Qantas’s 100th anniversary 787 has been rolled out of Boeing’s paint shop in Seattle featuring logos from the airline’s founding in outback Queensland in 1920 to its latest effort celebrating its centenary.
The 787, the 929th built and Qantas’s 10th carries the registration VH-ZNJ.
The Australian airline turns 99 in November and kicks off a range of initiatives as it heads towards its 100th anniversary in November 2020.
The 787 is named Longreach in honor of the Queensland town integral to its launch and features the “Qantas 100” imprint that will run across its 100th-anniversary celebrations.
Longreach was also the name given to the Boeing 747-400s that helped open the world to Australian travelers.
The aircraft will undergo a series of delivery test flights in Seattle prior to its handover from Boeing next month.
Before entering normal service, it will operate the second of Qantas’ Project Sunrise research flights, flying non-stop from London to Sydney and replicating the journey of the first 747-400 delivery 30 years ago.
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“The story of Qantas is the story of modern Australia, and the logos on this livery tell that story from the beginning,” Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said.
“Our Centenary celebrations are all about honoring our past with an eye on the future, so it’s very fitting that this special livery will be worn by our newest state-of-the-art Dreamliner.”
What started as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services has evolved from delivering the mail in the outback to serving as the national carrier – from two passengers at a time to 50 million a year.
Joyce noted Qantas now flies non-stop from Australia to Europe, having established an unrivaled reputation for safety in the process.
“We have a lot of exciting things planned to mark the Centenary, so watch this space,” he said.
