A Landmark Journey By Qantas

The 30th anniversary of Qantas’ record-holding Boeing 747-400 VH-OJA jumbo jet continuous flight from London to Sydney — a marathon journey featuring specially-made fuel and covert planning — was recently marked with a special flight.

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The aircraft made Australian aviation and Qantas history in 1989 for the longest non-stop commercial flight in a time of 20 hours, 9 minutes and 5 seconds, a record that still stands. “Initially the idea was regarded as crazy, for the aircraft did not have enough range,” Captain David Massy-Greene, who commanded the flight, wrote later.

The plane, known as The City of Canberra, was filled with the super-fuel and with only 23 people on board — in a cabin that can hold more than 500 — for its historic journey.