Qantas 707 VH-XBA & Dublin Spotters.

QANTAS077 · Thu Nov 23, 2006 7:02 pm

for those who wish to see this bird..take note!

the plane is still scheduled for a 26 nov departure, now it's first stop is Dublin, possible stop in Gander, then Montreal for 2 days, BFI (seattle) to meet with Travolta (possible 4 days) then to HNL-NAN-SYD.

she's now in the Qantas scheme from the era. hull pressure tests possible today.

QANTAS077 · Thu Nov 23, 2006 7:26 pm

appaently she's doing flight tests today...southend UK

Q330 · Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:00 pm

Looking great!

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © David Potter

Can't wait to see her in person.

-Q

LHRman · Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:21 pm

Always like when someone else plugs my photo's. Aye it looks fantastic and should be a fantastic day on Sunday when smokey joe departs Smile

.

Thanks.
Dave Potter
Capital Aviation Photography

SHAMROCK_107 · Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:43 pm

Any idea of it's departure/arrival time at Dublin?

Q330 · Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:23 pm

Quoting LHRman (Reply 3):
Always like when someone else plugs my photo's.

No worries, it's a nice shot. Now you just need to return the favour! Wink

-Q

iRISH251 · Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:57 am

Quoting SHAMROCK_107 (Reply 4):
Any idea of it's departure/arrival time at Dublin?

At this stage, arrival at 1300 local on Sunday 26/11 and departure the next morning at 1000. However this is all contingent on serviceability - the aircraft has not taken to the air as yet, after several years parked at Southend.

lasham · Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:23 pm

Quoting Irish251 (Reply 6):
At this stage, arrival at 1300 local on Sunday 26/11 and departure the next morning at 1000. However this is all contingent on serviceability - the aircraft has not taken to the air as yet, after several years parked at Southend

Hi

Bad news as as of FRI 10.00am it has not moved on its own power yet. One of the engines would not start and is sick!
Plus with high winds for the UK on SAT it looks like a test flight will be canx even if the engine gets fixed.

Will update

Tony

dc10tim · Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:34 pm

Forget the 707, what's happening with that UA liveried 146 in the background?

Regards,

Tim.

LHRman · Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:09 am

That arrived a lil while ago and has bits of everything of all over it, tape, random bits of paint and the rudder is missing. I believe this may never depart and will be used for spares but knowing Flightline they will get bored of seeing it parked and eventually buy it (what happened with 2 of the China 146's).

As Tony said bad news for the 707, it was all going so well and now its hit a but of turbulance, the question is will it get airbourne this weekend? Tune in tomorrow for the answer... Wink

Thanks..
Dave P
Capital Aviation Photography

AirMalta · Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:19 am

I am praying to remain at SEN till July Tony so I come for it....
a bit selfish am I???but its a 707!!so pls exempt me from telling me this.....
(kidding)
Malcolm biting

lasham · Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:33 am

Quoting AirMalta (Reply 10):
I am praying to remain at SEN till July

Hi Malcolm

Nice Im sure as it will warm then for you!

Good/ bad news is the engine is getting better!

Tony

iRISH251 · Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:39 pm

Any more news on the Southend 707 yet?

Airplanepics · Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:56 am

Quoting Irish251 (Reply 12):
Any more news on the Southend 707 yet?

Still haven't fixed the engine problem yet, thus it has not completed it's taxi runs. I highly doubt it'll make it's first test flight tomorrow now though....although I could be wrong!

Simon.

iRISH251 · Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:12 am

OK, thanks. The word here is that it is now planned to arrive in Dublin on Wednesday 29/11, if the engine issue is sorted out.

TZ · Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:36 am

Great to see a top-quality shot in the db:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © A J Best

... and remember that "it's" is an abbreviation of "it is" or "it has". When using the possessive version then the correct usage is without the aposthrophe, i.e. "its" (eg "it's had its best years").

TZ

cosec59 · Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:49 am

Quoting TZ (Reply 15):
and remember that "it's" is an abbreviation of "it is" or "it has". When using the possessive version then the correct usage is without the aposthrophe, i.e. "its" (eg "it's had its best years").

Wow. A grammar teacher as well as screener.

QANTAS077 · Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:53 am

it did pushback for engine start, firing order was 3-4-2-1 with number 2 being the problem. the issue is a pressurising & dump valve which needed replacing, this has been completed, so it should do some more testing over the next days and leave on the 29th.

lasham · Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:57 am

Quoting TZ (Reply 15):
Great to see a top-quality shot in the db

Thanks TZ

Took all day to get the shot but glad you think the long (wet) wait was worth the effort. Must have been the best light this year.

Lets see a night shot from you now!

Tony

Airplanepics · Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:59 am

Quoting TZ (Reply 15):

... and remember that "it's" is an abbreviation of "it is" or "it has". When using the possessive version then the correct usage is without the aposthrophe, i.e. "its" (eg "it's had its best years").

Cool. Thank you. Yeah sure

C133 · Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:13 am

Does everyone know how unique the -138 is? The 707-100 series airplanes were a bit short-legged for the South Pacific, so Qantas had Boeing build seven airplanes that were shortened by ten feet aft of the wing with the intent of decreasing structural weight and increasing range. Apparently it worked because they later ordered six more. I don't think any others were built. It's great that this elderly bird is going home.

lasham · Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:28 am

Hi

Just to update.

