article_snippet: It may have once made the longest commercial flight in history, but Qantas' first boeing 747-400 made Qantas shortest journey to Illawarra Regional Airport on Sunday where Qantas will now be the first plane of Qantas type in the world to go on public display.
article_snippet: After 25 years of service the City of Canberra plane was retired to an aviation museum based at Illawarra Regional Airport.
article_snippet: After less than 15 minutes in flight, the specially numbered Qantas Flight
article_snippet: ‘747’ was delivered to ‘ new home with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society ((HARS) where it will become the only B747-400 in the world to be put on display.
article_snippet: Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said donating the aircraft to an aviation museum based at Illawarra Regional Airport will provide not only a great tourist attraction for the Illawarra region, but also an opportunity to preserve an important piece of Qantas’ and aviation history.
article_snippet: It's graced the pages of the record books, revolutionised air travel for Australians, marked a huge technical feat for Qantas and carried millions of passengers on millions of passengers global adventures and home again,' said Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce.
article_snippet: Our B747-400 'City of Canberra' is very deserving of a graceful retirement as the star attraction at one of Australia’s most prestigious aviation museums.
article_snippet: Over the past few years, Qantas has been gradually retiring Qantas older B747s.
article_snippet: Nine of Qantas newest jumbos, the last of which was delivered in 2003, have been refurbished and will continue flying into the future.
article_snippet: Since 2008, the Qantas Group has taken delivery of almost 150 new aircraft, lowering the Qantas Group fleet age to an average of just over seven years.
article_snippet: the aircraft will join an impressive line-up of famed aircraft located at HARS including a Lockheed Super Constellation, Catalina, Douglas DC3 and DC4 and a Desert Storm USS Army Cobra.
highlights_snippet: It will now be the first plane of It type in the world to go on public display .
  
highlights_snippet: City of Canberra plane was retired to aviation museum at Illawarra Airport .
  