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A retired QantasLink Fokker 100 has found a new home at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in Shellharbour, NSW.
VH-NPU “Meekatharra” is the second ex-Qantas F100 to be donated to HARS, following the arrival of VH-NHO at its Parkes museum earlier this year. QantasLink is phasing out its aging F100 fleet, to be replaced with mid-life Embraer E190s.
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“Meekatharra played an important role connecting regional communities across Western Australia for close to a decade, and we’re thrilled it will now be preserved by HARS for the future generations of aviation enthusiasts,” said QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra.
“HARS has become a natural home for some of our retired aircraft, helping keep important parts of Australian aviation history alive.
“As we farewell the F100 and prepare to welcome new aircraft into the fleet, we’re grateful to the volunteers who will ensure its story continues to be shared.”
VH-NPU, which joined the QantasLink fleet in 2016 after service with American Airlines and Austrian Airlines, flew nine million kilometres and 11,250 hours for the carrier across 7,543 flights in Western Australia, with destinations including Kalgoorlie, Newman and Paraburdoo.
It will join VH-OJA “City of Canberra”, Qantas’ first 747-400, which the Flying Kangaroo donated to the museum in 2015. According to HARS president and chief pilot Bob De La Hunty, VH-OJA is one of the Albion Park museum’s most visited attractions.
“We’re honoured that QantasLink has entrusted HARS with another important piece of Australian aviation history,” he said.
“Joining Qantas’ first Boeing 747-400, and the former Qantas Boeing 707-138, Meekatharra will help tell the story of the aircraft that connected regional communities and supported industry across Western Australia.
“Our volunteers are passionate about keeping these stories alive and giving visitors the opportunity to experience these remarkable aircraft up close.”
QantasLink is currently overhauling the Network Aviation fleet, which includes A319s, A320s, and Fokker 100s.
Three mid-life E190s, part of an order of 14 to replace Network’s ageing Fokker 100 fleet, will arrive from the end of this year, while the 28 A320s and A319s will be fitted with on-board Wi-Fi; the A320s will also get new seats with USB-A and USB-C charging ports and device holders.
The arrival of the first three E190s comes after Network replaced several Fokkers with A320s repurposed from Jetstar Asia, which was shuttered last year.
The A320s and E190s will offer improved reliability and fuel efficiency over the F100s, in both regular passenger transport and FIFO operations.
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