Early history of Qantas and the Founders Museum at Longreach

QANTAS, the world's second oldest airline, was registered on 16 November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service Ltd. While Winton was the official birthplace, the company and operational headquarters were moved to Longreach in February 1921.

Why do airlines paint their aircraft in special themed liveries?

Planespotters love photographing aircraft in themed livery. Specially painted aeroplanes in stunning designs celebrating events, cultural themes or just well-funded advertisers. I gathered a collection of photographs and postcards depicting a selection of notable themes.

Why do airlines paint their aircraft in special themed liveries and what are some notable examples?

Heavy Haulers

Every boy had a thing for big trucks, even if they were just Tonka toys. Here are a few postcards of big trucks and machinery as well as some original shots picked up on my travels, mainly in Australia.

Superyacht Spotting

Once upon a time, I worked for a superyacht magazine, and I still retain a lingering fascination for these emblems of opulence and extravagance. Here is a collection of original images taken while travelling the world and imagining I'm somehow in this other world of indulgence.

The story of P&O Iberia

The P&O Iberia was a British ocean liner built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Completed in 1954, Iberia was one of four ships commissioned by P&O to replace vessels lost during World War II. She was launched on January 21, 1954, by Lady McGrigor, wife of First Sea Lord Rhoderick McGrigor, and began her maiden voyage on September 28, 1954, from London to Sydney via the Suez Canal.

The story of RMS Aquitania

RMS Aquitania, known as the "Ship Beautiful," was a British ocean liner built by John Brown and Company at the Clydebank shipyard in Scotland. Launched on April 21, 1913, and christened by Alice Stanley, the Countess of Derby, Aquitania was designed by Leonard Peskett and took over a year to complete. The ship measured 901 feet in length, 97 feet in beam, and had a gross tonnage of 45,647.

English Electric Canberra jet bomber

Development: When W. E. W. "Teddy" Petter joined English Electric at Preston as chief engineer he already had a scheme for a jet bomber. To meet specification B.3/45 he eventually planned a straightforward unswept aircraft with a broad wing for good behaviour at great heights, with two of the new axial jet engines centred on each wing giving a total of 15,000lb thrust. Like the Mosquito, the A.1 bomber was to be fast enough to escape interception, whilst carrying a 6.000lb bomb load over a radius of 750 nautical miles. It was to have a crew of two and a radar bomb sight for blind attacks in all conditions.