VH-XBA (ex VH-EBA) Qantas's first 707
 

I came across this photo on Airliners.net of an ex Qantas 707 being restored to fly back to Australia again. Looks like it's destined for the Qantas Founders Outback Museum. Hope it won't just be a static display; would love to have a joyflight in a 707 :ok:

And here she is in her original colours.

You'll find it all here. The aircraft will end up on static display.

Thanks for the link. And a nice aerial pic of the Qantas 747-200 as well. :ok: Longreach would be a great home for that sad looking HS-125 VH-ECE mentioned in that other thread. Hope the Qantas Foundation Memorial folks will consider moving VH-ECE there as well.

B707-138 now VH-XBA
 

And who will fly the B707 to Oz, my money is on John Travolta and in my opinion, rightly so!
Who else, close to qf, has the recent experience to do it and who, also has the respect of, I would say, a vast majority of Aussies not even connected to aviation.:D
robroy

The 'gos is that plan A is to have it at the Richmond Airshow later this year. Crew includes QF pilots that are current on type I am told. Will be good to see!

At an intelligent guess.... The present Longreach airport passenger terminal will be demolished and relocated to te eastern end of the taxi way. The 707 will end up between the 747 Classic and the original Q.A.N.T.A.S. Ltd hangar.

And the airport may be "privatised" and the Council is again dreaming of a jet service.........

We at SEN though very pleased at its imminent dep have grown used to it in Saudi colours. It is credit to QF to have this set up, hear at BA and UK plc we just cut them up.

It is a little disappionting that QANTAS has said nothing about this restortation in its company news. I know it has nothing to do with them but considering the amount of airplay JT and his 707 gets you would think that QANTAS would see fit to promoting it some. Wait till its up and flying they won't stop talking about it then:mad:

B707
 

Triadic,

qf have not operated 707 for over 20 years.

Don't you think that is a tad too long for recent experience.

robroy:=

Who said the recent experience HAD to be with QF? :}

robroy...

I think you will find that there are some pilots that are current on type, or at least have 'recent' experience. There is another operator in Oz if you think about it...

:cool:

Would those planes be grey overall?

Vh-xba
 

Kookabat, your post # 10
re crewing the 707, refer to Triadic's post #5

Triadic,
RAAF endorsements are not recognised as a civil endorsement.

My money is on John Travolta and his crew, makes sense to me.

robroy:ok:

From Post 5:
QF pilots? Check.
Current on type? Check.
Current because they flew 707s with QF? Nothing in the above statement leads to that conclusion.


There are, however, plenty of former RAAFies in QF...



:}

Aren't they, mine were..............:ooh:

The rumour at SEN is it will be flown by pilots form a company called 'Omega' of the USA but who they are I do not know. At the present there is also a 707 exec that has been parked at STN for the last 6 weeks. There must still be some pilots with type approval.

N707AR (msn 20029/790) is registered to Omega Air.

Crew:
Two current RAAF B707 reserve aircrew (1 Pilot-QFI and 1 FLTENG)
Three recent ex-RAAF B707 crew

Refresher raining in the RAAF sims was due to start last week.


Trust me.;)

Wonder why they'd go through all the trouble and expense of getting her airworthy again only to have her on static display? It seems a waste to me.
Anyone know whether VH-XBA will be coming to Melbourne?

Here's more on the Qantas Foundation Memorial's 707 Preservation Project.


And a nice collection of Qantas 707 pics from a website supporting the project. :ok: