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.
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| 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.
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| 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).
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
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| 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.
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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.
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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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