All
← Back to Squawk list
Qantas to make longest commercial flight in the world
. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the new Boeing 787-9 had the range to make the 14,000km journey from Perth to London - making it the longest commercial flight in the world 'This opens up direct service from Australia to Europe for the first time,' he said. The potential flight path would need two pairs of pilots, extra cabin crew and a proper rest area for airline staff. (www.dailymail.co.uk) More...
Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
They are following the footsteps of the real Queen of the skies PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS when this was done using a B747-121 & B747SP-21
I''ll bet you 5 bucks the B747-121 didn't fly that route WITHOUT a fuel spot. The B747SP-21 certainly may have had that range.
I was on a Pan Am 747SP LAX - SYD and return in 1979. Stopped in AKL westbound but non stop on return. I also recall (I think) a special non stop from LHR-SYD or MELon QF around 20 hours with special fuel and few Pax. Anybody know more?
In August 1989, QANTAS did a delivery flight via London, flying non stop London to Sydney in a little over 20 hours. It was done as a promotional exercise for their "Longreach" services using their new 747-400 aircraft. ("Longreach" also being the name of the town where QANTAS began.)
Although it was officially recorded as a commercial flight, there were only 23 people onboard, including crew and a few airline officials. They also used a special high density fuel.
The aircraft, VH-OJA "City of Canberra", is now retired and on public display with HARS just outside Sydney.
Although it was officially recorded as a commercial flight, there were only 23 people onboard, including crew and a few airline officials. They also used a special high density fuel.
The aircraft, VH-OJA "City of Canberra", is now retired and on public display with HARS just outside Sydney.
Check out the Great Circle route at:
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=YPPH-EGLL
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=YPPH-EGLL
It's no wonder why passengers who fly don't know what kind of aircraft they were on. "I don't know it had four engines but I think it was a Cessna or something..." Media's fault
