Friday, August 21, 2015

Qantas, 2nd oldest airline, founded by a couple guys that were the 1st to realize Australia is too damn big to drive across (1920 it took 2 months)


In 1919,  Fysh and McGinness accepted an assignment from Australia’s Defense Department to manually survey a route for an upcoming air race.

 On August 18, the duo—both World War I veterans and former Australian Flying Corps officers—began the drive in a Model T Ford across the rugged Australian outback.

They started in Queensland’s Longreach and headed for Darwin in Northern Territory. Their set of wheels, nicknamed “Molly,” did not have the luxury of traveling on paved interstates or stopping at highway rest stops. Instead, Molly and her crew braved small campsites, primitive roads and dusty towns. Molly occasionally stalled in the mud and sand, often requiring a tow from passing horse traders.

After 51 days and 1,350 miles, Fysh and McGinness reached the Katharine River in Darwin.

https://www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/100thanniversary/qantas/

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