Qantas Names A380 Fleet

Monday 17th November 2008

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kpmarek/2411597846/sizes/s/

Australian flag carrier airline Qantas have named all 20 of their new Airbus A380 aircraft. The new names will reflect Australian pioneers thats have made their mark on the countries development in the field of aviation.

Those who have had an aircraft named after them for their achievements are listed below with a brief description of who they are, and what they achieved;

• Nancy-Bird Walton - the first woman to fly a commercial aviation service in Australia. First woman to fly a commercial service in Australia.
• Hudson Fysh - one of the founders of Qantas and the airline's first Managing Director. A founder of Qantas and the first Managing Director.
• Paul McGinness - A Qantas founder.
• Fergus McMaster - A Qantas founder and the airlines first Chairman.
• Lawrence Hargrave - The inventor of the box kite and achieved a linking of four to fly sixteen feet in 1894.
• Charles Kingsford Smith - Achieved the first trans-Pacific flight that ran from the USA to Australia in 1928. He also formed Australian National Airways Limited.
• Charles Ulm - Charles Kingsford Smith's Co-pilot when he flew the trans-pacific flight and was also a founder of Australian National Airways Limited.
• Reginald Ansett - The founder of Ansett Airways in Australia.
• David Warren - The inventor of the Black Box Flight Recorder still used in modern airliners.
• Bert Hinkler - Achieved the first solo flight from Britain to Australia in 1928.
• John and Reginald Duigan - Both men were the first to design and build a flying powered aircraft in 1910.
• Phyllis Arnot - The first Australian woman to achieve a commercial pilots licence.
• Keith McPhearson Smith and Ross McPhearson Smith - both were winners of the 'air race' that ran between London and Australia held in 1919.
• Lester Brain - One of the pilots working on the first Qantas routes in 1925. He was responsible for transporting the first Catalina Flying Boat that was delivered to Qantas in 1941.
Mr Brain was also given the position of General Manager of Trans-Australia Airlines in 1946.
• Lores Bonney - The first woman to complete a solo flight around Australia in 1932 and the first to fly solo from Australia to England in 1933.
• Norman Brearley - The founder of Western Australian Airways Limited. The airline were responsible for operating the first scheduled air service commencing on the 5th of December 1921.
• PG Taylor - Charles Kingford Smith and Charles Ulm's navigator and co-pilot on several occasions on flight between Australia and the USA as well as between England and Australia. Awarded the Empire Gallantry Medial in 1937 for acts of bravery.
• John Flynn - The Royal Flying Doctor Service founder.
Gaby Kennard - The first Australian female to complete a solo flight across the globe.

Speaking on the 88th birthday of Qantas, and in celebration of the naming of the airlines, was Qantas Chief Executive Officer Designate, Mr Alan Joyce who said;

"I am delighted that some of our greatest aviation trail blazers and their families have agreed to allow Qantas to name our A380 fleet in their honour," he said. "Today, we are bringing aviation's past together with its future. We have been overwhelmed with the support from the public since we announced the A380 naming program and all of the names that people have suggested have been very worthy.

We have taken some of those suggestions, and also consulted aviation experts, to ensure we chose people who have not only made a great difference to flying in this country, but who represent the courage, tenacity and determination of the real spirit of Australia. Among them are Qantas' founders Fergus McMaster, Paul McGinness and Hudson Fysh, who gathered at the Gresham Hotel in Brisbane and signed the formal papers to establish Qantas 88 years ago.

Others include engineers, inventors, navigators and business leaders - but all are pioneers, and all are very deserving."