spent it time between Highland Express and Virgin with Qantas as VH-EEI. It was Qantas' only 747 100 and was a bit of an orphan, particularly with 2 lower lobe galleys. Rumor was that is was obtained to keep another Australian domestic operator from getting it.
Qantas in turn sub leased it to Air Pacific of Fiji in which Qantas had a 50% share at the time. In its early days it was a real problem child and after one adventurous day as an FE on it, I was marched up to the Qantas CP's office by the Air Pacific CP to tell him how bad it was. At the time the FEs on the operation were Qantas loaners.
From then on Qantas spent a fortune on it and when RB eventually took it of our hands it was a good aircraft. It even had 4 identical series engines on it. When we got it it had 3 different types which was a bit sporty on takeoff.
Wunwing
Didn't realise until now that the only two -100s I have flown on were actually the same aircraft! Flew on VH-EEI from Singapore to Perth in 1989 the from Gatwick to Boston and back on G-VMIA in 1999.