It was also the year that Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited (QANTAS) was founded in Winton, Queensland by Paul McGinness, Sir Hudson Fysh and Sir Fergus McMaster.

A century later Qantas is not only one of the oldest airlines in the world, but also regraded as the safest - good reasons for HARS Aviation Museum to celebrate the national carrier's 100th birthday on November 16.

Read more: Looking back on 50 years of memories as Australia says thank you to the Queen of the Skies

Longreach, the only Boeing 747-400 remaining in Australia, will feature prominently in two events to mark the historic occasion and raise funds to bring the ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138 donated by John Travolta to HARS.

The museum is planning to hold a black-tie centenary dinner on the anniversary.

The Over The Wings of QJA dinner will start with pre-dinner drinks overlooking the wings of the first Boeing 747-400 in the Qantas fleet, VH-OJA. Guests will then proceed to Hangar 1 surrounded by historic aircraft used by the national carrier over the decades.

They will include the world's only flying Lockheed Super Constellation, affectionately known as Connie, a Convair, the Douglas DC-3 which made the first passenger flight for TAA in 1946, and a DC-4 in Qantas 1950s livery.

On November 15 guests are also being invited to dress in Qantas retro gear and join HARS members at an Under the Wings of OJA barbecue that will include a tour of HARS from 1pm and live music from 3pm to 7pm.

HARS events manager Sherryl Sherson said the centenary dinner follows the success of other events such as the fly-over of the very last Boeing 747-400 in the Qantas fleet.

That saw dozens of present and former pilots, engineers and cabin crew from the airline dress in uniforms to celebrate the occasion.

Other dinners held at HARS to celebrate aviation achievements included one for the crew who flew a C47 from Australia and over the Himalayas to an aircraft museum in China, and another for the induction of Nancy Bird Walton into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame when it was co-located to HARS.

Mrs Sherson said dignitaries from Sydney were coming to the centenary dinner which she expects will attract 120 people in a location that can accommodate up to 500.

"Villa D'Oro are doing the catering. The large hanger has really been spruced up. People who come along to events here are just in awe of what we have. And we hope to be doing a lot more of this kind of thing in the future."

"We have already done a couple of weddings. Bridal parties love coming in and standing alongside our beautiful shiny DC3 which is wonderful for wedding photos."

Mrs Sherson said eventually it would be great to have a fully equipped commercial kitchen.

HARS already employs a team of casual wait staff and would love to provide training and work placements to commercial cookery and hospitality students.

"We had an international engineers conference booked for October but that has been postponed to next year," she said.

"And the Penski Group held a big event here two years ago that was so successful they booked the venue again the following day. They are coming back again in February."

Covid-19 protocols apply for both events with limited tickets available from HARS.

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