View source for Biology:Qantas fleet history

[[File:Qantas Boeing 707 and Boeing 747-200 at Longreach's Qantas Founders Outback Museum.jpg|thumb|Boeing 707 and Boeing 747-200 at Longreach's Qantas Founders Outback Museum]]
[[Company:Qantas|Qantas]] has had a varied fleet since the airline's inception. Following its foundation shortly after the end of the First World War, the first aircraft to serve in the fleet was the Avro 504K, a small biplane. Starting with a delivery of seven [[Engineering:Boeing 707|Boeing 707]] aircraft,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-jet-age/global/en |accessdate=2015-05-11 |title=Entering the Jet Age}}</ref> the airline's fleet entered the jet age in 1959.

==First aircraft==
[[File:Avro Dyack used by QANTAS ca. 1921.jpg|thumb|Avro Dyack, the first Qantas plane, ca.1921]]
Qantas' first aircraft was an Avro 504K (a replica of which can be seen at Sydney Airport's Qantas Domestic Terminal 3 on departures level) with a 100-horsepower (74&nbsp;kW) water-cooled Sunbeam Dyak engine. By 1921 it also operated a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2E with a 90-horsepower (67&nbsp;kW) air-cooled engine.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}

Qantas inaugurated its three-day-long ''[[Engineering:Short Empire|Short Empire]] Flying Boat'' service between Rose Bay and Singapore-Kallang Airport in the late 1930s. The run had stopovers in Townsville, Darwin and Surabaya. The service was replaced in 1943 by a long-range service, the ''Catalina flying boat''.<ref name="Qantas flying boats: Was air travel more fun in the 1930s?" />

==During World War II==
During [[Social:World War II|World War II]], Qantas operated flying boats on the Australia-England route in cooperation with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). After Italy entered the war in June 1940, this became the Horseshoe Route between Sydney and Durban in South Africa with the South Africa - UK stage being by sea. This service was a vital line of communication between Australia and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-world-at-war/global/en |title=World at War |publisher=Qantas.com.au |date=4 February 1942 |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref>

In June 1943 Qantas employed 5 [[Engineering:Consolidated PBY Catalina|Consolidated PBY Catalina]] flying boats—obtained under Lend-Lease through the British Air Ministry—to establish a route between Perth in Australia and [[Place:Colombo|Colombo]] in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) over the [[Earth:Indian Ocean|Indian Ocean]]. Becoming known as [[Biology:The Double Sunrise|The Double Sunrise]], this route remains the longest non-stop commercial flight ever undertaken, requiring between 27 and 32 hours to complete (depending on winds). Over the next two years, 271 crossings took place.<ref name="Qantas_Catalinas">{{cite web |url=https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/history-catalinas/global/en |title=The Catalinas |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Qantas.com |publisher=[[Company:Qantas|Qantas]] |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="flight1950">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Thirty Years of Qantas |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1950/1950%20-%201946.html |magazine=Flight |location=[[Place:London|London]] |date=16 November 1950 |volume=LVIII |issue=2182 |access-date=6 April 2018 }}</ref>

Starting in June 1944, Qantas augmented the Catalinas with the first of two converted Consolidated Liberator bombers, which could complete the Australia–Ceylon journey in substantially less time with a much larger payload. The route was named ''[[Biology:Kangaroo Route|Kangaroo Route]]'' and marked the first time that Qantas' now-famous kangaroo logo was used; passengers received a certificate proclaiming them as members of ''The Order of the Longest Hop''.<ref name="flight1950"/>

In June 1945, [[Engineering:Avro Lancastrian|Avro Lancastrian]]s were introduced on the Australia–England service, with the Liberators and Catalinas being shifted to other routes.<ref name="flight1950"/>

==Post War era==
In accordance with the Lend-Lease agreement, the five modified Catalinas used for Double Sunrise service were scuttled after the war. However, Qantas obtained seven former {{wipe|Royal Australian Air Force}} Catalinas, using them to serve outlying South Pacific islands. The last two Catalinas were retired in 1958.<ref name="Qantas_Catalinas"/>

After World War II Qantas modernised its fleet with [[Engineering:Lockheed Constellation|Lockheed Constellation]] aircraft, commencing with six L-749 Constellations from 1947.<ref name="Lockheed Constellation - Australia">{{cite web | title =Lockheed Constellation - Australia	| publisher =Aussie Airliners | url = http://www.aussieairliners.org/lockheed/connie.htm | accessdate = 2013-04-20}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2013}}</ref>

