"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the next time I would be landing there it would be in a 400-seat 747," he said.

The second officer secured his place in the jump seat on the VH-OJA's final flight after expressions of interest were put out to Qantas pilots for a second officer with some knowledge of Illawarra Regional Airport.

"I'll be the third pair of eyes," he said.

The former University of Wollongong commerce student spent several years at the airport as a pilot and instructor and knows the region well.

He has fond memories of the people and the coastline.

"It will be very nostalgic to be back in the airport," he said.

"It is a beautiful location to fly - and there is no better place to see it than from the sky."

The 34-year-old is proud to be part of what he said was a great occasion.

"This is a very historic moment, the plane means a lot to Qantas, and it is a historic aircraft because of the records it holds.

"It is a great thing it is going to HARS and that it will be preserved as a tourist attraction."