Following yesterday’s dramatic revelation and illustration of Australia’s first Airliner, Quentin Cockburn has provided this comprehensive authenticated description.
The Eureka, (registration A111) manufactured by the Pacific Oriental National Commerce Establishment (PONCE), was a speculative venture overseen by Macpherson Macrobertson to establish the first all Empire airline service linking Australia with Great Britain via Darwin, Singapore, Madras, Aden, Marseille, (optional stopover at the El Morocco Club Mers El Kebir) and Southampton. This ambitious programme saw the construction of six prototypes named in honour of famous Australians. The first being the ‘Don’, a hundred seater dedicated to the illustrious batsman. The five other prototypes, the Ned Kelly, Ginger Meggs, Roy Rene, Melba, and Pharlap were withdrawn from service after the loss of the prototype and the sale of drawings and manufacturing license to the Boeing Aircraft Corporation, Seattle WA.
Authors Note: The Eureka Don represented a bold step in Australian aviation. Amongst its many firsts were the ingenious use of hydrostatic suspension in on board toilets, (adapted after the inaugural flight with ‘splash curtains’), the use of a fully integrated valet service, and the option of forward and rear facing promenade decks, allied to the famous Wintergarten and Hall of Mirrors to establish it’s distinctive ‘Pelican Bill’. Nicknamed the ‘Flying Pelican’ or ‘Nobbys Nuts’ in reference to it’s many protuberances and overall distinctive appearance it presaged the era of large airliners by some fifty years. Only now the new Airbus A380 can boast such impressive interior appointments.
Type Specifications
Powerplant: Six 450 hp Bristol Cheetah radial engines adapted and upgraded by Ronaldson Tippet Engineering to incorporate optional kerosene start and 78 rpm reverse geared Laycock de Normanville variable pitch four blade propellors.
Range: 1850 miles
Ceiling : 6000 feet
Capacity: 100 passengers
Construction: Burnie Board over Duralinium frame. Canvas Flight Control systems
Crew: 12 Pilot/ co Pilot and staff of ‘The Grill’ Pacific Hotel Bondi
Military Specifications
A militarised version was muted in the Defence White Paper 1933, for operational use as maritime patrol, and logistics support. Codenamed ‘The Drongo’, it was essentially similar though changes were made to the catering requirement, the staff of the Pacific Grill retained, first class converted to an officers mess, and some superficial changes made to the menu, soggy chips substituted for bully beef for the second class as ranks, and deletion of hydrostatic toilets after relief apertures were drilled into the sides of the fuselage. As an RAAF bomber and transport it was proposed to install two Boyes Anti-Tank Rifles in forward and rear facing sponsons, and one six inch type V11 Q.F. Naval Gun. The development project was mothballed after officers objected to the smoking ban. (see illus.)
Appointments
The First Class comprised the forward section, the Wintergarten and the Promenade Decks. Hot and cold running water, on board cinema, cocktail bar and dance floor embedded in the reinforced wings. Individual suites designed by renowned Sydney architects, Peddled Prop and extensive use of panelling and distinctive murals designed by Napier Waller depicting the dreamtime cycle of Wandjina the flying Pelican.
The Second Class Extensive use of lightweight bamboo furniture and coconut palm panelling adorned the ‘Singapore Room’ a luxuriously appointed rear compartment, (no seats) in which the passengers were required to stand for the duration of the flight and enjoy access to the rear promenade deck, (Indicated on the photograph) which allowed stopovers at unscheduled destinations en route. Second class passengers had the option of a parachute or an attractively designed, (Ambrose Annear) parasol which could allow partial slowed descent from the aircraft. Amongst the appointments in the second class compartment were cold water, tea urn, kipper filets in oil. Oily chips during limited hours, and extensive ventilation. The on board food service established another first, oily and partially cooked food being a standard on air travel ever since.
Third class Options for a third class compartment were dropped after trial flights and taxiing with passengers strapped to the engine nacelles failed. Fragments recovered during the initial testing phase confirmed the decision to remove passengers from moving parts.
Operational History
After its historic inaugural flight the aircraft was purchased by Boeing Aircraft Corp U.S.A to be developed under license as a full production version. Mysteriously the aircraft vanished whilst Island hopping to U.S.A via Lord Howe, Rabaul, Tahiti, and the Galapagos Is. No trace of aircraft nor flight crew was ever found. It is believed that the officers Wilde and Douglas absconded to the island chain ‘Fragrante delecto’ off the Chilean coast after ditching the airliner. There were unconfirmed reports that both were recruited by the NDSAP to conduct covert and underground investigations of the political subculture of the ACT. Post war, unnoffical reports and morse intercepts reveal that the two officers under the codenames Bosen,(trans.)‘Bosey’ and ‘Die poetischen Hosen-mann’ (trans) ‘Poetic Pants Man’ no trace of culture was found. (Bundesarchiv). Unconfirmed sightings at the Mardi Gras and the Office of the Rt Hon. Christopher Pyne are unsubstantiated to date.