Qantas turns 99 this month
Qantas' newest B787 Dreamliner has rolled out of the paint shop at Boeing’s factory, wearing a special centenary livery to celebrate the flying kangaroo’s 100th year in the skies, as the Australian carrier is embarking on a range of initiatives.
The B787 is named "Longreach" – a nod to the Queensland town that was integral to the national carrier’s beginnings, its role in conquering the tyranny of distance and the Longreach series of retiring B747-400s. Qantas' tenth Dreamliner will undergo a series of delivery test flights in Seattle (WA, USA) prior its handover from Boeing.
It will operate the second of Qantas’ project sunrise research flights, flying non-stop from London (UK) to Sydney (Australia) and replicating the journey of the first B747-400 delivery 30 years ago, before entering regular commercial service. (ah)