After its final flight across Australia a QantasLink Fokker F100 jet aircraft has touched down at Shellharbour Airport where it will begin a new chapter at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).
The recently retired 100-seat aircraft has been donated by QantasLink to HARS where it will join its collection of aircraft as a public exhibit.
VH-NPU “Meekatharra” is the second aircraft to be donated to HARS, with another QantasLink F100 donated to its Parkes Museum in February.
Meekatharra will sit alongside Qantas’ first Boeing 747- 400, VH-OJA that was donated by Qantas in 2015. City of Canberra arrived at HARS following26 years of service and is one of the museum’s most visited attractions.
QantasLink’s fleet of F100s are being gradually replaced with Embraer E190 aircraft to improve reliability, fuel efficiency and customer comfort. The first E190 is expected to arrive in Perth next month.
Meekatharra began flying for QantasLink in December 2016 and was the final F100 to be added to the fleet. The aircraft has flown more than 11,250 hours for QantasLink, carrying around a million passengers across regional Western Australia and as a critical support of the resource industry.
Comments from QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra:
“Meekatharra played an important role connecting regional communities across Western Australia for close to a decade, and we’re thrilled it will now be preserved by HARS for the future generations of aviation enthusiasts.
“HARS has become a natural home for some of our retired aircraft, helping keep important parts of Australian aviation history alive.
“As we farewell the F100 and prepare to welcome new aircraft into the fleet, we’re grateful to the volunteers who will ensure its story continues to be shared.”
Comments from HARS President and Chief Pilot Bob De La Hunty:
“We’re honoured that QantasLink has entrusted HARS with another important piece of Australian aviation history.
“Joining Qantas’ first Boeing 747-400, and the former Qantas Boeing 707-138, Meekatharra will help tell the story of the aircraft that connected regional communities and supported industry across Western Australia.
“Our volunteers are passionate about keeping these stories alive and giving visitors the opportunity to experience these remarkable aircraft up close.”
Comments from Shellharbour Mayor, Chris Homer:
“We’re proud to welcome another significant aircraft to HARS here in Shellharbour, strengthening our city’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier destinations for aviation history.
“This F100 served communities across Western Australia for many years, and it’s fitting that its next chapter will be at HARS, where it will continue connecting people through education, tourism and the preservation of Australia’s aviation heritage.
“HARS continues to attract visitors from across the country, and every new addition to its collection helps share the stories of Australian aviation with future generations while supporting local tourism and our visitor economy.”
Fast Facts:
- VH-NPU joined the QantasLink fleet in 2016 and prior to that it flew for American Airlines and Austrian Airlines.
- Nine million kilometres and 7,543 flights flown for QantasLink
- The F100 aircraft have connected communities across Western Australia, including Kalgoorlie, Newman and Paraburdoo.
- QantasLink’s WA network operates over 600 flights per week to more than 25 destinations across regional Western Australia and to Darwin, Newcastle, Hobart, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
- Its current Western Australian fleet includes 40 aircraft including Fokker 100, Airbus A319 and Airbus A320.
- The donation follows a QantasLink F100 donation to HARS Parkes in February 2026.
- HARS Albion Park is already home to Qantas’ first Boeing 747-400, VH-OJA, donated in 2015.
Images and vision can be found here.
