The Last Qantas Boeing 747 - An Emotional Farewell

A grand farewell to the Qantas Boeing 747, flying from Australia to Los Angeles and to her final resting place at the Mojave airplane graveyard.

Qantas’s B747 is the most iconic plane and has served the Australian airline for nearly 5 decades. I was in Los Angeles and Mojave to witness her final arrival before retirement. It was a bittersweet day to see her final landing on July 24th 2020 in the Mojave Desert, California (Landing by Captain Ewen Cameron, 11:50 local time).

After her landing I was able to board the 747, I got the chance to interview the pilots and joined them for a final walk around. There were just so many emotions running through everyone while bidding farewell to the most iconic airplane of all time.

A lot of my love towards aviation was inspired from the Qantas B747, in the video I share my stories growing up with her. Not only will I miss the 747, I will also miss the human stories from this plane; sharing the laughter, the passion, different cultures and experiences through the shared love of B747 that brought us together! Onwards and Upwards.

[yeahno]

The emotion of the controller, he sounded like he was gonna cry. I felt that.

[deeanna]

Flying a 747 to the desert and leaving her behind must feel kind of like taking a faithful old dog to the shelter and leaving her 😭

[averysba]

Sam, I am the Sydney Air Traffic Controller in the start of your video. Thank you for sharing my words and for putting together this video of the entire journey of this last flight. For some reason, the words I spoke on the radio that day have resonated around the world and bought a tear to many an eye. Just goes to show how iconic the Qantas747 was to many.

[robinps]

“She still calls Australia home” got me 😢. What a loving tribute—thanks so much for posting.

[suppanobeam]

I watched this takeoff in Sydney and I cried when it disappeared from my view. The Qantas 747 served us all very . We bless the Queen of the Skies for one last takeoff and landing. Farewell to the Qantas 747 farewell

[LivingAviation]

The moment when everyone cried, the last Qantas 747 touch down! A big good-bye to the Qantas 747s, the queen has done its duty for years for Qantas. Now that's the type of farewell you give to the 747s! On the other hand British Airways 747s receive just nothing!

[wil]

very proud to say that I helped build several hundred of these beautiful airplanes and flew on several. Long live the Queen. <3

[prathombanik]

Boeing doesn't make planes they make emotions ❤️
You'll always remembered Queen

[jaydensteyn]

Its very odd, usually we look at planes just like “oh they take us from point a to b” but this retirement of the aircraft, you can see just how much more it is than that for everyone.

[robertjr]

Brings tears to my eyes to see this bird retiring. I work for a jet engine manufacture and have flown on several 747’s over the years and I must say this is by far my favorite aircraft. Farewell 747 ✈️😢

[AussieInUS]

Sam, an absolute awesome tribute to the Qantas 747. So many emotions and memories. I traveled her since 2000, a total of 18 journeys and 12 of those on the Longreach. As an Australian living in the US, the red tail flying kangaroo brought a tear to my eye. The aerodynamic look of the 747, in 2022, I don't think will ever be matched for style and elegance. Thank you to all those who served her and the final trip to the desert including this other 3 planes that were top to tail is a sad day in history. Again, thank you and I'm a little more depressed and sad having watched this... BUT 10 out of 10 for an excellent tribute and a respectable finale to bid this plane and crew with an amazing send off. I Thank You.

[patriciaahmed]

I love this clip. ❤ What a fitting tribute, and to be part of history forever. An indelible mark in the memory of thousands, especially the flight crew!!! Thank you for sharing your passion, their passion!! Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!!! The Spirit of Australia!

[hdwporiginal]

I was working on Sydney Harbour during the last flyby, it was a very bittersweet moment. Gonna miss seeing that plane coming and going at SYD. Farewell Queen of the Skies, and thank you. ✈️

[tyson]

The A380 is bigger, Concord was faster, But the 747 is and will remain the queen of the skies.

[dztheweirdguys]

I nearly cried. Thank you for serving us all 747 you are and always be the Queen of the skies. A big well done to all the crew and pilots of this one amazing jumbo jet.

[aviationgaming]

Dad why are you crying so damn loudly
“Last Qantas 747”

[fixpacifica]

At least we'll see 747s around for awhile flying cargo.

[walkingwithsteve]

Watching this queen land at the desert, gave me the feeling I got when I said goodbye to a loved one who would never return 😭 😭

[yankee_tango]

I remember that day at LAX when that aircraft arrived. I had many photos of the arrival and departure to Mohave. I had tears in my eyes knowing this was the end of an era for Qantas Airways. Seeing the Queen of the skies becoming less and less is sad. They were/are still ahead of their time. I myself will always love the 747, she will always be the Queen. There is nothing that will replace her.

Goodbye my dear you will be missed.

[sixfootfilms]

It was 1978 and a 13yo wide-eyed boy boarded his first commercial jet at Heathrow, a QF 747 bound for Melbourne via Bahrain and Perth. What an experience and it went a long way to distract from the sadness of leaving my world behind. 42 years later I stood on Benbuckler Point, tears streaming from my eyes, as I watched QF7474 majestically disappear towards LAX for the last time. Australia owes a lot to the men and women pilots, crew and ground staff who lovingly made QF 747 flights the absolute gold standard that other carriers could only hope to match.