In 1949, [[Engineering:Douglas DC-4|Douglas DC-4 Skymasters]] were obtained, replacing Lancastrians on some routes.<ref name="flight1950"/>

In 1950, Qantas introduced the first of five [[Engineering:Short Sandringham|Short Sandringham]] flying boats which flew from the Rose Bay flying boat base on Sydney Harbour to destinations in [[Earth:New Caledonia|New Caledonia]], New Hebrides, Fiji, New Guinea and [[Earth:Lord Howe Island|Lord Howe Island]]. Two of these were purchased from [[Biology:TEAL|TEAL]] and the other three were purchased from BOAC. These were in service through to 1955.<ref>{{cite web | title =Australian Short Flying Boat Register	| publisher =Aussie Airliners | url = http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortfb/shortfbregister.html | accessdate = 2013-04-20}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2013}}</ref>

From 1954, Qantas placed into service the first of sixteen L-1049 Super Constellation aircraft, which would remain in the fleet through to 1963.<ref name="Lockheed Constellation - Australia"/> By 1956 the airline was operating 34 propeller-driven aircraft. Qantas carried a record number of passengers to the 1956 Summer Olympics in [[Place:Melbourne|Melbourne]], and also carried the Olympic flame<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/l-1049/vh-eab2/vheab.html |title=VH-EAB L-1049 Constellation |publisher=Aussieairliners.org |accessdate=8 July 2011}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2013}}</ref> into the Southern Hemisphere for the first time on its longest ever trip, from Athens to Darwin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-constellations/global/en |title=Constellations Span the World |publisher=Qantas.com.au |date=14 January 1958 |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref>

==Jet era==
[[File:Boeing 707-338C VH-EBR Qantas FRA 01.07.72 edited-2.jpg|thumb|Boeing 707 at Frankfurt Airport in 1972]]
Qantas entered the Jet Age in July 1959 with [[Engineering:Boeing 707|Boeing 707]] services to the United States. The service was extended to London via New York. Sydney to London services via Bombay began in October 1959.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-jet-age/global/en |title=Entering the Jet Age |publisher=Qantas.com.au |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref> With the certification of the [[Engineering:Turbofan|turbofan]] engine, Qantas modified its existing 707–138 fleet with the turbofans, naming its Boeing 707 aircraft ''V-Jets'', from the Latin ''vannus'', meaning “fan” as commonly accepted, but really standing for “thing that blows against the grain”.<ref name="FI1964-50/54" />{{rp|50}} In total, Qantas took delivery of seven Boeing 707–138s, and a further six 707−138Bs.

From 7 November 1959 until 30 May 1963, Qantas operated six deHavilland Comets, four being [[Finance:Aircraft lease#Wet lease|wet leased]] from BOAC. They were crewed by BOAC employees and featured Qantas titles on the fuselage in place of the BOAC titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/dh%20comet/austcometregister.htm |title=de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref>

Following this, Qantas placed in service twenty-two Boeing 707-338Cs, which replaced the Boeing 707-138Bs and provided for expansion of the fleet. These entered service in February 1965 and flew through until retirement in March 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-707q/707index.html |title=Australian Boeing 707 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref>

From 1971, Qantas operated the [[Engineering:Boeing 747|Boeing 747]]-238B,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-jumbo-jet/global/en |title=The Jumbo Jet |publisher=Qantas.com.au |date=1 August 1967 |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref> which strengthened its long haul fleet. When the Boeing 707s were retired in 1979, Qantas became the world's only all Boeing 747 operator.<ref name=AA0618>Long Has She Reigned ''Australian Aviation'' June 2018 page 62</ref> In 1981, two short body [[Engineering:Boeing 747SP|Boeing 747SP]]s entered the fleet for flights to Wellington, and they were subsequently used on non-stop flights between Sydney and Los Angeles.<ref>Qantas SP will mean 747 services to Wellington ''Freight & Container Transportation'' March 1980 page 27</ref><ref name="Australian Boeing 747 Register">{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-747/aust747index.html |title=Australian Boeing 747 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref>

