The Flying Kangaroo: untold stories of Qantas and the people who made a great Australian airline

by Jim Eames

Brings to full and rich life the extraordinary characters, events and challenges that have made Qantas an Australian icon.

'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

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, nostaligic, 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 very much a part of our national psyche.

Genres: Aviation, Nonfiction, History, Australia

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jenny Cook]

I enjoyed this account of the origins and growth of Qantas as an internationally renowned airline. It was not bogged down with too much technical detail of the actual aircrafts, but provided the amateur
Aeroplane enthusiast with sufficient technical specifications and yet managed to suffuse the narrative with the human element behind the airline. I enjoyed reading how the founders (one of whom was an engineer) insisted on the utmost excellence and commitment to detail when servicing the aircraft and ensuring that safety was the only priority. I also enjoyed the anecdotes of interesting flying stories which include how Qantas managed to get a starring role in the movie Rain man. All in all a great read with photos of the growth of an airline. Will appeal to all aeroplane enthusiasts and those who enjoy flying.

[James Cridland]

A relatively uncritical collection of random stories about Qantas's history: sometimes reads rather more like a PR puff than an actual book. The stories flit about in terms of timeline, and it could have been a better read if it followed some kind of story arc. I read most of it on a Qantas plane, fittingly.

[Stewart James Rogers]

This book was fantastic. It actually felt structured like a flight across the Pacific.

[Jay]

Packed with lots of interesting details but not what I was expecting.

[LoLo]

There are some great anecdotes in this book, but the focus is primarily on the pilots, especially of the 50's-70's. While interesting and at times amusing, the blurb does not indicate how narrow a cross - section of staff will be involved and I was disappointed by the lack of involvement of guest service, ground crew, baggage crew and cabin crew who would also have had great tales to contribute.

[David Keal]

Interesting history of an airline, giving anecdotal stories of humour and interest

[Geoff]

An interesting and detailed read covering the early days of Qantas. From the early days up to the merger with Australian Airlines.