Australian Airliners

Dianne Feinstein International Terminal

Aviation Museum & Library - Pre-Security

Mar 04, 2021 - Nov 28, 2022

British Commonwealth Pacific Airways (BCPA) Douglas DC-4 R.M.A. Resolution at Nadi Airport, Fiji

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British Commonwealth Pacific Airways (BCPA) Douglas DC-6 R.M.A. Endeavor on approach to San Francisco

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Qantas Airways Boeing 707 City of Canberra on inaugural Sydney to San Francisco flight

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Qantas Airways first class “Blue Ribbon Service” aboard Boeing 707s

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Qantas Airways upper deck “Captain Cook Lounge” aboard Boeing 747s

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Qantas Airways Boeing 747-400ER Fraser Island at San Francisco International Airport

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British Commonwealth Pacific Airways (BCPA) Douglas DC-4 R.M.A. Resolution at Nadi Airport, Fiji 1948
photograph
Courtesy AussieAirliners.org and Whites Aviation via Sheehan Collection
WA-13992F
R2020.3001.002

The first leg of a flight from Australia to the United States was from Sydney to Nadi, in Fiji. The journey was just under two thousand miles and took about nine hours.

British Commonwealth Pacific Airways (BCPA) Douglas DC-6 R.M.A. Endeavor on approach to San Francisco 1952
photograph
Courtesy AussieAirliners.org and W. Larkins Collection
WLC-1125-702
R2020.3001.003

Qantas Airways Boeing 707 City of Canberra on inaugural Sydney to San Francisco flight 1959
photograph
Courtesy Qantas Heritage Collection
QHC-4604-856
R2020.3002.009

Qantas Airways first class “Blue Ribbon Service” aboard Boeing 707s c. 1960
photograph
Courtesy Qantas Heritage Collection
QHC-4604-840
R2020.3002.008

Qantas Airways upper deck “Captain Cook Lounge” aboard Boeing 747s early 1970s
photograph
Courtesy Qantas Heritage Collection
QHC-4630-389
R2020.3002.013

Qantas Airways Boeing 747-400ER Fraser Island at San Francisco International Airport 2018
photograph
Courtesy AussieAirliners.org and G. Snyder
GS-4631-632
R2020.3001.008

Although a common and beloved site for decades, Qantas is taking advantage of the lull caused by the COVID pandemic to accelerate the retirement of their 747 fleet. The aircraft will be replaced by more efficient and economical twin-engine wide-body models.