In November 1984, Qantas commenced service with six Boeing 747-338s with an extended upper deck.<ref name="Australian Boeing 747 Register"/> From 1985, Qantas ceased being an all Boeing 747 operator when the first of seven [[Engineering:Boeing 767|Boeing 767]]-238ERs entered the fleet.<ref name=AA0618/> These were followed by the Boeing 767-300ERs, with the first example delivered in {{start date|1988|8}};<ref>{{cite news|title= Qantas enters final stage of 767 phase-out|first= Adrian|last= Schofield|work= Air Transport World|date= {{Date|2014-9-18}}|url= http://atwonline.com/airframes/qantas-enters-final-stage-767-phase-out|access-date= 27 December 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140921200139/http://atwonline.com/airframes/qantas-enters-final-stage-767-phase-out|archive-date= 21 September 2014|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref> seven additional Boeing 767-336ERs were leased and subsequently purchased from British Airways and entering service from August 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-767/767australia.htm |title=Australian Boeing 767 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref> On its delivery flight in July 1989, [[Biology:City of Canberra (aircraft)|Qantas' first Boeing 747-400]] flew a record-breaking non-stop flight from London to Sydney in little more than 20 hours that stood until bettered by a Boeing 787 in October 2019.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190819054318/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-17/30-years-since-qantas-top-secret-london-to-sydney-flight/11413346 30 years since Qantas' top-secret record-holding 747 flight from London to Sydney] ''ABC News'' 17 August 2019</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200428102502/https://7news.com.au/travel/qantas-non-stop-london-sydney-flight-inside-the-monumental-19-hour-journey-c-559277 Qantas' non-stop London-Sydney flight: Inside the monumental 19 hour journey] ''Seven News'' 17 November 2019</ref> Qantas purchased a total of 60 Boeing 747s with the last delivered in 2003. Fifty-seven were purchased new and three second-hand, it operated a further five leased from other airlines at various stages.<ref name=AA0618/> The last six [[Engineering:Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747-400]]s were retired in 2020.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190330082833/https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-orders-more-dreamliners-sets-date-to-farewell-jumbos/ Qantas orders more Dreamliners, sets date to farewell Jumbos] Qantas 2 May 2018</ref>

In the early 1990s Qantas was one of eight major airlines working with [[Company:Boeing|Boeing]] on the design of the [[Engineering:Boeing 777|Boeing 777]]. Despite being part of the design group, Qantas ultimately never acquired any 777s. Several aviation commentators have criticised this decision, as the 777 appears to be a good fit for Qantas' requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/03/no-time-machine-to-change-qantas-fleet-order-joyce/ |title=No time machine to change Qantas fleet order – Joyce |publisher=Australian Aviation Magazine |date=6 March 2014 |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref>{{acn|date=April 2016}} While the reasons have never been made public by Qantas, it is believed that various reasons contributed to the decision, such as a Civil Aviation Safety Authority restriction on ETOPS180 operations, errors made by Qantas in the forecasting of future fuel prices which made the 777 appear expensive to operate, and a desire to keep the number of types in the fleet to a minimum.{{CN|date=April 2016}}

In 2008, Qantas took delivery of the first of 12 [[Engineering:Airbus A380|Airbus A380]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200429004350/https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2008/09/first-airbus-a380-delivered-to-qantas.html First Airbus A380 delivered to Qantas] Airbus 19 September 2008</ref>

==1970 fleet==
[[Image:QANTAS Boeing 747SP, VH-EAA, Wellington, 1981 - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg|thumb|Boeing 747SP at Wellington, New Zealand, 1981.]]
[[Image:Qantas Airbus A300B4-203 PER Wheatley.jpg|thumb|An [[Engineering:Airbus A300|Airbus A300]] at Perth]]
[[File:Qantas Boeing 767-300; VH-OGS@SYD;31.07.2012 666id (7863496018).jpg|thumb|A Boeing 767 at Sydney Airport in 2012]]
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ '''Qantas Airways fleet in 1970'''<ref>{{cite journal|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200547.html|format= PDF|title= World airlines 1970 – Qantas Airways Ltd|journal=Flight International|pages= 497|date= {{date|1970-3-26}}|accessdate= {{date|2011-8-28}}}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightblue;"
!Aircraft
!Total
!Orders
!Notes
|-
|[[Engineering:Concorde|BAC/Sud Concorde]]
|0
|0
|Four on option
|-
|[[Engineering:Boeing 2707|Boeing SST]]
|0
|0
|Six on option
|-
|[[Engineering:Boeing 707|Boeing 707-300]]{{cite title= JP Airline-Fleets date= 1970-1977 publ=editions Jp, Zurich author= F E Bucher, U Klee, B Drum }}
|21
|0
|
|-
|[[Engineering:Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200]]
|0
|4
|
|-
|[[Engineering:Douglas DC-3|Douglas DC-3]]
|2
|0
|
|-
|[[Engineering:Douglas DC-4|Douglas DC-4]]
|2
|0
|
|-
|Hawker Siddeley HS 125
|2
|0
|Used for pilot training
|-
|[[Engineering:Lockheed L-188 Electra|Lockheed L-188 Electra]]
|1
|0
|
|-
|Total
|28
|4
|
|}

