As the backbone of Qantas’s domestic fleet, the Boeing 737 has had a storied history with the Australian airline. From the first acquisition of the 737-300 and -400 following the 1994 merger with Australian Airlines, to the arrival of the 737-800 in the early 2000s, to the present day, Boeing’s superlative short-haul airliner has been a frequent sight in Australian skies. However, that all is changing soon enough, with the type beginning its gradual phase-out next year following the beginning of A321XLR deliveries. So here’s to the Guppy, long may they remain airworthy!
Server: Solo
Airline: Qantas
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Origin: Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, Mascot, Australia (SYD)
Destination: Darwin International Airport, Eaton, Australia (DRW)
Flight Number: QF840
Route: YSSY-YPDN
Seat: 18F (Economy)
Time En Route: 3 Hours 57 Minutes
Boarding for the morning flight to the largest city in the sparsely-populated Northern Territory, Darwin. Our aircraft today is a 22.2 year-old 737-800 registered as VH-VXM and named Mount Hotham.
Taxiing past Terminal 1, where all International flight operate from at Kingsford Smith Airport
Taxiing out with Botany Bay to our right
Rocket takeoff from RWY 34L
Climbout past Sydney Harbor
In cruise over western Queensland
Final descent into Darwin
Landing on a hot afternoon at DRW
Taxiing to Gate 7
Looking across the runway at RAAF Base Darrwin, which shares the facilities with the commercial airport. Home to No. 92 Wing Detachment B, operating the Boeing P-8A Poseidon antisubmarine warfare and maritime patrol aircraft, the base also sees the RAAF and USAF C-130 Hercules fleets, USAF B-52H Stratofortresses, B-1B Lancers, KC-135R Stratotankers, and until recently, KC-10A Extenders.