Free airshow up the Tamar valley

Free airshow up the Tamar valley_0243a
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

These are RAAF Pilatus PC9/As in a tight aerobatic formation (called the Roulettes). It was an unexpected show, 6 of these aircraft suddenly arrived in the Tamar valley (Launceston) and went into what was either a warmup, practice or a holding pattern. I think they were waiting for their slot for a display over the local Symmonds Plains race track but that's just a guess.

Short Sandringham Rose Bay

Short Sandringham Rose Bay_006
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Another load of old airliners... all in Sydney during the early to mid 1970s. This is one of 2 ex-Ansett Sandringhams prior to handover to Antilles Airboats in late 1974.

There were 2 of these 'boats:
(1) 'BRC had the rounded nose of a more 'pure' Sandringham (even though it was a converted Sunderland) and was called 'Beachcomber', becoming N158C with Antilles Airboats in 1974. 'BRC is now landlocked, at Southampton, UK.

(2) 'BRF, named 'Islander', was a 'near-converted' Sunderland with a blunter nose. It's now landlocked at Miami, Florida.

I may not have taken this shot - I took a lot, but so did my late friend James Davidson, who had access to the Rose Bay base via his flight engineer father. James got me hooked onto black and white photography in the first place.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 17

Qantas ed kit_0763
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Which brings us to the end - for now. If you click an image you'll be able to search Flickr (try the gtveloce photostream) for more of these out-of-box Qantas experiences. The kit included many interesting images on film, if only I could find 'em!

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 16

Qantas ed kit_0761
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

And here's a collection of interesting reproductions of various QANTAS doco, including the very first ticket.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 15

Qantas ed kit_0760
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

OK, I'll keep it short. This is evidently a reproduction of the first - or a very early - QANTAS timetable...

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 14

Qantas ed kit_0757
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

You are hoping this tour is over soon, eh? Well believe me, it's barely started!

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 13

Qantas ed kit_0755
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Gets a bit dull now - although that's a nice 707 shot.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 12

Qantas ed kit_0754
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Now here are some real airliners - Constellations, the DC-4 and the Electra.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 10

Qantas ed kit_0752
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

I do love the detail here - the engines, the horsepower, who made the airframe and where...

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 9

Qantas ed kit_0750
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Unless you prefer the real golden age of airliners, like this Empire class flying boat...

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 8

Qantas ed kit_0748
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

This is more like it - Constellations!

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 7

Qantas ed kit_0747
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Not forgetting this excellent list of the Qantas fleet, replete with the Douglas DC-4. Yes, that's really March 1973.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 6

Qantas ed kit_0746
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

There's even a cool shot of the Qantas new-fangled Jet Base at Sydney to ogle.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 5

Qantas ed kit_0744
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

And also in the education kit is a copy of Airways magazine, full of interest for young and old.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 4

Qantas ed kit_0743
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Not forgetting this handy pack to amuse the kiddies. Umm, Courtline? Is that a BAC1-11? Why, Qantas, why?

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 3

Qantas ed kit_0742
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

And here's a handy flight log to draw on as you flash through the skies in your shiny Boeing 707.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 2

Qantas ed kit_0741
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

The kit includes an AVRO504 - that's always handy. Somehow I held myself back and didn't assemble it.

Qantas - from Joyflights to Jumbos - part 1

Qantas ed kit_0740
Originally uploaded by gtveloce

Bear with me as I prowl through the archives and unleash a Qantas educational kit-in-a-box from circa 1974. It's a buzz, trust me.