Our farewell to the 'Queen of the Skies'

Hello everyone,

Now that the dust has settled after last Wednesday's fabulous send off for our last Qantas Jumbo B747, VH-OEJ, 'Wunala'. I can sit back & feel satisfied that I was fortunate enough to be part of the Qantas family that experienced this magnificent 'Queen of the Skies' flying era.

For 49-years Qantas flew these particular aircraft (Boeing B747 Jumbo) in their fleet, & l was blessed to share 32-years of that 49-year partnership as an International Flight Attendant. I can honestly say that I cherish those years working & flying with Qantas. 

VH-OEJ make the first of two passes over the Sydney Opera House
You can see of all us gathered at the northern end of the Opera House
Amazing helicopter photo by Tim Bowery

People often ask me what it was like when I opened that letter from Qantas way back in May, 1974. I have never won the lottery in my life, however this was without a doubt a feeling like winning the 1st prize in the mega Opera House Lottery, l couldn't believe my good fortune that the powers-to-be had accepted my application to be employed as a Qantas long-haul Flight Attendant or 'Trolly Dolly'.

Little did I know, but my life was about to change forever.

There has already been a million words written & thousands upon thousands of photographs taken about last Wednesday's Farewell to the Qantas Jumbo era.

I would like to tell you all that last Wednesday was a very emotional day for myself & to the many 100's of past & present Qantas employees that were gathered on the northern concourse of the Sydney Opera House to witness this very historic occasion.

Being interviewed by Channel 9's always humorous Mike Dalton
just moments before the B747's final flyover of Sydney
Photo: Steve Core

We were blessed with the weather, bright sunshine & a rich blue sky, perfect conditions to say Goodbye to the aircraft that made up for a large slice of our lives with memories to die for. You are all aware that earlier I mentioned to those of you that would be attending the goodbye ceremony that it would be great if we could give the departure a special atmosphere & mood to make the send off something to remember by wearing our retro uniforms, especially for the ladies to wear their '70/'80s era Pucci uniform.

Well, you sure did not let me down, as the punters started arriving at the Northern end of the Sydney Opera House around 1330 it was a sight for sore eyes, & as you can see by Steve's photograph (how good does everyone look in their Pucci designed & retro uniforms).

The girls (and guys) looked spectacular lined up in their Pucci and 
retro uniforms. I doubt a gathering of this size will ever be seen again
Photo: Steve Core

Unfortunately, or fortunately the arrival of the 'Queen of the Skies' was delayed by one & a half hours which gave us all time to catch up with friends & acquaintances that we have not seen for 15 or 20 years. 

This also gave Mike Dalton & his Channel Nine evening news crew the opportunity to do all their interviews with retired Captains, Engineers, Flight Attendants, ground staff for a segment in the 6:00pm evening news. Meanwhile I was interviewed live on air by Deb Knight on her 'Afternoon's with Deb Knight' program on 2GB.

To listen to my Deb Knight 2GB interview podcast Click Here

I had to use a megaphone to help keep the crowd Covid-safe and to
advise them that they were in the biggest Crew Room in the world!
Photo: John Stanley

At one point of time during the afternoon I grabbed my megaphone & informed everyone that this would have to be the biggest Crew Room in the world on the concourse of the iconic Sydney Opera House, to a HUGE cheer.

As the afternoon dragged on I received information from a friend that was at the S.I.T. watching VH-OEJ on its final take off roll from Australian soil. I acquainted everyone that the arrival of the aircraft over the Sydney Harbour Bridge was imminent. You could feel the electricity in the crowd waiting patiently for the 'Queen of the Sky' to appear from the east as she flew up Sydney's magnificent Harbour towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Viewed from the Sydney Opera House forecourt
VH-EOJ makes her final pass ever over Sydney's skyline

You could hear a pin drop until that beautiful bird flew up level with us all at the Opera House at only 1,500ft. You could almost read the Dunlop branding on the tyres, that was how low she was, the crowd exploded with cheers & excitement. As I looked around at the crowd there was hardly a dry eye in the place, many of the onlookers had tears streaming down their faces. At that moment of time I realised the impact that this Jumbo era meant to all of us. 

You had to be there to experience the feeling that run through my body, pure GOLD...

