Australia’s Qantas celebrates 100 years in 2020 and to mark the occasion they have produced an expensive centenary safety video. With a keen eye on the past, it really showcases the airline’s history.
While Qantas don’t do wacky safety videos like some airlines, this one is a virtual history lesson. It also delivers the message as well as tugging on the heartstrings.
Qantas Centenary Safety Video
Opening in Longreach, Queensland, the birthplace of what was then known as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited, the eight minute production shows the original Qantas hangar, which still exists today. It’s heritage listed, in fact.
Next, it goes on board a de Havilland D.H.86, to demonstrate the seat belts. From there, it’s off to Rose Bay, Sydney’s original international airport, where the Short Empire flying boats used to depart. Keep an eye out for an original life jacket from the era – very different from today!
The world’s only flying Lockheed Super Constellation features next to demonstrate the oxygen and brace position. Jet age travel follows with the Boeing 707, with the presenter in an original uniform from the period. Great attention to detail here, with the original flowered cabin trim panels shown.
Amusingly they show the original Captain Cook upper deck lounge on the Boeing 747 after this, to represent the 1970s. They then point out that it was a Qantas employee who invented the escape slide, using a period safety card to illustrate it. Finally, it’s Wunala Dreaming and of course the kids choir.
Overall Thoughts
The Qantas centenary safety video is really something, especially if you’re Australian. Both the Qantas Outback Founders Museum in Longreach and the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at Albion Park assisted with the video production.
Happily the Qantas press release points out all the main historical details for you. Most of them I noticed myself, because you know, aviation is my thing.
What do you think of the new Qantas centenary safety video? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
To never miss a post, follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
All my flight and lounge reviews are indexed here so check them out!
Featured image by Adam Moreira via Wikimedia Commons.
