Eagle
Farm aerodrome had two entrances, both of which were to the left off
Lamington Avenue which ran off Nudgee Road parallel with the railway
line. Most people used the second entrance, Memorial Avenue, which had
a service station on the corner. On the left was the Kingsford Smith
Memorial and on the right were DCA offices which included the Flight
Briefing Office and a fondly remembered canteen. A right turn off the
very short Memorial Avenue was Terminal Drive which led, naturally enough,
to the igloo terminals which had very limited car parking spaces. Airport
workers and schoolboy photographers on bicycles would always take the
first entrance, Western Avenue, which led to a larger car park which
adjoined the western apron. This was the magical location where schoolboy
photographers on bicycles were sometimes rewarded with truly wondrous
sights like this visiting United States Navy Lockheed Super Constellation.
Technically an NC-121K Bu No 145925, this Connie was operated by Project
Magnet to study the earth's magnetic field. The aircraft was adorned
with the Warner Bros. Roadrunner cartoon character and carried
the name Paisano Dos (Spanish for Friend #2).
Photo: Prinzcolor transparency by Ron Cuskelly (A099)
Whilst the Connie was most memorable, Prinzcolor film was not, but it was affordable by schoolboy photographers on bicycles! |