Australia's ice queen

摘要

More than a year has passed since the engines of the final Qantas Boeing 747 fell silent in the boneyard of the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. After nearly half a century of service with the airline, the 'Flying Kangaroo' upon the fin has been blotted out and the once-mighty engines salvaged for parts. In 49 years of commercial operations, Qantas deployed the 747 in a range of interesting roles, from evacuating citizens in the face of natural disasters to returning triumphant Olympians to Australian shores. They conducted everything from pleasure flights for children and charities to record-breaking long-haul sectors. While every jumbo journey was notable, there's an extra special series of flights over Antarctica that exemplify the pioneering spirit of Qantas and the 747. As the Californian tumbleweed rolls past the dormant airframes in the desert, it seems apt to reflect upon a journey to the planet's southernmost continent when the 'Queen' still graced the skies.