It still has not moved due to a small snag on No2 engine.

Will let you all know when its looking like its ready for DEP.

Tony

QANTAS077 · Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:24 am

number 2 engine has been removed...being worked on at Southend, probably won't see her depart until next weekend at the earliest.

QANTAS077 · Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:59 am

did a full power engine runup yesterday...test flight today at 11am UK time.

crank · Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:29 am

Thanks a lot for the updates mate, keep them coming. I look forward to seeing that 707 at my home airport.

Youri

AirMalta · Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:06 pm

I got an email below:

(Quoting)
Hello all,

According to a thread at the Flypast Forum at
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=59645 Boeing 707
VH-XBA
will do a testflight from and back to Southend this Friday morning the
1st of December at 11.00 hrs.

Malcolm

StarGoldLHR · Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:15 pm

Rumour has it of a flight today.

Airplanepics · Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:10 am

She flies! As I type this VH-XBA is flying around the North Sea testing it's systems.

Simon.

Gary2880 · Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:27 am

divert to abz! divert to abz hyper

LHRman · Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:08 am

Returned to Southend safe and sound but apparently found a few problems while in the air (not suprizing to be honest). So rumours (make this clear this are rumours I am simply passing on) is that no flight tomorrow but a departure Tues/Weds to Dublin - Montreal - Seattle.

Was definatly a sight to behold Smile

Thanks..
Dave P

QANTAS077 · Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:49 am

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../?action=view¤t=MOV00003.flv

video & pics

ClassicLover · Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:44 pm

Awesome! I hope it's Tuesday as I have the day off work to go to the airport Smile

QANTAS077 · Mon Dec 04, 2006 7:23 am

another flight test planned for today, if this goes ok the plane is expected to leave for Dublin & Montreal on tuesday at 10am.

lasham · Mon Dec 04, 2006 7:30 am

Quoting QANTAS077 (Reply 32):
another flight test planned for today,

Did not test fly on Sunday (uk)

Tony

QANTAS077 · Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:41 am

Quoting Lasham (Reply 33):
Did not test fly on Sunday (uk)

in my part of the world today is monday...when i posted reply 32 it was 7am Perth time on monday.

lasham · Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:47 pm

Quoting QANTAS077 (Reply 34):
in my part of the world today is monday...when i posted reply 32 it was 7am Perth time on monday

OK

Its now 12.45 L Monday (London) and its not flying today. They will try for TUE

Tony

Granite · Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:02 pm

Hi all

Very nice image Tony. I'd love an A4 print of that Wink

Regards

Gary

lasham · Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:24 pm

Quoting Granite (Reply 36):
A4 print

Hi Gary

Ok will send one your way when I get them printed. Looks like I will be doing a few!

Tony

Granite · Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:44 pm

Thanks Tony

Free of course Wink

Regards

Gary

lasham · Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:11 am

Quoting Granite (Reply 38):
Free of course

If I gave it to you for any Money then I would have to give 50% to charity. You know how its works as you did the same in the past!

Bye

Tony

lasham · Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:13 am

Quoting Lasham (Reply 35):
They will try for TUE

Still due to airtest on TUE am, but the weather is not looking good and can not see them getting a dry runway before it gets dark. If it does go up then it will DEP to DUB on WED.

Tony

QANTAS077 · Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:40 am

now set for wednesday the 2nd flight test due engineering.

QANTAS077 · Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:48 am

Montreal looks set to be a no-go due to weather.

ClassicLover · Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:33 pm

Thanks for the update - hope to see her in Dublin!

JakTrax · Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:28 am

Hi Guys,

Looked at the BBC for a forecast tomorrow and Southend's due to be very sunny all day.

It's a long drive from Stoke but if the weather's good I may just have a go. How likely is it that the 707 will move/fly tomorrow so as to enable me to get a nice piccy?

Cheers,

Karl

Airplanepics · Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:31 am

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 44):

It's a long drive from Stoke but if the weather's good I may just have a go. How likely is it that the 707 will move/fly tomorrow so as to enable me to get a nice piccy?

Last I heard, it should be flying early tomorrow......but don't trust me on that!
I'll be up there before work.

JakTrax · Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:38 am

Thanks Simon. I would rather get a shot of it in the air but if I can just turn up, pop my ladders up somewhere and photograph it on the ramp somewhere I'll be more than happy. Is this possible? Will it be parked or moved to somewhere useful during the day tomorrow?

Karl

Airplanepics · Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:41 am

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 46):
Thanks Simon. I would rather get a shot of it in the air but if I can just turn up, pop my ladders up somewhere and photograph it on the ramp somewhere I'll be more than happy. Is this possible? Will it be parked or moved to somewhere useful during the day tomorrow?

Where it is usually parked, you can see the the tail but that's about it!

lasham · Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:45 am

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 46):
and photograph it on the ramp

Its no good airside as this time of year its in shadow from the hangar. And with even if it was good its to near to other aircraft on the small ATC ramp. We all need it to go on its test flight!

Tony

JakTrax · Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:45 am

I know it's a big ask, but can some of you guys keep me informed, as I'd hate to drive all the way from the North-West to find it static? Also, if anyone fancies meeting up with me (I don't know where to go) please shout.

Thanks in advance.

Karl

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