After Longreach

Having left Longreach and heading to Charleville - quite a long drive. A few interesting towns along the way, and the only interesting buildings in towns are the pubs..!! Barcaldine is an interesting small town with the Tree of Knowledge..!! Not sure if you are supposed to hug it, talk to it, widdle on it, take a piece of it, but either way, it did not impart any knowledge to me.!! Much as I need it..!! :-)

Reponses....

Guys, when you read these blogs, it would be really nice to get some feedback..!! I do trust that you are enjoying seeing the places I am visiting, but please take a minute or two to reply.. Gets lonely on the road..!!! Thanks in advance.....

Qantas Museum 5

Better put some photos of the actual museum which has some amazing videos to watch. One in particular was on the rebuilding and flight of the 707 back to Longreach..!! Notice on the old plane, two passengers sat inside the plane while the pilot sat behind them exposed to the elements..!! Wouldn't happen today..!! Also, the old bus which transported passengers from Longreach to the airport just out of town..!! Really cute..!! Loved it..!!

Qantas Museum 4

Qantas Empire Airways was one of the early names of Qantas Airlines, and it flew these DC3. They are just so, so small and you can see inside - very little room, comfort - and, amazingly, no inflight personalised movies or computer games..!! Not even audio channels - I guess the passengers would have read books (during daylight..!!).... Just amazing that they still have these old aircraft so we can appreciate what we have now..!!

Qantas Museum 3

This Boeing 707 was the first one purchased by Qantas and revolutionised travel to and from Australia. It was the first truly reliable jet put into service by Qantas.. This actual aircraft was sold to another airline after use, then ended up in Saudia Arabia where it was the personal aircraft of the Shelk. Qantas Museum negotiated to buy it back while it sat in Southport Airport in England for something like seven years - rusting etc. After it was purchased, Qantas paid for a team of volunteers to spent over six months in England totally restoring the plane, and it was flown, via Dublin, Bermuda, Fiji, back to Sydney and hence Longreach where it will remain. The 747-200, by the way, is the only working 747 on display anywhere in the world...!!

Qantas Museum 2

Qantas 747-200 which was donated to the Museum by Qantas once the place was retired from service. While I have been under these aircraft while at Qantas, it was great to do again, and the photo in the engine - well, I couldn't resist..!! :-)

Qantas Museum 1

Qantas Museum has been a focal point for me on this trip having worked at the airline in the last 90's as General Manager. I was so much more impressed when I realised that the first commercial passenger was Alexander Kennedy (my name..!!) - how cool is that..!! See the sign to confirm if you don't believe me..!! I was stoaked...!! The museum lived up to my expectations and more, and I spent over three hours walking around, through, and under the 747-200 and 707 (the first one purchased by Qantas and fully restored and flown from UK back to Longreach in 2006 (I think it was)) and the museum... The 747-200 was donated by Qantas when it came out of service for Qantas in around 2005. Well worth a visit for all airline buffs. The hanger shown is the original hanger established by Qantas when it commenced operations in Longreach..!! More photos to come shortly.....