==Recent retirements==
Qantas operated [[Engineering:Airbus A300|Airbus A300B4]] aircraft after its acquisition of Australian Airlines. The airline also operated [[Engineering:Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]], [[Engineering:Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200]], [[Engineering:Boeing 747SP|Boeing 747SP]], [[Engineering:Boeing 747|Boeing 747-300]] and [[Engineering:Boeing 767|Boeing 767-200ER]] aircraft.

In 2014, Qantas retired its fleet of [[Engineering:Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400]] aircraft, after the last scheduled service of the type on 23 February.<ref>{{cite news|title=End of an era as Qantas retires the 737 classic|publisher=Australian Aviation|date=24 February 2014|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/02/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-retires-the-737-classic/}}</ref>

Throughout 2014, Qantas's Boeing 767-300ER fleet was in the process of a phase-out with the last five operating commercial services operating on 27 December.<ref>[http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/12/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-farewells-the-767/ End of an era as Qantas farewells the 767] ''Australian Aviation'' 27 December 2014</ref> Four of them were sold to WestJet.<ref>{{cite news|title= End of an era as Qantas farewells the 767|first1= Gerard|last1= Frawley|publisher= Australian Aviation|date= 27 December 2014|url= http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/12/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-farewells-the-767/|access-date= 3 January 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150904002304/http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/12/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-farewells-the-767/|archive-date= 4 September 2015|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref>

Named ''[[Biology:City of Canberra (aircraft)|City of Canberra]]'' and registered VH-OJA, Qantas' oldest Boeing 747-400 was retired on {{end date|2015|3|8|df=yes}} and flown to Illawarra Regional Airport in order to be donated to the Historical Aviation Restoration Society.<ref>{{cite news|title= PICTURES: Qantas’s first 747-400 makes final flight|first1= Ellis|last1= Taylor|location= [[Place:Singapore|Singapore]]|work= Flightglobal|date= {{Date|2015-3-9}}|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-qantass-first-747-400-makes-final-flight-409895/|access-date= 10 March 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150310104445/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-qantass-first-747-400-makes-final-flight-409895/|archive-date= 10 March 2015|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref>

On 13 October 2019, Qantas' final Boeing 747-400 (VH-OJU, named ''Lord Howe Island'') was retired after operating QF99 from Sydney to Los Angeles. On 28 March 2020, Qantas operated its last commercial Boeing 747 flight from Santiago de Chile to Sydney.<ref>COVID vs Goliaths ''Airliner World'' June 2020 page 27</ref><ref>[https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-747-retirement Qantas retires entire Boeing 747 fleet] ''Executive Traveller'' 25 June 2020</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<!-- + -->
<ref name="FI1964-50/54">{{flatlist}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;50)|journal= Flight International|date= {{date|1964-7-9}}|pages= 50–54|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202027.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV2iGZsV|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;51)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202028.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV32cDKN|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;52)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202029.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV38WQot|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;53)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202030.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV3EzYSX|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;54)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202031.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV3JXGge|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
{{endflatlist}}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Qantas flying boats: Was air travel more fun in the 1930s?">{{cite news|title= Qantas flying boats: Was air travel more fun in the 1930s?|newspaper= news.com.au|date= {{Date|2013-8-10}}|url= http://www.news.com.au/travel/qantas-flying-boats-was-air-travel-more-fun-in-the-1930s/story-e6frfq7r-1226694806067|access-date= 5 February 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150205142348/http://www.news.com.au/travel/qantas-flying-boats-was-air-travel-more-fun-in-the-1930s/story-e6frfq7r-1226694806067|archive-date= 5 February 2015|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref>
|2}}

==External links==


[[Category:Qantas]]

{{Sourceattribution|Qantas fleet history|1}}