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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0392.PDF
.JMAY-17, 1928 Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, Limited •,;:i:: ... •••_... (Q.A.N.T.A.S.) When one has tried to exhaust all one's powers of eulogy on the thoroughly deserving subject of West Australian Airways, one is left wondering what to say about " Oantas." The latter is inferior to the former in age, for it started operations in November, 1922, and in length of subsidised route, which only totals 1,040 miles. It would be difficult to point to any other respect in which it is less deser\'ing of praise. Nevertheless, circumstances in Queensland and West Australia are not identical, and there are various respects in Auxiliaries to " Seagulls " A9-1 and 2. which the history of these two great airways differ from each other. Qantas had to fight a hard battle in its early days, and perhaps in some ways it might be called over-ambitious for a young company. It has, however, long ago left those early difficulties behind. On the other hand, no one who glances at the original Qantas route could say that it was unsuitable for aircraft. It might be described as one of the brainiest air routes in the world. One must ask readers to study the map. The main Queensland railway follows the east xoast northwards as far as Cairus. At the harbour towns of Brisbane, Rock- A scene on the North Coast Railway. Cutting on the Blackwall Ranges, South Queensland. hampton, and Townsville, feeder lines branch off westward into the rich grazing country of western Queensland, and come to dead ends without intercommunication. The rail- ways are narrow gauge, and in the sub-tropical climate of Queensland passengers do not find travel a sheer joy. The original Oantas route connected up Charleville, Blackall, Longreach, Winton, and Cloncurry, each of which towns is situated on a separate railway line. Longreach and Winton. are railheads. In the old days a man, say a wool-buyer from Sydney, who wanted to travel from Charleville to Cloncurry, had to train to Brisbane, then train up the coast to Townsville, and then come inland again in a third train. The distance by train, approximately, is 1,300 miles, and it is improbable that an average speed of 40 m.p.h. is maintained. By air the distance from Charleville to Cloncurry is 577 miles and it is covered by air in 9£ hrs. The air traveller, therefore, does not only save time, he must certainly save money, even though m m ffi Sfi Hi m m m Mi «5s m m Under the Australian Flag : A S upermarine " Southampton " with Napier " Lion " engines recently delivered to the R.A.A.F. This machine is able to fly with one of its two engines stopped. ffi Hi 356
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