And to think we had to go through all this one more time. The aircraft headed towards the Western Suburbs before making a giant U-turn to head back for one last final pass over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. As I stood there watching the big red tail with the all too familiar Kangaroo painted on it, I realised that this would be the very last time I would see a Qantas Jumbo B747 in the skies over Australia before 'Wunala' would head off towards the Mojave Air & Space Port in the Mojave Desert in California, l was completely gutted. 

On her way to the US, the aircraft performed a slight diversion of the 
flight plan to carve a 150-mile wide 'Flying Kangaroo' in the sky
Image: Flight Radar 24

What an exceptional afternoon we had all experienced. By now it was time to head towards the nearby watering hole at the Paragon Hotel, in Circular Quay to drown our sorrows & reminisce about our lives flying around the world as Qantas Flight Attendants. Our group completely filled the upper level of the Paragon Hotel.

I will never forget the final flyover & departure of our last Qantas B747, VH-OEJ 'Wunala' from Australian skies, today's memories will go to the grave with me.

Staff past & present watch eagerly as the last Qantas B747 is about 

to approach the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the last time ever. 

In the background, between the big trees, is Admiralty House 

and the Australian Prime Minister's residence at Kirribilli 

Photo: Steve Core

I mentioned in one of my earlier emails that a friend of mine was going to hire a Jet Ranger Helicopter to cover this whole event from the air.

My friend Rajveer Johal is an avid photographer with a passion for aerial photography using helicopters. Upon learning of the departures of the iconic Boeing 747 aircraft she chartered a helicopter to photograph the final departures of both VH-OEE on the 16th June & VH-OEJ on the 22nd July, 2020.

A unique aerial perspective of the Sydney Opera House as
our goodbye gang (right-hand side) starts to gather for the flypast
Photo: Rajveer Johal 

Now that VH-OEJ has departed for good, she will be making prints available for sale at www.qantas747.com You can also follow her on her Last Qantas 747 Facebook page set up for the final flight. She hopes that you will share your stories & pictures about your time on the B747, as well as viewing the final Harbour fly-by on the 22nd July '20.

VH-EOJ received to royal treatment from LAX on-airport services on her arrival.
She transited Los Angeles before the short flight up to Mojave Airport
Photo courtesy of Qantas USA

Rajveer, has already forwarded some of the aerial photographs (above) that were taken on the day & they are sensational. So do yourself a favor & check out her work, you will not be disappointed, where else could you obtain aerial photographs of this wonderful event last Wednesday.

So my friends, if that is not a good story I don't know what is.

Stay safe & always remember my motto: 'Adventure before Dementia'.

From the 'Squire from the Shire'.

Cheers for now.

Warbo

RELATED: VH-EOJ arriving at Mojave Airport

RELATED: Qantas B747 'Final Flights' prints for sale

RELATED: Listen to my interview with Deb Knight on 2GB

If it ain't Boeing I ain't goin'

Wednesday 1st July - 2020

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the effect it has had on the aviation industry worldwide, unfortunately Qantas has announced that it will be retiring the last of its Boeing 747-400 Jumbo aircraft. Consequently, in just 3-week's time the last remaining B747 will leave Australian shores for the final time. 

Nostalgia and sentiment are no match for the unrelenting march of progress. Qantas and all it's staff, both past & present will bid a final Goodbye to what has been the virtual backbone of the fleet - its last remaining Boeing 747 Jumbo on Wednesday 22nd of July, 2020.

VH-OEJ when it was painted in the Wunala Dreaming paint scheme.
Making it the largest movable Aboriginal Art piece in the world
She wore the scheme from 2003 until 2012
Photo: Makismo

This particular Qantas Boeing 747-438 aircraft was one of the aircraft painted in the lndigenous Flying Art series, titled "Wunala (Kangaroo) Dreaming". Once painted in the special colour scheme, this aircraft was considered the world's largest movable piece of Aboriginal art. It carries the Australian registration of VH-OEJ.

This Qantas B747 Special Livery aircraft "Wunala Dreaming" was in fact one of the most spectacular special-liveried aircraft, either in military or commercial use across the entire world.

Qantas Airways first began flying the Boeing 747-200s in 1971, during that 49-year period since, they have operated 65 Boeing 747s. Not too Shabby.

When l heard that the last of our B747 Jumbos was about to be sent for retirement to the Mojave Air & Space Port in the Californian desert to be scrapped, l decided that l should try to organise a fitting farewell to VH-OEJ "Wunala".

