VH OJA off to a museum
Seriously Madame,
I don't mean to down play the flying skills displayed (which were excellent BTW), but I reckon that 80% of line pilots for most airlines would be capable of doing what the guys did. 9m left or right of centreline is along way for any pilot let alone most of them.
I don't mean to down play the flying skills displayed (which were excellent BTW), but I reckon that 80% of line pilots for most airlines would be capable of doing what the guys did. 9m left or right of centreline is along way for any pilot let alone most of them.
Nunc est bibendum

Geez, some of you guys need to get your sarcasm meters adjusted. I'm pretty sure Madame was taking the piss.
Does anyone think they spent 25 hours just shooting approaches onto that runway? I suspect they would have done lots of go arounds both all engine and engine out, three engine approaches and go arounds, windshear escape manoeuvres (always interesting with that sort of terrain around), rejected landings, maybe some TCAS stuff from a potentially errant lightie and of course a few circuits. Now add similar stuff in for the F/O as well with the difficulty and lost time of sim resets and I can see 25 hours without too much difficulty.
Imagine had they not done that work and something had gone awry. I can see the PPRUNE crowd shouting 'why didn't they do more work in the sim'. Sometimes when it's got a red tail with a white marsupial on it you're just destined to be slagged no matter what you do.
Does anyone think they spent 25 hours just shooting approaches onto that runway? I suspect they would have done lots of go arounds both all engine and engine out, three engine approaches and go arounds, windshear escape manoeuvres (always interesting with that sort of terrain around), rejected landings, maybe some TCAS stuff from a potentially errant lightie and of course a few circuits. Now add similar stuff in for the F/O as well with the difficulty and lost time of sim resets and I can see 25 hours without too much difficulty.
Imagine had they not done that work and something had gone awry. I can see the PPRUNE crowd shouting 'why didn't they do more work in the sim'. Sometimes when it's got a red tail with a white marsupial on it you're just destined to be slagged no matter what you do.



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Say as you will Keg. This is just an incredible inspirational dream for these up and coming young aviators.
http://youtu.be/qFqJNhX_hNI (The "Queen of the Skies", our VH-OJA as QF7474)
Just freeze it Keg at 2.31 and really observe the look on that young fella dressed smartly in his blue uniform. The look of pride, inspired dedication and probably a fulfilled dream to even have the ‘opportunity’ to stand before and shake the hand of such skilled and elite Capt’s.
I personaly wish I was that young girl standing so proudly beside her colleague. The music, the vision and the poured out display of dedication to our unique and legacy carrier on this video should be something that all Australians can be proud of.
Those young people will be wearing that cap with scrambled egg one day Keg. The crew of VH-OJA will make that happen. As Gas Bags said, I also hope they all write a book about this experience. This approach and landing will, as suggested, go down in Australian aviation history. This approach and landing will make the future Qantas Captain and the dream to be.

This stuff really makes a woman well up.
http://youtu.be/qFqJNhX_hNI (The "Queen of the Skies", our VH-OJA as QF7474)
Just freeze it Keg at 2.31 and really observe the look on that young fella dressed smartly in his blue uniform. The look of pride, inspired dedication and probably a fulfilled dream to even have the ‘opportunity’ to stand before and shake the hand of such skilled and elite Capt’s.
I personaly wish I was that young girl standing so proudly beside her colleague. The music, the vision and the poured out display of dedication to our unique and legacy carrier on this video should be something that all Australians can be proud of.
Those young people will be wearing that cap with scrambled egg one day Keg. The crew of VH-OJA will make that happen. As Gas Bags said, I also hope they all write a book about this experience. This approach and landing will, as suggested, go down in Australian aviation history. This approach and landing will make the future Qantas Captain and the dream to be.


This stuff really makes a woman well up.
Last edited by Madame Bandit; 9th Mar 2015 at 06:47.
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The locals in the Illawarra haven't stopped talking about OJA's arrival all day today (Mon), they are pretty proud to have her, so a win win for all concerned. It really was nice to hear live the crowd cheering when she landed with all the chatter that followed.
Qantas lands its first 747-400 at tiny Illawarra airport | Plane Talking
I like the line in this video
"That's why he's getting paid for his job mate" punter speak for, "a textbook landing."
Qantas lands its first 747-400 at tiny Illawarra airport | Plane Talking
I like the line in this video
"That's why he's getting paid for his job mate" punter speak for, "a textbook landing."

