It will be a red and white letter day for Qantas in outback Queensland next June when the official opening of the Qantas Founders Museum's new Airpark Roof and Light and Sound Show takes place.
Western Queensland is at the heart of Qantas and while the national airline isn't due to announce its own centenary plans until mid-November's 99th birthday, the Longreach museum is preparing for huge interest from around Australian and overseas in the national heritage it has collected.
In anticipation of the interest in the important milestone in Australia's history, the museum has a staged airpark roof launch planned.
Locals, which include residents of Longreach, Barcaldine and Winton regional council areas, will be invited to the community airpark roof launch on May 2, to get the first close-up glimpse of the 8072 square metre structure designed to provide protection for the museum's iconic Boeing 747 and Boeing 707 aircraft.
That will be followed on June 20 by the Red & White Gala, a cocktail party and official opening of the airpark roof, finishing with the first showing of the state of the art Light and Sound show.
Qantas Founders Museum CEO Tony Martin said visiting the museum and outback Queensland would give visitors real insight into the early days of Qantas and help them appreciate how the airline has developed.
Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services was established on November 16, 1920 with its office in Winton.
In 1921 the airline started flying and moved its main operations to Longreach where it provided passenger services to outback Queensland.
"In 2020, Australia will celebrate the centenary of its national airline, Qantas Airways, and where better to celebrate this incredible milestone and inspiring history than where it all began in outback Queensland," Mr Martin said.
"Our museum is dedicated to telling the history of Qantas and in 2020 we have a number of exciting events to mark this important anniversary including gala evenings, a fly-in weekend, community events, centenary exhibitions and more.
"There is no better place to understand the trials and tribulations of Qantas and northern Australia's need for an aerial service in the 1920s than in outback Queensland where you can experience the wide open spaces, the remoteness of the region and the country communities who supported the airline."
The newly refurbished Super Constellation aircraft will also be available to experience the new interactive interior display about Qantas Constellations.