In 1921 the Qantas fleet consisted of two biplanes - an Avro 504K with a 100 horsepower (74 kw) water-cooled Sunbeam Dyak engine and a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2E with a 90 horsepower (67 kw) air-cooled engine. The BE2E was purchased for £450 ($900) from Charles Knight, a Longreach stock and station agent who, having experienced a turbulent delivery trip, swore nothing would induce him to fly again.
McGinness and Baird flew joy riding and demonstration flights. It was tough work keeping the two machines in the air. The Avro 504s Dyak engine struggled in the thin hot air and boiled on the shortest trips. But Baird, a superb engineer, modified the aircraft to improve performance. In this period 871 passengers were taken aloft and the biplanes logged 54,000km without serious mishap.
In November 1922 Qantas began to operate a scheduled airmail service between Charleville and Cloncurry. This was the first scheduled air service and provided a measure of financial security although the initial air mail contract was only for 12 months.
The Men Who Established Qantas
On 16 November 1920 Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd was formed by three men who could see the great benefits that aviation would bring to the people of western Queensland. The airline they established would eventually connect Australia with the world. A fourth man, Arthur Baird established the reputation for engineering excellence that Qantas has never lost.