What had driven my thoughts was the fact that l had spent 32 glorious years (more than half my life at the time) flying around the world as a Qantas "Trolly Dolly", I thought it only fitting that l want to see our last B747 take off and depart Sydney for the final time ever, in style on 22nd July, 2020.

For probably most Australians, it is the aircraft that they’ve used to 

experience their first trip overseas and for immigrants coming in here, it 

is probably the first aircraft that they came and experienced Australia on.

Photo: Mike Forsberg

l joined Qantas on the 5th June 1974. l can remember that day just like it was yesterday. The 5th of June 1974 was a Wednesday, l parked my '62 VW Beetle in the Qantas car park that is situated near the Qantas Catering Centre, l was all dressed up like a "Box Office Clerk" in my bag of fruit. 

l can remember walking over the Air Bridge that crosses over Qantas Drive thinking to myself, how good is this. Not knowing what an amazing 32-year career l had ahead of myself. 

Caricature of yours truly was sketched by 
fellow Flight Attendant Ray Galea

For me there would no longer be grease under the fingernails as a motor mechanic & no more pre-dawn starts working for the Sutherland Shire Council as a garbologist.

Some of you may be able to remember this particular time period in your life, because me starting date at Qantas is now 46-years ago.

The Australian Banks had just introduced this thing called Bankcard (a Credit Card) in 1974, Australia's first mobile phone system began in August 1981. But the system was limited to a $5,000 car phone that weighed a massive 14 kilograms, could store just 16 phone numbers & alerted owners of an incoming call by honking the horn or flashing the car's headlights.

Former Australian Prime Minister of the day, the late Gough Whitlam's rewarding election jingle and theme was: "lt's Time" - that was 2-years earlier in 1972.

After successfully completing my Flight Attendant's 4-week training course my first trip as a newly winged Qantas "Trolly Dolly" was a 1-day Melbourne return trip on a Boeing 707, we departed Sydney at 0800 & l was back home in Cronulla by 1430 in the afternoon. l thought all my birthdays had come at once.

They were the halcyon days when the Cabin Crew on every B747 Jumbo consisted of 12 male & 3 female flight attendants. You don't see those high numbers of Cabin Crew these days, my how times have changed. 

Caricatures of yours truly were sketched by fellow Flight
Attendant Ray Galea & presented to me on my final flight
as a "Trolly Dolly" on October 1st 2006. 

l retired from Qantas on the 1st October 2006, almost 14-years ago. l have been absolutely blessed to work for Qantas for all those years. Sure beats being a motor mechanic or garbologist.

Now back to the reason for this post on my blog:

l would like to organise a whole bunch of us ex-Qantas Flight Attendant retirees & also current flight attendants to get together on 22nd July, 2020 at either Circular Quay or Mrs Macquarie's Chair to watch VH-OEJ, "Wunala Dreaming" depart our Shores for its final resting place at the airliner graveyard in the dry Mojave Desert of California.

We are going to have to wait until the morning of 22nd July 2020 to see if Qantas has arranged a special flight plan or dispensation for the departure of the aircraft to conduct a 'last ever' flypast salute over the Sydney Harbour and the Bridge. 

VH-OEJ was the 57th and final B747-400 delivered to Qantas.
It operated its first revenue service in August, 2003 to LA.
Photo: Hayden Lamb

We do run the risk that if the weather and the prevailing winds are against us on the day, unfortunately all my plans are out the window.

l realise that there are a lot of if's in my proposal, but my attitude is nothing ventured nothing gained.

My friend Steve Core (retired Flight Attendant) wants to do a photo shoot of the fly over, plus shoot some video of us "Retired Silly old buggers" crying on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour as we watch part of our history depart Sydney for the last & final time. Never to return.

Just like a funeral.

Please let me know what you think. Spread the word, because l really think it will be a day to cherish for all of us to catch up with long lost flying friends to share our stories one more time.

If you are interested in joining us for this very special occasion please use the contact form on the right hand side of this blog or call me on 0438 692 737 so that l can keep everyone in the loop with the latest developments & information.

Looking forward to catching up with you all on Wednesday 22nd July 2020.

Work in progress.

Cheers

From the "Squire from the Shire"

Warbo.