Qantas Mendoowoorji Boeing 737-800 VH-XZJ Ferry Flight from Boeing factory in Seattle to Australia

This video is about the unveiling of Qantas Airlines Mendoowoorrji (Boeing 737-800) fourth aircraft in the flying art series, inspired by the work of late West Australian Aboriginal painter, Paddy Bedford. Mendoowoorrji is an interpretation of Bedford's 2005 painting Medicine Pocket, which captures the essence of Bedford's mother's country called Mendoowoorrji.
Paddy Bedford was born on Bedford Downs Station in Western Australia and worked as a stockman for much of his life before taking up painting in his 70s. He always wanted to paint a plane. He was a founder of the Warmun art movement and was credited for inspiring a generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The design took over 950 person-hours to complete over a five day period using 500 litres of paint. Balarinji, Boeing designers and painters worked with 140 nylon stencils to recreate the intricate designs. Mendoowoorrji, carrying the registration VH-XZJ, was handed over on the 8th November 2013 at a ceremony at Boeing’s facility at Paine Field, Seattle. The blessing of the 737 was led by Kathleen Watson, Bedford’s daughter, Mona Ramsey, niece of Bedford and Shirley Purdie, prominent artist and important ceremonial singer and dancer.

The delivery crew of the 737 led by Qantas technical pilot Captain Alex Passerini and Captain Harry Pemberton joined in the celebration complete with Indigenous markings. Newly-announced Qantas Ambassador Indigenous AFL player Adam Goodes also took part in the delivery ceremony. The aircraft was flown from Seattle on the 9th November 2013 across the pacific with 30 passengers stopping in Hawaii , Fiji then onto it's final destination Sydney Australia.This video gives a unique behind the scenes look at what it's like to take delivery of a brand new Boeing 737 aircraft and fly it across the pacific with 30 people on board. Enjoy!

#qantas #aviation #mendoowoorrji #boeing #boeing737
#travel #aboriginal #aboriginalart #avgeek #paddybedford #adamgoodes
#alanjoyce #balarinji #medicinepocket

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Filmed by : Dave Bennell
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------- Contents of this video ----------

0:00 - Intro
0:47 - Behind the scenes at Renton 737 Boeing Factory
2:07 - Boeing Paine Field
2:26 - Mendoowoorrji Delivery Ceremony Boeing Factory
7:07 - Mendoowoorrji Ferry Flight bound for Australia
18:22 - Mendoowoorrji Arriving into Qantas Hangar Ceremony Sydney
21:29 - Mendoowoorrji Delivery Ceremony Speeches