End of an era - last QF 747-300 departs

[slim]

For anyone who may be interested I believe the last QF 747-300 will depart Sydney tomorrow evening at 7pm destined for the desert life in Arizona. Not only the end of an era for Qantas but also the end for the rank of Flight Engineer. May those of the 'purple empire' prosper whatever they do from hereon in.

[slim]

Thanks for the correction Direct. Must ring my contact and thank him for the duff info!

[Whiskery]

So that's the end of Flight Engineers in Oz.

I read on another thread the B727 has also finished operations with some freight outfit down there in Oz.

Pity Peter Abeles isn't still around - he would have found a job for the boys. F/E panel on the A380 ! Bet you a case of Boddingtons that would have been the ONLY one in the world!

[ratpoison]

Pity Peter Abeles isn't still around - he would have found a job for the boys.

Yeah right. Just like he and Hawke did some years back.

[Old Fella]

End of F/E's in Oz

Slim, nearly the end my friend. The RAAF still operates C130 Hercules and P3 Orions. The Caribou also carries a crew member classified as a F/E, previously know as Crewman Tech or Loadmaster depending on when they flew on the Caribou.

[slim]

Old Fella, I was only refering to F/E's within Qantas, some of whom I believe came from the RAAF and to which some are returning

[Going Boeing]

It really is the end of a great era. The first B747 for QF arrived in 1971 and the last "classic" is leaving on the 20th Jan 2009. The average hours flown by each aircraft would be approx 95,000 achieved over 20-24 years of service. They still fly straight on their last day of service which is a credit to the purple empire who maintained them (& flew them as FEOs) as well as the many pilots who were lucky enough to get the opportunity to fly them. It's a shame that QF management isn't giving this last aircraft (& FEOs) the appropriate send-off.

[cart_elevator]

Interesting ! Cabin crew have just gotten a CIS message:

We currently still hold the Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC) for this aircraft type and one aircraft remains in the hangar. While unlikely, this aircraft could be utilised at any time and, as a result, you will still be examined on this aircraft type until further notice.

Revolting plane to operate on, nothing ever worked !! Dreaded any trip operating on them, nothing but one long flight of PAX complaints. Most cabin crew will be glad to see the back of them.

But the FE's always had great stories to tell about the 'Good Old Days' and were always gentlemen.

What will happen to them? Do they become pilots?

[Back Seat Driver]

Cart El,
F/E's can only become pilots if they undergo a substantial partial lobotomy and promise to decrease their alcohol intake by 90%.
Then there is also the penis length reduction programme, needed to qualify as a pilot, which normally dissuades most F/E's from persuing that course.

[Keg]

BSD, you also forgot the personality extraction and the removal of the ability to rig hotel TV remote controls.

[qfcabin]

I don't know that the engineer was the sole master of rigging tv remotes. Some of those old chiefs were also rated highly in that department. And men of both categories are the repositories of some of the greatest QF yarns.
It's a sad day to see the purple brigade disappear from the flying kangaroo...some fantastic people have sat in that sideways seat!

[sthaussiepilot]

Herd a few F/E's are heading to managment...as pencil pushers...

and truth?

[max autobrakes]

Now that jackboot Geoff the scrooge has gone, how about management putting on a farewell shindig for the flight gingerbeers.
How's this for an idea ,spruce up the last 747-300 and put it in what has now become the a380 hangar and invite all the engineers and their families for a farewell/thankyou party around the aircraft?

[Shlonghaul]

From the Friday Flyer

END OF AN ERA FOR THE B747-300 Tuesday 20 January will mark the end of an era for Qantas, with the last of the airline's serviceable B747-300s (VH-EBV) to depart Australia, bound for Marana in Arizona. The first Qantas B747-300 entered service in 1984, with a further five aircraft delivered through to May 1987. Since then, the fleet has accumulated more than 524,000 hours and more than 97,000 cycles. Following many years of international service, the fleet reverted to operating domestically. EBV will join EBW and EBY in Arizona, pending sale. EBT was sold in 2007, while EBX was sold late last year. The retirement of the fleet also means the end of another era – Qantas' use of Flight Engineers in the cockpit.

[-438]

How about converting a classic into a fire bomber? Leave a kangaroo on the tail. Could be on the spot Australia wide in just a few hours.
What better advertising could you get in Australia?

[Wod]

the last of the airline's serviceable B747-300s

This implies, together with the rest of the flyer that EBU has been cannibalised to the point of never fly.

So what happens to the remains?

[60 & below]

I was in Avlon a few weeks ago and I was told that EBU would be used for spares until 300's are formally retired. EG Tuesday at which point Lyn Fox takes ownership and EBU will now be used for for Police training ETC

[Blue Carpet]

Cool, a 747 training aircraft at Avlon Airport.

A bit better than Melbourne Airports training aircraft F-28-4000! At least the F-28 can be towed on the grass though.

[Wod]

Originally Posted by 60 & Below

EBU will now be used for for Police training ETC

Do they still use live ammo in those games; and is the odd cartridge still found after the aircraft has gone back on line?

I imagine the 743 is a good substitute for the 744, apart from config, so it will be easier to schedule training..

[sthaussiepilot]

I thought it was going to Star Force / AFP training? (not State Police?)

I thought they actually used paintball guns during the training exercises?