tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post701611215285250554..comments2024-03-19T10:31:34.937+11:00Comments on ART and ARCHITECTURE, mainly: Australia's Flying Kangaroo: a history of QantasHelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-58672425902687488992019-01-08T10:01:07.291+11:002019-01-08T10:01:07.291+11:00Joseph
very strange.... nod. I don't like fla...Joseph<br /><br />very strange.... nod. I don't like flag waving and patriotic nonsense at home, but I too become a little homesick abroad. Australians probably travel more than anyone else on the planet, so Qantas selected their symbols well.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-21703055359556414202019-01-05T16:17:15.227+11:002019-01-05T16:17:15.227+11:00As twee as advertising usually is, I love seeing t...As twee as advertising usually is, I love seeing the red kangaroo in distant countries.Josephhttp://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-24684004946319925002017-06-18T21:51:31.448+10:002017-06-18T21:51:31.448+10:00columnist
What do we make our decisions on - the ...columnist<br /><br />What do we make our decisions on - the airlines' competitive prices? safety records? identifying with the nationality of the airline company? destination? available frequent flier points? Or something else.<br /><br />I too used to fly to London every second winter (June-July) from Melbourne. In those days Al Italia was always my cheapest option.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-72393722451461222002017-06-18T21:28:55.231+10:002017-06-18T21:28:55.231+10:00Bazza
*nod* I too think that nations project thei...Bazza<br /><br />*nod* I too think that nations project their most popular characteristics in every public endeavour. For the opening parade of the Olympic Games, for example, many European athletes looked as if they were going to church while the Australians looked as if they were going to the beach.<br /><br />But airline companies' success with precision, safety, reliability and security is proven (or not) by their decades of real, documented experience in the industry. This was what Jim Eames was focusing on, in Qantas' long history.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-52483454095476753582017-06-16T23:34:42.992+10:002017-06-16T23:34:42.992+10:00Regarding ownership, so many British companies are...Regarding ownership, so many British companies are owned by non British entities, including British Airways, (owned by International Airlines Group IAG, based in Madrid). Such has been the dismal performance for customers, (most recently the computer glitch, and in the last couple of days a baggage issue), that it is in danger of losing its 3* - yes, only 3* - rating, and customers have called for the "British" to be removed from its name.<br /><br />But many of the great British-founded brands, such as Rolls Royce, (a subsidiary of BMW), are no longer British. Harrods (Qatari), HP Sauce (American), Jaguar (Indian), Boots (American) etc etc.<br /><br />I used to travel on Qantas from Hong Kong to London every school holiday, as they were a competitively priced airline back in the day. Recently saw my Flying Kangaroo log book, when we cleared my parents' house after their demise.columnisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03764365428633038329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-78115104438515800182017-06-16T23:25:12.518+10:002017-06-16T23:25:12.518+10:00I think national airlines tend to resemble the per...I think national airlines tend to resemble the perceived characteristics of their respective populations. Swissair is cold and precise, Alitalia is luxury with great food, BA is sedate, stiff and formal while Qantas has always seemed to be friendly and reliable!<br />I really like the cover picture of Jim Eames book. Those pink and yellow jackets worn by the stewards are just dandy!<br /><b><a href="http://todiscoverice.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> CLICK HERE for Bazza’s Dilatory Blog ‘To Discover Ice’</a></b>bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794010156639774028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-74703160418919372542017-06-16T10:57:15.260+10:002017-06-16T10:57:15.260+10:00iODyne
your ugly twin sister is very clever. Qan...iODyne<br /><br />your ugly twin sister is very clever. Qantas Empire Airways was formed by Qantas and Britain's Imperial Airways way back in the mid 1930s but it took a few years to get to Singapore and many more years to get to Britain. 1958-9 sounds about right.<br /><br />Re dressing up... and not only by plane!! It is said that post-WW2, the well-dressed Australian woman wore gloves and a hat outside the home for all but the most casual occasions. In the mid 1950s, I certainly remember wearing gloves to go to the City.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-84359297504029371142017-06-16T09:20:50.279+10:002017-06-16T09:20:50.279+10:00my ugly twin sister Ann ODyne is very well-dispose...my ugly twin sister Ann ODyne is very well-disposed to Mr Travolta.<br />Totally off topic, his wife went to school in Adelaide, the same one as Kamahl and Natasha Scott-Despoja. Annie also thinks that 1959 was the year of the first LON-AUS commercial flight. So sweet that passengers, right up to the 1970's, actually used to dress properly for a big journey.<br />iODynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394268529143990889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-47769696839491239032017-06-15T21:49:25.198+10:002017-06-15T21:49:25.198+10:00iODyne
