QF A380 Engine Fire
Don't know if it was a loaner but it was operating on an EA.
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Location: Hunter Valley NSW
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Eh, no. Qantas leased an Air lingus 747/200, and sent our lads over to pick her up. The Gingerbeer had writers cramp half way through the flight, with Tech Logs covering the floor, as they filed off his desk, hold item's, Trans Quals, you name it, she had it, and as Weipa came into sight, they almost wept with relief. When our Engineers looked her over, they were gobsmacked, and one remarked, thank God they are like ×#%$%# old Holdens, because this baby is a wreck. She was returned later, fit as a flea, but it cured Qantas of any liason for quite some time.
Well, Ida down, I did a few ferries to Dublin taking the B747s for maintenance. Most unfortunately for us crews it was a transit - drop off one, pick up the other and back to LHR. We did a mighty thorough inspection ex DUB though, you never know what might not be quite right!! 
I picked one up that had had thrust lever measurement decals put next to each thrust lever.ie they had added two extra. Boeing provided two , one between 1 and 2 and the other between 3 and 4 but that wasn't good enough. Another time they had replaced a nose wheel with the incorrect speed rated tyre for the take off weight of that model 747. We were in Anthens and it took hours to get it swapped. All good fun!!!
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Sydney
Age: 60
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We refuelled in Guam once because it couldn't do SYD-NRT with a tempo.
It had three different engine variants out of the four! The Flight Engineer had the thrust levers really split on takeoff!
Observed at Phoenix being painted as LX-NCV for Cargolux - August 17, 1986
Lease to Cargolux, Luxembourg was not taken up
Observed at Orlando, Florida in full Highland Express livery - June 05, 1987
Leased to Highland Express as the registered operator
Arrived Prestwick, Scotland at conclusion of delivery flight to Highland Express - June 09, 1987
Aircraft was named 'Highlander'
Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-HIHO - June 19, 1987
Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - June 1987
Operated first revenue service with Highland Express - July 04, 1987
Highland Express ceased operations - December 11, 1987
Repossessed by Citicorp and placed in storage at Brussels, Belgium - January 1988
Aircraft leased to Qantas Airways Ltd as the registered operator
Arrived Singapore as QF500D at conclusion of ferry flight (Captain C. Viertal) - March 02, 1988
Ferry route: Brussels - Bahrain - Singapore
Aircraft entered maintenance and repaint in full Air Pacific livery at Singapore - March 02, 1988
Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EEI - March 11, 1988
Registered to Citibank North America
Arrived Sydney as QF500D at conclusion of delivery flight from Singapore - April 13, 1988
Aircraft was named 'Island of Viti Levu'
Operated first revenue service with Air Pacific Sydney - Nadi as FJ911 - April 27, 1988
Leased to Aer Lingus and sub-leased to Qantas - November 15, 1989
Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - November 21, 1989
Entered onto Irish Aircraft Register as EI-CAI - November 21, 1989
Arrived Sydney after operating final revenue service as QF21 - March 19, 1990
Returned to Citicorp on termination of lease - March 19, 1990
Cancelled from Irish Aircraft Register - March 23, 1990
Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EEI - March 23, 1990
Ferried Sydney - Auckland as QF500D (Captain C. Viertal) - March 23, 1990
Entered heavy maintenance with Air New Zealand Engineering - March 23, 1990
Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - March 23, 1990
Aircraft had flown 43,900 hours with 12,284 cycles
Lease to Cargolux, Luxembourg was not taken up
Observed at Orlando, Florida in full Highland Express livery - June 05, 1987
Leased to Highland Express as the registered operator
Arrived Prestwick, Scotland at conclusion of delivery flight to Highland Express - June 09, 1987
Aircraft was named 'Highlander'
Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-HIHO - June 19, 1987
Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - June 1987
Operated first revenue service with Highland Express - July 04, 1987
Highland Express ceased operations - December 11, 1987
Repossessed by Citicorp and placed in storage at Brussels, Belgium - January 1988
Aircraft leased to Qantas Airways Ltd as the registered operator
