The story of Qantas’ record-breaking VH-OJA is the stirring stuff Hollywood movies are made of.

Now - coming soon to a cinema near you - VH-OJA: film set.

Twenty-five years after she flew non-stop from London to Sydney, breaking the world record for the longest flight of a commercial jet, Qantas’ first 747-400 is poised for a glamorous career change as a film set out of Albion Park.

At Illawarra Regional Airport Sunday for the aircraft’s official handover to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, CEO Qantas International Gareth Evans revealed a film industry scout would tour the aircraft, known as the City of Canberra, as early as next month. 

The airline was approached once or twice a month by international and domestic filmmakers wanting to use aircraft, but until now had not had a plane on the ground long enough to be of use to the industry, Mr Evans said.

‘‘Our aircraft only sit on the ground for three or four hours max, [whereas filmmakers] need sometimes days,’’ he said

The development has been celebrated by HARS president and chief pilot Bob De La Hunty, who pointed to the ‘‘very significant’’ flow-on benefits likely to result from regular work from the film industry. 

Mr De La Hunty said it was ‘‘hard to tell’’ how much film-related revenue VH-OJA would generate, however past arrangements, involving other aircraft in the society’s fleet, boded well.

‘‘We know from a couple of film crews we’ve had here in the last few weeks ...  they bring 18 people from Sydney, they accommodated them locally, feed them, purchase a lot on site, so we’re pretty sure this is going to be something very, very significant,’’ he said.

‘‘Coupled with the opportunities for the public to share in this history ... this also adds opportunity for the Illawarra people to share economically in the benefits of this gift.’’

As VH-OJA will retain its Qantas branding, the airline will have a say in which film projects the plane becomes involved with.

HARS hopes to build a hangar for VH-OJA with a restaurant, accommodation, conference and potentially wedding facilities. 

The aircraft would remain ‘‘like a time capsule’’, Mr De La Hunty said, more than capable of performing for the cameras.

‘‘We [want it] operationally capable ... in movies you want to see the flaps go down or even a retraction test or an engine spooling up. 

The plane was opened for its first public tours on Sunday as part of HARS’ monthly open day.

A de-commissioning team of four engineers will spend about two weeks removing potentially dangerous elements from the aircraft. 

As well, engines with a commercial value will be removed and replaced.

The decision to retire VH-OJA on Australian soil spared her from the airplane graveyard at Victorville, California, where she was to be sent for scrap and spare parts. 

‘‘It’s a shuddering thought that such a historic aircraft could have ended up there,’’ Mr De La Hunty said.