Thanks for the great story! John Travolta ...iODyne<br /><br />Thanks for the great story! John Travolta is donating his Boeing 707 to the Aviation Museum in Illawarra NSW because he is a] a qualified pilot in his own right AND b] Qantas' official spokesman. Even more amazing, he wants to be part of the crew to fly the plane to Australia because, after all, Travolta's plane was originally a commercial Qantas plane.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-4834108737043121942017-06-15T18:55:35.483+10:002017-06-15T18:55:35.483+10:00One of the world's earliest 'vertically in...One of the world's earliest 'vertically integrated' businesses, when their early flights from LON needed to refuel short of our major cities, they built a motel for the overnight accomm of all.<br />remember the fuss when KANTAS announced they wanted to outsource their maintenance to a Chinese business?<br />John Travolta has just donated his plane to them/us/a museum here. It has a particular history I now forget.<br />John Travolta donates vintage Qantas plane to NSW …<br />www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/john-travolta-donates...<br />JOHN Travolta has donated his personal vintage Boeing 707 plane to a restoration group in Australia. The actor said in a statement that the plane will require ..<br /><br /> <a href="http://thatssopants.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">That's So Pants </a> blogger is connected to KANTAS via father grandfather and mother all worked for them/it/us. She will land here any minute to set me straight. Her immaculately groomed mother was a Hostie before they became Cabin Crew.<br />Thanks Hels for another greatly informative post.<br /><br />KANTAS? there's no U in it for the 'kwa' sound so I always call it 'K'ANTASiODynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394268529143990889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-85386254220217334752017-06-14T11:36:34.317+10:002017-06-14T11:36:34.317+10:00Train Man
That is so true. Qantas staff in the ai...Train Man<br /><br />That is so true. Qantas staff in the airports and on board the planes are "us". They speak the same proper Australian English, look after the children when they are crying and bring coffee in emergencies. Bless their hearts :)Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-46512946863277478292017-06-14T11:32:06.667+10:002017-06-14T11:32:06.667+10:00Parnassus
That is so true. Because Qantas was nat...Parnassus<br /><br />That is so true. Because Qantas was nationally owned, the Federal government was 100% obliged to maintain safety, security and training standards at a far higher level than private owners were obliged to do.<br /><br />And I suspect another factor. A good proportion of car fatalities are caused by young males (aged 18-25). So it is possible that the community thinks that the boys are just being boys. As long as the young car drivers don't kill families, children, pedestrians or proper middle aged tax paying citizens.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-56553857261837107212017-06-14T11:22:57.595+10:002017-06-14T11:22:57.595+10:00Andrew
I too still do maintain my rage that our n...Andrew<br /><br />I too still do maintain my rage that our national airline carrier is not owned by the tax paying citizens of this wide, brown country. Ditto the trams, Medicare, gas companies, electricity companies and every other thing we value.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-69175527694617420312017-06-14T11:19:02.056+10:002017-06-14T11:19:02.056+10:00Mike
Agreed. Social history is much more fascinat...Mike<br /><br />Agreed. Social history is much more fascinating to me than military, church or royal history, but we did no social history in high school or uni. Because Qantas was founded in Nov 1920, its story is one of post-WW1 Australian society, engineering, flying, advertising, employment and international connections.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-79600532399880338182017-06-14T03:58:55.189+10:002017-06-14T03:58:55.189+10:00Hello Hels, Aircraft problems are dramatic and se...Hello Hels, Aircraft problems are dramatic and serious enough to rivet a great deal of attention, leading to improvements and increased safety. Since automobiles are more common and contain fewer passengers, an single automotive failure is less likely to attract scrutiny so that we can learn from each incident.<br />--Jim Parnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-61657497746654348632017-06-13T23:55:17.075+10:002017-06-13T23:55:17.075+10:00Here we are all Australians, so I don't mind w...Here we are all Australians, so I don't mind who I fly with. But overseas I like the friendly familiarity of Qantas staff.Train Mannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-52878232595489552092017-06-13T21:00:09.703+10:002017-06-13T21:00:09.703+10:00Most of this I know, but not so much the failures ...Most of this I know, but not so much the failures in the air. The politics of Qantas and Australian Airlines....was that the old TWA...... I can remember detail if I think about it, to insolvency of Ansett. We lefties of the old school were very against the current the current head of Qantas, but maybe he has not been so bad. I still do regret and maintain my rage that our national airline carrier is not owned by us, the people, but by shareholders. I think the book would be worth my while to read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-7756560655397987312017-06-13T19:16:19.688+10:002017-06-13T19:16:19.688+10:00Fascinating stuff. I know zero about the history o...Fascinating stuff. I know zero about the history of Quantas. The origins of brands and household names is often incredibly interesting. Great post.Mike@Bit About Britainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08741370413282813229noreply@blogger.com