TAA DC-3 to Longreach

[Karl M]

In an artical in the latest Qantas News, Qantas will support and preserve VH-AES, the DC-3 that flew the first passenger service for TAA. It will be moved up to the Qantas Founders Musem in Longreach, where it will be put on display as an exhibition piece.

[Jamie D]

Im all for preserving these beautys, the 707, the dc3, the 742 etc and understand that qantas started out in longreach, but surely there is a much better place to have this museum, Longreach is just so far from anything and quite costly to go to, i mean what else is there besides the museum at Longreach?

Isn't there somewhere in melbourne where we can preserve the Hawdon?

stick it back on a pole in the carpark at Tullamarine, at least it got admired there and thousands upon thousands of people could see it.

[NickN]

I agree, I just came back from QLD and was considering going to Longreach but the cost of getting there just for the museum didn't work for me.

[Nigel C]

Aside from the historical significance of Longreach to Qanats, perhaps the drier conditions are preferred for preserving aircraft?

[Raymond Rowe]

VH-AES should be kept here in Melbourne to do what it was restored to do.It has no history to Qantas at all.The volunteers who restored it did so it could keep flying to airshows.There will be a lot of ****ed off volunteers.

[Brenden S]

**** poor really, Another serviceable Dak put to rest again. Next it will be ABR's turn.

[Robert Zweck]

Originally Posted by Raymond Rowe

VH-AES should be kept here in Melbourne to do what it was restored to do.It has no history to Qantas at all.The volunteers who restored it did so it could keep flying to airshows.There will be a lot of ****ed off volunteers.

I agree with Ray, it should stay in Melbourne.

TAA has no real connection with Longreach, the only advantage of Queensland is the mild dry climate.

[Nigel C]

Originally Posted by Raymond Rowe

VH-AES should be kept here in Melbourne to do what it was restored to do.It has no history to Qantas at all.The volunteers who restored it did so it could keep flying to airshows.There will be a lot of ****ed off volunteers.

Ray, having now got my hands on a copy of the April edition of Qantas News, you'll be pleased to know that the article referred to by Karl M at the start of the thread actually says

"We felt it very important to preserve the aircraft as a flying historical artifact..."

The article then goes on to say

"With this support from Qantas, the museum will now be able to tour the aircraft as an exhibition piece...

So all is not lost to the desert sands of the sunny state, and you'll hopefully get to see and hear this bird once more.

Cheers
Nigel