VH-OEG

Built by Boeing as manufacturer serial number 32911, VH-OEG was one of only six extended-range passenger models (Boeing 747-400ER) ever manufactured, an exclusive subvariant tailored specifically to meet the ultra-long-haul operational demands of Australia's flag carrier, Qantas. Christened 'Parkes' after the regional town in New South Wales, the aircraft entered service featuring increased maximum takeoff weight and supplementary fuel capacity compared to standard 747-400s, unlocking critical non-stop performance on demanding transpacific routes.

Throughout its nearly two decades with Qantas, VH-OEG became a familiar workhorse across transpacific, transindian, and transpolar networks. Sporting the distinctive flying kangaroo livery—including later wearing the modernized 'New Roo' scheme—the jumbo jet routinely served key long-haul destinations including Los Angeles, Singapore, Santiago, and Johannesburg. In addition to scheduled commercial services, the aircraft notably operated specialized scenic charter flights, such as a trek to Antarctica departing from and returning to Sydney in November 2019.

As the COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented global travel downturns in early 2020, Qantas abruptly accelerated the retirement schedule for its remaining jumbo jet fleet. On March 23, 2020, VH-OEG flew its final passenger revenue flight from Johannesburg to Sydney as flight QF64. After accumulating over 80,708 flight hours and 7,355 cycles, 'Parkes' made its final transpacific crossing on April 5, 2020, flying to Los Angeles before continuing on April 10, 2020, to the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

Following its arrival in the California desert, VH-OEG was formally retired from service, sold to GE Aviation Materials, and deregistered from the Australian civil aircraft registry on June 11, 2020. Parked among countless aviation relics under the arid desert sun, the airframe was permanently dismantled and parted out for scrap, with sections of its painted fuselage skin subsequently cut and upcycled into commemorative memorabilia tags for aviation enthusiasts worldwide.