As QF6017, VH-OGL departs for Victorville. (Sarah Collins)
With none of the fanfare that marked its final revenue flight VH-OGL, the aircraft which operated the last Qantas 767 passenger service, has quietly slipped out of Australia bound for Victorville, California, where it will be placed into storage.
VH-OGL was one of five 767s operating on the type’s final day of revenue service with Qantas on December 27, and with its departure to Victorville on Friday all five are now in storage, either in Victorville or with the new Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage facility in Alice Springs.
In all 15 retired Qantas 767-338ERS are now in storage awaiting sale – nine in Victorville and six in Alice Springs. It is understood at least four of those have been sold to Boeing Capital which has in turn placed the aircraft with Canada’s WestJet.
A single 767-300F freighter (VH-EFR) flies on in Qantas colours with Qantas Freight.
Taxiing to Sydney’s runway 34L. (Scott Collins)
9 comments
Here’s the final departure.
http://youtu.be/_IcqmuzN2dc
Every time I flew to SYD, OGL was always waiting there for me to board I think the 767 fleet are going to leave a big hole at the Qantas fleet!
OGJ was purchased by Boeing on 23/01/2015 and the registration has changed to N324BC
What call sign was the 767 maroochydore?
Great video Norm. Thanks from all
“Maroochydore” was OGT that is currently stored at Alice Springs.
No more ‘spirited’ departures. :o(
https://www.flickr.com/photos/code7600/14984556522/
Was the purchase by Boeing of these 763’s part of QF’s compensation for the delayed 787 delivery?
Makes me wonder why Qantas got rid of the 767. They have been(and are still) a great aircraft. If Boeing capital purchased them and re-leased them onto Canada’s Westjet, some one must have done their sums as to cost per mile and determined the aircraft still have an economical future. Sure, there are newer, smarter, more economical aircraft out there, but when you take the capital costs into consideration, i wonder about the decision.
I recall our 767 were powered for international flights with a great cargo/pax upload capability. So, their use in Australia for mainly domestic flights would mean the power plants and body would not be subject to high loads and a longer life. Umm, sort of like buying a new car. Nothing really wrong with the old one, just not “in” right now….