Arrived Singapore as QF500D at conclusion of ferry flight (Captain C. Viertal) - March 02, 1988
Ferry route: Brussels - Bahrain - Singapore
Aircraft entered maintenance and repaint in full Air Pacific livery at Singapore - March 02, 1988
Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EEI - March 11, 1988
Registered to Citibank North America
Arrived Sydney as QF500D at conclusion of delivery flight from Singapore - April 13, 1988
Aircraft was named 'Island of Viti Levu'
Operated first revenue service with Air Pacific Sydney - Nadi as FJ911 - April 27, 1988
Leased to Aer Lingus and sub-leased to Qantas - November 15, 1989
Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - November 21, 1989
Entered onto Irish Aircraft Register as EI-CAI - November 21, 1989
Arrived Sydney after operating final revenue service as QF21 - March 19, 1990
Returned to Citicorp on termination of lease - March 19, 1990
Cancelled from Irish Aircraft Register - March 23, 1990
Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EEI - March 23, 1990
Ferried Sydney - Auckland as QF500D (Captain C. Viertal) - March 23, 1990
Entered heavy maintenance with Air New Zealand Engineering - March 23, 1990
Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - March 23, 1990
Aircraft had flown 43,900 hours with 12,284 cycles
Ken
There were a couple of Aer Lingus 747-100 leased in around the time that QF also had the Tower Air 747 N93117 and the Martinair DC-10 PH-MBT. The rego EI-BED springs to mind but I think there were several aircraft involved in the lease.
VH-EEI was a real dog and I seem to recall the Fiji Prime Minister getting involved and asking for another aeroplane.
I think Ida Down is confused with his history and is referring to what was VH-EEI, a 747-100 ex Highland Express. It carried FJ livery as VH-EEI
VH-EEI was a real dog and I seem to recall the Fiji Prime Minister getting involved and asking for another aeroplane.
Ken
There were a couple of Aer Lingus 747-100 leased in around the time that QF also had the Tower Air 747 N93117 and the Martinair DC-10 PH-MBT. The rego EI-BED springs to mind but I think there were several aircraft involved in the lease.
VH-EEI was a real dog and I seem to recall the Fiji Prime Minister getting involved and asking for another aeroplane.
There were a couple of Aer Lingus 747-100 leased in around the time that QF also had the Tower Air 747 N93117 and the Martinair DC-10 PH-MBT. The rego EI-BED springs to mind but I think there were several aircraft involved in the lease.
VH-EEI was a real dog and I seem to recall the Fiji Prime Minister getting involved and asking for another aeroplane.
Aer Lingus actually had an aircraft registered EI-EIO. A freighter I believe, same as when I was in Ireland and driving up a road with 'S L O W' painted across the road, then a bit further up 'S L O W E R'.
VH-EEI was a Boeing 747-123, originally delivered to American Airlines in the early 70s when nearly all the US majors briefly operated 747s (DL, TW, AA, EA - some leased from PA). One of her sister ships ended up being a Shuttle Carrier for NASA and carried the AA tricolor cheat line for years afterward. Even model kits had the AA strip on the decals.
Last edited by AerialPerspective; 24th May 2017 at 23:01. Reason: add text
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I agree ...the truth lies somewhere between a pax. claim of bursting in to flames or w.t.t.e and the company assertion of a loss of power and shutdown and return to base..ho hum. There seems a credible account by one pax of' sparks and vibration'and scurrying cabin crew to the flight deck where hopefully the problem had already been recognised or a good reason why it hadn't been. Interesting engines these trent 900s-wonder if it might be a similar QF 32 event
The wet lease with Aer Lingus was for one B747: EI-BED was used for the whole period except for one or two rotations when -BED went for a check in Dublin. The substitute aircraft was EI-ASJ.
Qantas wet-leased a Martinair DC10 at the same time. It was PH-MBT in full Martinair livery. The hybrid-liveried 747 PH-MCF came later. It was a freighter but in pax configuration.
Tower Air were wet leased to operate between MEL and LAX via Nadi and Honolulu using 747s. I think they used two units during the time.
Qantas wet-leased a Martinair DC10 at the same time. It was PH-MBT in full Martinair livery. The hybrid-liveried 747 PH-MCF came later. It was a freighter but in pax configuration.
Tower Air were wet leased to operate between MEL and LAX via Nadi and Honolulu using 747s. I think they used two units during the time.
