My trip to Longreach (Home Of Qantas)

[bluebird121]

Flight to and from Longreach

 

Ok here goes..

 

Flight from Brisbane to Longreach .

 

Date 24th October.

 

Flight no. QF2532.

 

Check in time was 5. 25 am. we checked in at the machine.

 

My seat No was 16 D. (a window seat) but as there are only two seats in the Dash8 and as there were two of us I was guaranteed a window seat.

 

We boarded at 6.54 am. Take off was due at 6.55am.

 

We took off at 7. am.

 

Plane reg VH-QOT.

 

Captain David Harrrison announced we would be flying at 24,000 feet and our estimated time of arrival would be five minutes to nine.

 

The one complaint I had was that the safety announcement was so quiet. They had forgotten to turn the volume up and only at the last part did they realise that it was not loud at all.

 

A good flight though and brilliant take off. The cabin crew were very pleasant. We had a snack as it is only two hours flight consisting of muesli and yoghurt, orange juice and sesame seed bar ( I found too sickly) and the usual tea or coffee ( which is not great).

 

Our landing was a bit wiggly though. Possibly due to the wind.

 

We went on the wing walk on the Boeing 747-200. It was not at all scary and perfectly safe as you have a harness attached to you and you walk along the wing attached to a wire, and the mats prevent you from slipping.

 

This is the link to my photobucket where all the photos are now in there including the one I took of the wing we walked on.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/bluebird121/flighttoLongreachfromBrisbane24t-26.jpg

 

Please also feel free to look at all the other vids and photos I took.

 

Also a Video on Youtube

 

[nomedia=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAuK5fRJ_XM][/sIZ"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

 

It was quite an experience looking through all of the 747-200. We even climbed into the cargo hold. The wing walk was funny though as I never had shorts on and having to fix a harness with a skirt on is quite another matter. It was not at all scary and they had rubber mats so you could not fall off but Health and Safety demand that you are attached to this wire rope.

 

One thing though was a bit of a mystery. The Boeing 707. For some odd reason we were not allowed to film inside her nor ask who owns her nor ask how much she cost. All we know is that it was some one from Saudi Arabia bought her.

 

The interior though was amazing! all solid wood and chairs you could really sink into. The bedroom was like a hotel complete with onsuite. It was fitted out for business people (including the opulent cocktail cabinet, but Saudis do not drink.. do they?)

 

They had three television sets ( like the ones at home) and table lamps with crystal bases. Screwed onto the table for security and during flight.

 

So if anyone knows the story behind this please share it with us.

 

That night though we went for a river cruise down the Thompson River on a paddle boat. Very relaxing with some snacks provided by the crew.

 

When we berthed we were treated to a campfire and stories and poems and songs along with food like Irish stew, damper with syrup. Apple pie and cream as well as tea straight from the billy can and it was really nice.

 

The next day we went to the Powerhouse museum and the Stockman's hall of fame. Very interesting also. I just wish we had more time but our plane was leaving at 4. 10 pm..

 

We booked in at the airport and gosh it is tiny. No refreshments, just a water tap!!. Nothing to eat. No security either. Just the one door for incoming and outgoing flights.

 

This is the details of our flight back.

 

Flight no. QF 2535.

 

Checked in at 2.45 pm.

 

Seat No 13B.. (we swapped so I could be next to the window).

 

Plane reg no the same one as we came on.

 

I videoed the plane landing, so hopefully you will be able to see it.

 

We boarded at 4. 05 pm .

 

Take off time was 4. 20 pm.

 

Captain Ron Atkinson announced that we the seat belt signs will stay on a bit longer as a bit of turbulence plus maybe a thunderstorm at Brisbane. Luckily this did not materialise.

 

We again had a snack of nuts, water and a chocolate. Also you could have a glass of red or white wine this time. I chose red.

 

The flight was uneventful and I took some photos of the ground below. We flew at between 21,000-25,000 feet.

 

The estimated time of arrival was 6.05pm. We landed on that time. My ears were a bit sore but no as bad as the Glasgow flight.

 

I hope you enjoy this as much as we enjoyed the whole weekend.

 

__________________

 

i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/bluebird121/DSCF0023_cut.jpg[/img

 

I hope you enjoy this report as much as I enjoyed the flights and the whole experience at the home of Qantas..

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Nice trip report Bluebird. Thanks for sharing with us

 

 

[nzom_pilot]

Sounds like you had a great time I enjoyed my visit to longreach last year as well.

 

I didn't do the wing walk on the 742 but the cabin tour was nice enough.

 

As for the 707 ... well she might've been Saudi owned but she was used as a corporate jet for the stars, including Madonna. So that's where the cocktail cabinet would've come into its own When I was there our tour guide explained that the ban on cabin photos etc was due to the contract that the Saudi owner signed with each star when they chartered the jet, basically a privacy thing for the stars.

 

Some interesting things raised by your guide... A quick check of the CASA site shows its registered owner and operator as Qantas Foundation Memorial Ltd, and I'm sure our guide said the former Saudi owner had donated it to the Museum. Obviously with conditions like no photography inside, and the museum/qantas having to restore it back to flying condition etc.

 

I believe there is a provision in the terms that states that when the museum return it to flying status (once the long anticipated runway upgrade at Longreach occurs) that if they return the cabin to a standard pax config, then photography will be permitted agian. But this seems like it will still be a few years away yet.

 

Not sure if any of this helps, but thats what I was told last year when I did the tour.

 

I am also interested to see that QF have upped their BNE-LRE service to daily with the addition of the 3 direct BNE-LRE Q400 services. When I went out last year the Q300 service via Blackall was the only option, and then only on certain days.

 

Looks like Longreach will be the place to go in the not to distant future with the addition of the Catalina and 2nd (flying) DC3 to compliment the current DC3, 707 and 742 :biggrin:

 

 

[Coop]

Nice report. The 707 was there only briefly when we attended- doing a low fly-by (actually 3) with the wheels almost touching the runway. Certainly the tour of the 747 was worthwhile- although we didn't take the option of the wing-walk. The Powerhouse museum was also fascinating (now there's a flat-4 of a decent size!!), but I found the Stockman's Hall of Fame a bit pretentious (although still interesting for all that).

 

Regards

 

Coop