Something to look forward to... (VH-XZP QF Retro Livery)

[Jamie D]

Im not a big fan of Retros but I have to say the XZP looks amazing, cant wait to see it in real life.

Also Graham your shots are awesome

[Kent Broadhead]

Originally Posted by Grahame Hutchison

as VH-ZXP is the
75th and final B738 for Qantas.

Graham

As ever, thanks for the pics and the updates. Much appreciated (and everyone who does this, of course!)

Did I miss something about the 738s? Is this the last of the 1990s order, or has some other decision been made?

[Grahame Hutchison]

From what I have read Kent, VH-XZP was the last of the current orders, who knows where from here.

[Grahame Hutchison]

And for an interesting comparison, here is the Ochre livery back in the 1980s on the Qantas Boeing 747. The only differences appear to be grey paint on
the bottom of the B738 fuselage, rather than the polished metal, and the B747 had the registration in the Ochre window cheat line below the Australian
flag, rather than above the line and further forward on the B738. The B747 also had polished metal engines rather than white on the B738. More images

B747SP VH-EAA departing Runway 16R in March 1981.


B747SP VH-EAA parked at the Qantas Jet Base in November 1981 - 33 years ago, no International Cargo facility, and look at the cars in the car park (Mazda
Capella, a 1965 Ford Falcon and a couple of Ford Fairlanes - not to mention the VW Conbi)


B747-238B VH-EBI braking after landing on Runway 16R in May 1980 - my cousin and I would sit on top of the wooden fence to photograph.


B747-238B VH-EBN taxiing on Golf for a Runway 25 departure in April 1983

[Grahame Hutchison]

Qantas just posted a video of the delivery flight and the ceremony in the hanger after arriving in Sydney. They unveiled a Red Bow Tie logo on the aircraft under the name "James Strong", a trademark of the former CEO.

[Brenden S]

So much for first ops on the 20th!!!

[Greg Hyde]

Maybe of bit of miscommunication:

From the AA report:

"VH-XZP is due to ferry to Qantas’s Brisbane maintenance base on Wendesday evening ahead of entering scheduled service on Sunday."

http://australianaviation.com.au/201...-touches-down/

Which seems about right based on the previous delivery/service entry times.

[Terence W]

Thanks for the images Grahame - cool to see how things looked

[Grahame Hutchison]

Looks to be in service today, operating QF611 from Brisbane to Melbourne.

VH-XZP QF0611 22/11/2014 09:54 Qantas B737-838 Brisbane-Melbourne