General News
2 April, 2024
Village’s flying billboard
A QANTAS jet which regularly flies into Cairns over Palm Cove has a special connection to the the boutique seaside village.
The ‘Palm Cove’ Boeing 737-838 was named in 2011 and is still flying today.
A Qantas spokeswoman said naming aircraft after towns and communities was a great opportunity to encourage travellers to explore more of regional Australia.
“Our fleet features many aircraft named after regional towns from across the country. This is just one way we celebrate their diversity and beauty,” she said.
“The ‘Palm Cove’ flies on domestic routes in Australia as well as a number of international routes.
“For example, in the past few days, it has flown to Auckland, Sydney, Norfolk Island, Perth and Wellington.
“It has standard 12 business and 162-economy seats on board.
“Another example of a Qantas aircraft named after a town in FNQ which may be of interest is the ‘Port Douglas’.”
It is understood ‘Palm Cove’ was entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-VZV on September 6, 2011 and is registered to Qantas Airways in Sydney.
It rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle in November 2011, its first flight was on November 17, 2011, and is powered by CFM International CFM56-7B24E engines.
It was accepted by Qantas Airways at Seattle on December 6, 2011 and was the 178th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas and the 58th Boeing 737 delivered to Qantas.
It arrived at Melbourne (Tullamarine) on its delivery flight on December 9, 2011 and operated its first service between Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as QF426 on December 13, 2011.
In a Facebook post, Advance Palm Cove president Robert Van Den Hoven said the Palm Cove plane had been operating since 2011 or 2012.
“If I am correct it was used in the promotional Qantas clip, Qantas the spirit of Australia during those years,” he said.
Also on Facebook, Anna Leonard said it was free advertising, while John Rose said: “It flies over Palm Cove nearly every time it lands in Cairns’.
