After its final flight across Australia a QantasLink Fokker F100 jet aircraft has a new home at Shellharbour Airport, where it will begin a new chapter with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).
The recently retired 100-seat aircraft has been donated by QantasLink to HARS, where it will join its collection of aircraft as a public exhibit.
VH-NPU “Meekatharra” is the second aircraft to be donated to HARS, with another QantasLink F100 domated to its Parkes Museum in February.
Meekatharra will sit alongside Qantas’ first Boeing 747- 400, VH-OJA, that was donated by the Australian flag carrier in 2015. City of Canberra arrived at HARS following 26 years of service and is one of the museum's most visited attractions.
QantasLink’s fleet of F100s are being replaced by Embraer E190 aircraft to improve reliability, fuel efficiency and customer comfort. The first E190 is expected to arrive in Perth next month.
Meekatharra began flying for QantasLink in December 2016 and was the final F100 to be added to the fleet. The aircraft has flown more than 11,250 hours for QantasLink, carrying around a million passengers across regional Western Australia.
HARS President and chief pilot Bob De La Hunty said: “We're honoured that QantasLink has entrusted HARS with another important piece of Australian aviation history.
“Meekatharra will help tell the story of the aircraft that connected regional communities and supported industry across Western Australia.
“Our volunteers are passionate about keeping these stories alive and giving visitors the opportunity to experience these remarkable aircraft up close.”
* VH-NPU joined the QantasLink fleet in 2016 and prior to that it flew for American Airlines and Austrian Airlines. It recorded 9 million kilometres and 7,543 flights flown for QantasLink.
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