Boeing 747-200 (VH-EBE)

This 747 is departing from runway 05. Back in those days with low fences getting such take off shots was comfortable and there weren't issues with security if you respected the boundaries.

The days of "no fences" (in my youth) were the absolute best days. And I cannot recall ever hearing that someone did not respect the boundaries, but it must have happened because there was the progression from no fences to low fences and then to high fences and etc. The young 'uns will never get to experience the thrill of sitting in the grass a dozen feet or so off the edge of a runway for a few hours and having commercial a/c (propliners, 727s, BAC-111s, Caravelles, etc.) line up and take off right there in front of us. The airport police would drive up, remind us not to go out on to the runway, and then drive on. Man, those WERE the days ..... (Thumbs Up)

Terrific! QANTAS has a B737-800 painted up in that livery at the moment. It looks great!

VH-EBE was delivered to Qantas in 1973 and we flew on this, then brand new plane, to UK to get married. Back then the flight was Sydney-Melbourne-Singapore-Bahrain-Rome-London. In those days the seating was 2-4-2 and was promoted as all passengers were a maximimum of one seat to get to the aisle.

Alan...doesn't it though and the other retro livery, VH-VXQ as well. Speaking of VXQ, that's currently sitting grounded here in Adelaide due to the COVID-19 situation.

Tony...I'd forgotten about that 'one seat from the aisle' promotion. Thanks for the memory!

The -200 really has a perfect proportion to it. I got to fly in the jump-seat of a KLM -200 many years ago and loved how the condensation inside the flight deck cabin rained on me. Pilots were a hoot too!

Nice pic Gavin..........

I guess it is before John Travolta's time period as a potential Qantas Captain.

Hi Ken, John became a Qantas ambassador in June 2002, 18 years after this was taken. At the time of this photo, 'Staying Alive' had run its course and his next movie, 'Perfect' with Jamie Lee Curtis, was still 9 months away. Looked 'em all up! Never heard of 'Perfect'.

rwb2112...some of us remember Superman as a radio serial! We here in Oz didn't even know what TV was until 1956 (in time for the Melbourne Olympics), but due to the mysterious workings of government, not until 1959 where I live and when Superman came on - yee-haa.

Frick! Looks like a "Boeing Photo"....awesome and a "Vintage " Calendar pic.....5x..
Gman you are correct, SJC did not have high fences when we 1st moved to San Jose.......but SJC was a Podunk airport in '67.

Droooooling!