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.