The Flying Kangaroo: Great Untold Stories of Qantas...The Heroic, the Hilarious and the Sometimes Just Plain Strange

Description

From its earliest days, Qantas has attracted its fair share of unusual challenges and unique characters. These are the stories of a great airline and the people who made it, told by a man who has Qantas blood running through his veins. They are hilarious, nostalgic, heroic and sometimes even odd. They are about the brilliant risk takers who made Qantas the safest airline in the world, the special demands of flying VIPs, the hazards of overseas postings, and the ever present dangers of the skies. But above all, these are the stories of how a uniquely Australian style shaped the best airline in the English- speaking world. Generous and richly told, The Flying Kangaroo is a warm-hearted reminder why Qantas remains such an important part of the Australian psyche. 'Everyone who has even flown will enjoy The Flying Kangaroo. These are stories of passion and dedication, of risk and resilience, of excellence and Australian larrikinism, of inventiveness and determination. They reflect my pride for an airline that connected the world and became a national icon.' - Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny, Pilot In Command and author of QF32.

Jim Eames is author of The Country Undertaker, Six Feet Under or Up in Smoke and Taking to the Skies. As one of Australia's first aviation writers, and former press secretary to the Minister for Aviation and former Director of Public Affairs for Qantas, he is a man who has lived and breathed aviation. He also tells a great yarn.

A riveting collection of untold or forgotten stories... Richly told accounts of colourful characters, political intrigues and hushed-up operations. * The Australian * A collection of often amazing stories... A great read... Generously detailed. * Sydney Morning Herald * An extraordinary book of secrets and insights... Full of details never before seen in public print... It's an often surprising, non fairy floss reminder of how Qantas has come so far in its 95 years. * Crikey * Everyone who has ever flown will enjoy The Flying Kangaroo. These are stories of passion and dedication, of risk and resilience, of excellence and Australian larrikinism, of inventiveness and determination. They reflect my pride for an airline that connected the world and became a national icon. -- Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny, Pilot in Command QF 32 Some of the company's most heroic moments and its most bizarre. The author covers everything from the risk takers who launched the airline through to the special demands of VIP passengers. * Vacations & Travel *