X-Nico

3 unusual facts about Australian National Airways


George Pape

In the inquiry into the 1946 Australian National Airways DC-3 crash, Pape assisted Dr E.G. Coppel KC who represented Australian National Airways, the aircraft operator.

Keith Virtue

As a 42-year-old veteran in 1951, Keith Virtue took off from Sydney in his A.N.A. Skymaster to become the first Australian to have spent 20000 hours in the air.

Norman Brearley

He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with Australian National Airways.


Stinson Model A

With posturing from both AOA and Australian National Airways (ANA) to cut into each other’s turf by late 1936, early efforts by ANA to gain a controlling interest in AOA failed, until the tragic losses of VH-UHH Brisbane in the McPherson Ranges on 19 February 1937 and VH-UGG Lismore on 28 March halved AOA’s main-line fleet.

West Australian Airways

On 12 June 1936 West Australian Airways was purchased by Adelaide Airways for £25,000 and in July that year became part of Australian National Airways.


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