Last iconic Qantas plane makes final flight over Gold Coast

History was made on the Gold Coast ... if you looked close enough. SEE THE IMAGES

GOLD Coast beachgoers were treated to aviation history in the making as the last Qantas Boeing 747 swooped low over our coastline on its lap of honour.

Proud passengers forked out hundreds of dollars – and more than $100,000 in total – for the prestigious flight from Brisbane to… Brisbane to mark the end of an era.

QF747 was the last ever 747 flight to depart Brisbane, leaving the airport at 10.30am Wednesday morning and embarking on an hour-long “jumbo jet joyflight” that skimmed along the Gold Coast.

Economy tickets on the farewell flight set passengers back $400 while business-class seats carried a whopping – but fitting – price tag of $747.

QANTAS VH-OEJ, the last 747 built for Qantas, takes one last flight over the Gold Coast before retirement. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

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The plane used was the 57th and last 747 to be built for Qantas, known as the Wunala Dreaming when it arrived in 2003, before being changed to the Wunala in 2012 when its design was modified.

The Queen of the skies leaves behind a storied legacy that includes a pivotal role in democratising travel.

“They made it possible for a lot of people to travel who wouldn’t otherwise have been able to,” aviation historian and a veteran traffic controller Ron Cuskelly said.

The captain for the flight Mark Kelly said it was an honour to operate one of the last Qantas 747 services around Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

“It was a beautiful Queensland day and our customers got to see some of the beautiful sights including South Stradbroke and Broadbeach,” he said.

“The 747 is a wonderful aircraft and it’s great that our customers are able to say farewell to her before she heads off to retirement.”