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trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162829130 - this pic appeared in the Sydney Mail on 21st March, 1896...accompanying an article on NSW Government artesian bores... See comments and links to the other pics that accompanied this article here www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2900849261/

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/164332483# - Sydney Mail, 27th December, 1911

Qantas is the oldest continuously operating airline in the world. Qantas founders were World War One airmen who recognized that only aviation could bridge the tyranny of distance that so defined life in the vast, open spaces of our continent. They had a vision for a national airline that connected Australia with the world. But they had to start small. In 1921, they began barnstorming across the outback in a rickety bi-plane. The first medical evacuation was recorded in 1921, and the first scheduled passenger flight came soon after. In 1926, when the first Qantas engineer began work on a new fleet, Qantas became the only airline in the world to build, fly and maintain its own aircraft. Source: www.qanta.

The Qantas DH50. In 1926, Arthur Baird, Qantas’ chief engineer, started building Qantas DH50 aircraft under license at Longreach. We’re one of the few airlines to have built and operated our own aircraft. Source: www.facebook.com/Qantas/photos/a.10157970955437686/101579...

The Avro 504K was the first QANTAS aircraft and was used by the airline for five years. Powered by a 100 h.p. Sunbeam Dyak engine, it was modified to carry up to two passengers as well as the pilot. After higher-capacity aircraft were received, the original Qantas Avro 504K was sold in 1926. This high-quality replica was one of two built by Qantas engineers and apprentices from the original plans and is the central exhibit in Qantas Founders Museum. The other Avro can be viewed at Mascot Airport Domestic Terminal. VH-EBQ, “City of Bunbury”, was the first Qantas aircraft named after a West Australian provincial town to mark the 150th Anniversary of Western Australia and Bunbury being declared a city. VH-EBQ was accepted by Boeing by Qantas on 10th December 1979. During its working life with Qantas, it is estimated the aircraft carried over 5.4 million passengers and flew over 82.54 million kilometers – equivalent to more than 2000 trips around the world or ten round trips to the moon or ten years continuous flying. VH-EBQ is unique in being the only surviving Boeing 747 – 200 with Rolls Royce engines. VH-EBQ was donated to Qantas Founders Museum by Qantas Airways and landed at Longreach on 16th November 2002. Source: qfom.com.au/about/qantas-founders-museum-aircraft-collect...