The Story

The Q.A.N.T.A.S. Founders Museum tells the story of how it all began:

• Medical Practice medical services in isolated places, the problems of road transport.
• The principles of flight aerodynamic forces: lift, thrust, weight and drag, aircraft control: roll, pitch and yaw.
• The big trip in 1919 Fysh and McMaster made a big trip in a Model T Ford to map and build airstrips for the Great Air Race. This crystallised the idea to found an airline.
• Establishing Q.A.N.T.A.S. creating the company, the first fleet, scouting for passengers and investors, building airliners in Longreach and winning the airmail tender.
• Wings to the World how Q.A.N.T.A.S. developed into an international airline and became Qantas.
• Early pilots a certain style: tales from an open cockpit.
• Flying Doctor how Q.A.N.T.A.S. played a major role in the establishment of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

George Gorham, Paul McGinness and Hudson Fysh at the start of their epic survey trip (Photo: QANTAS Historical Collection)