Australian
Screen

Teacher’s notes

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This silent black-and-white clip shows home-movie footage of DH50A biplanes being built by Qantas airlines in Longreach, Queensland, and US tourists embarking on a flight. In the first scene a series of pan shots and dissolves reveals a hangar where men make timber parts such as wing frames and assemble the aircraft. A man is shown inspecting a propeller, which is then affixed to an aeroplane. The next scene shows tourists boarding a DH50A and the pilot in a separate open cockpit, and ends with an iris-out. The aeroplane is then shown landing.

Educational value points

• In the 1920s aeroplanes were small, simple in design and had timber frames with linen coverings. Thus they could be constructed and assembled in small workshops such as the one shown in this clip. Construction of the frame, which required carpentry skills similar to those used to make coaches, generated large amounts of sawdust and wood shavings and the linen wings were coated with pungent glue. That may be why the workshop is partly open-air.

• The Qantas DH50 was the first commercial aircraft produced in Australia and the company’s only foray into aircraft manufacturing. Between 1926 and 1929 Qantas built seven DH50A biplanes under licence from de Havilland in England, with minor modifications such as larger radiators for outback conditions. After 1929 Qantas reverted to importing aircraft, as the Longreach workshop could not make the new larger and technologically complex aeroplanes.

• The aircraft shown, the DH50A biplane, could transport four passengers and a pilot, as well as a small amount of luggage and freight. Passengers travelled in an enclosed cabin, which meant they no longer needed to don helmets and goggles. Unlike most passenger aircraft today, however, the cabin was not pressurised and the pilot sat in a separate open cockpit, subjected to the ever-present wind, dust and rain and even the occasional bird.

• While timberwork and assembly were carried out at the Longreach workshop depicted, many other components were imported. De Havilland supplied the engines, instruments and tanks. Wheels, metal fittings and dope (glue) also came from England, and linen for wing coverings from Ireland. Spruce and oregon pine for the wing spars was sourced from Canada, and maple and three-ply for the propellers and fuselage came from Qld.

• Aviation was still in its infancy when this footage was taken in the 1920s; however, as aeroplanes became more reliable and capable of flying longer distances, the very wealthy began to be able to afford to use commercial airline services. While flying exhibitions attracted huge crowds and joyrides were popular, most people had not seen an aeroplane up close.

• Much of the historical value of home-movie footage such as this lies in its eyewitness record of times past and its narrative of personal interests and enthusiasms. Although amateur, the cinematography and editing are not unskilful; for example, dissolves are used to indicate the passage of time and the boarding scene ends with an iris-out. A fascination with aviation is revealed through long and medium shots and pans depicting aircraft manufacture and flight.