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Monday, March 17, 2025 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Last of the Boeings survives the scrapyard

The last of the Boeing 717 jets in the QantasLink fleet. Photo: Scott Mayman
By aviation writer Scott Mayman
The last of the Boeing 717 jets in the QantasLink fleet that was “officially” retired in Canberra last year has survived the scrapyard.
It had been in storage at Canberra Airport until a ferry flight to Brisbane where it’s  been gifted to an aviation school.
It’s final flight was supposed be QF 1511 from Sydney to Canberra on October 26,  ending a 24-year career, only to be reinstated in November. The plane was thought to have been flown out of Australia.
However, the aircraft, registered as VH-YQW, was photographed on December 16 at Canberra Airport for “storage” purposes.
All Qantas Boeing 717 aircraft have been replaced by the newer Airbus A220 jets. Most of the QantasLink Boeings have been flown to the US, except for this one.
The aircraft was then ferried back to Canberra and again brought back into service to help out while there were teething issues with the newer Airbus A220 jet.
The history of the jet is here.

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