On Easter Saturday 7 April 2007, Qantas Boeing 707-138B registration VH-XBA operated a crew familiarisation flight from Sydney to Longreach preparatory to her final landing there on 10 June that year. Visitors to Longreach, including those on charter flights from Sydney and Brisbane, were treated to an amazing flying display as XBA performed four missed approaches to Longreach airport. On the Saturday evening the Qantas Foundation Memorial held a dinner attended by and in appreciation of the volunteer engineers who returned XBA to flying condition and ultimately Australia. Trully a job well done!
Originally registered as VH-EBA, this aircraft was the first jet on the Australian civil register and was the first shortened 138 series 707 built by Boeing in 1959 and thus is of enormous significance to Australia's aviation history.
A framed print of this painting was presented by the Qantas Foundation Memorial to the Honourable Mark Vaile MP, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia on the occasion of the landing of VH-XBA at Longreach on Sunday 10 June 2007.
Oil on stretched canvas
80 x 40 cms
This painting is now available as a limited edition run of 250 prints at A$90.00 each plus postage and packing. The overall print size is 75 x 40 cms.
