A RNZAF marked AT-^ Harvard at Archerfield Airport on Saturday, July 19,2005. Photo courtesy of ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
A WWII trainer, this AT-6 Harvard carries RNZAF markings as it faces the airport’s main runway.
PHOTO GALLERY
Images courtesy of Andrew Kacimaiwai
Archerfield Airport opened up for guided bus tours around its four runways on Saturday as part of the Brisbane Open House weekend. The open house is a free annual event which gives the public a rare chance to visit hidden architectural, engineering, and historic buildings and sites. The airport put on static displays, including two World War II aircraft on show in front of its iconic art deco terminal building. From 1931 to 1949, Archerfield served as Brisbane’s main domestic and international airport, the airport says. In 1931, it served as headquarters for Qantas and in 1934, was part of the first west-east crossing of the Pacific Ocean by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. Qantas began its first international service, to Singapore, from the airport in 1935. Archerfield also served as a major base in WWII, housing American, Dutch, British and Australian military. The airport says it is home to over 200 aircraft and 70 hangers including a new $25 million LifeFlight maintenance complex.