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from the flightdeck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoDKEGz9QMY
and the qantas vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFqJNhX_hNI
and the qantas vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFqJNhX_hNI
We really are all a bunch of carnts.
I guarantee anyone one of us would have fallen over ourselves to be in the hot seat for such an occasion.
Many would have exchanged a particular left or right dangly bit between our legs. You can after all still stroke it with one
I guarantee anyone one of us would have fallen over ourselves to be in the hot seat for such an occasion.
Many would have exchanged a particular left or right dangly bit between our legs. You can after all still stroke it with one

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No probs my friend. Having a rather large Scottish beer with her now and she sends her hugs and kisses. Many of us are having a giggle at what is goin on back home. Ditto with the delete. Stay safe champ.
Last edited by ratpoison; 9th Mar 2015 at 14:13.
A long time and a long way from the Pilbara, Capt G M, flying N22S into WW2 airstrips, small saplings attacking the wing tips of CEI, if you read this, have a look at your 13/3/1981 log book entry.
Congratulations.
Miss the good old days.
Congratulations.
Miss the good old days.
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What sort of condition will they keep the aircraft in? Will they strip the aircraft of its avionics? Surely this museum wouldn't have the resources to keep all the systems airworthy? (even with volunteer workers). Some of the parts for these aircraft cost hundred$ of thou$ands.
In her own right
I thought it a nice touch that the all stations inbound call identified the aeroplane as Oscar Juliet Alpha. None of this Flight Number Callsign nonsense.
Nunc est bibendum

A used 744 sells for only a couple of mill according to Joyce in December last year. QF's 767s were getting a higher price on the world market due to their on going use than a 744 which are just being broken up for parts and scrap.
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We really are all a bunch of carnts.
I guarantee anyone one of us would have fallen over ourselves to be in the hot seat for such an occasion.
Many would have exchanged a particular left or right dangly bit between our legs. You can after all still stroke it with one
I guarantee anyone one of us would have fallen over ourselves to be in the hot seat for such an occasion.
Many would have exchanged a particular left or right dangly bit between our legs. You can after all still stroke it with one
just an aside, on the rationale behind 'you can still stroke it with one'.
That may not be 100% true, or may be at least questionable, if we are considering hard facts,
unless you can testify, testicularly, and informably, to the physiological consequences of being deficient
in that department, wholly or partially.
speccie as it was for all spectators, there was never any doubt that she'd fit OK. All the rehearsals
ensured that. As was the case at Longreach for the landing of the one gifted by Qantas to the museum there in 2002.
That may not be 100% true, or may be at least questionable, if we are considering hard facts,
unless you can testify, testicularly, and informably, to the physiological consequences of being deficient
in that department, wholly or partially.
speccie as it was for all spectators, there was never any doubt that she'd fit OK. All the rehearsals
ensured that. As was the case at Longreach for the landing of the one gifted by Qantas to the museum there in 2002.
Last edited by Fantome; 10th Mar 2015 at 03:28.
there was never any doubt that she'd fit OK.
Have a look at Wellington, NZ, and we flew B747SP in/out of there for years, usually in very "interesting" winds. Give or take a couple of meters, the length is the same.
The takeoff and landing performance of a B747-200/200/400 is better than an SP, if you had a copy of the landing field length graphs, for the weight they were at, you might be surprised how little was required.
Tootle pip!!
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I thought it a nice touch that the all stations inbound call identified the aeroplane as Oscar Juliet Alpha. None of this Flight Number Callsign nonsense.

Amazing to think of the history in a aircraft that old really. Imagine the number of crew that have operated it, FAs that had worked on it, line checks done on it, check to lines, first flights on the line, engineers that had worked on it on some way or another.
A lot of history on that old bird, after driving through VCV last year nice to see one not cut up!
Nice work to everyone involved, no matter who you work for it's great for the industry.
A lot of history on that old bird, after driving through VCV last year nice to see one not cut up!
Nice work to everyone involved, no matter who you work for it's great for the industry.