Can we send our wet leased CEO back to Aer Lingus, or better yet, Victorville? In comparison performance EIEIO was hardly a dog, more a soaring angel!
The wet lease with Aer Lingus was for one B747: EI-BED was used for the whole period except for one or two rotations when -BED went for a check in Dublin. The substitute aircraft was EI-ASJ.
Qantas wet-leased a Martinair DC10 at the same time. It was PH-MBT in full Martinair livery. The hybrid-liveried 747 PH-MCF came later. It was a freighter but in pax configuration.
Tower Air were wet leased to operate between MEL and LAX via Nadi and Honolulu using 747s. I think they used two units during the time.
Qantas wet-leased a Martinair DC10 at the same time. It was PH-MBT in full Martinair livery. The hybrid-liveried 747 PH-MCF came later. It was a freighter but in pax configuration.
Tower Air were wet leased to operate between MEL and LAX via Nadi and Honolulu using 747s. I think they used two units during the time.
I think you're right about Tower Air, I think there was a substitute aircraft on some rotations. The main one (I have photos somewhere) was in a livery with Tower up the tail and TWA stripes. The other one was blue I think.
I'm pretty sure that -MBT was a Sydney-based aircraft so would in all probability operate ex SYD, MEL & BNE to Asia and SE Asia. It was a long time ago!
With respect to -MCF, I recall that there were a number of complaints from F class passengers as the 'arms' that lifted the nose door interfered with what could be seen from the windows. I can't remember if those seats were subsequently blocked from sale, or last allocated or what the fix was.
I never had the dubious pleasure of even seeing the TowerAir 747s but I think everyone from the CEO down were very pleased to eventually see the back of them. I don't think CA was ever forgiven!
With respect to -MCF, I recall that there were a number of complaints from F class passengers as the 'arms' that lifted the nose door interfered with what could be seen from the windows. I can't remember if those seats were subsequently blocked from sale, or last allocated or what the fix was.
I never had the dubious pleasure of even seeing the TowerAir 747s but I think everyone from the CEO down were very pleased to eventually see the back of them. I don't think CA was ever forgiven!
I'm pretty sure that -MBT was a Sydney-based aircraft so would in all probability operate ex SYD, MEL & BNE to Asia and SE Asia. It was a long time ago!
With respect to -MCF, I recall that there were a number of complaints from F class passengers as the 'arms' that lifted the nose door interfered with what could be seen from the windows. I can't remember if those seats were subsequently blocked from sale, or last allocated or what the fix was.
I never had the dubious pleasure of even seeing the TowerAir 747s but I think everyone from the CEO down were very pleased to eventually see the back of them. I don't think CA was ever forgiven!
With respect to -MCF, I recall that there were a number of complaints from F class passengers as the 'arms' that lifted the nose door interfered with what could be seen from the windows. I can't remember if those seats were subsequently blocked from sale, or last allocated or what the fix was.
I never had the dubious pleasure of even seeing the TowerAir 747s but I think everyone from the CEO down were very pleased to eventually see the back of them. I don't think CA was ever forgiven!
Not sure who CA was but I'm sure I'll remember if I think about it for long enough. We hated Tower Air and were aghast that the company had leased it or anything like it.
I do remember at the time it was when the government was putting extreme pressure on Qantas to provide capacity during the tourist boom and there was very little if anything available worldwide for lease, hence they had to take what they could get.
I realise this is serious thread drift but here are some images of the aeroplanes in question.
DC-10 PH-MBT at Brisbane on 03JAN88.
Sticker "On Lease to Qantas" appeared over several of the doors on PH-MBT.
B747 PH-MCF. Note the two missing first class windows fore and aft of the nose door line as referred to by AerialPerspective.
The Tower Air B747 N93117 still wearing its previous TWA livery.
DC-10 PH-MBT at Brisbane on 03JAN88.
Sticker "On Lease to Qantas" appeared over several of the doors on PH-MBT.
B747 PH-MCF. Note the two missing first class windows fore and aft of the nose door line as referred to by AerialPerspective.
The Tower Air B747 N93117 still wearing its previous TWA livery.
Excellent thread drift 
