Tintin By Plane – 15 – The Qantas Boeing 707 From Flight 714 To Sydney – Le Boeing 707 De La Qantas De Vol 714 Pour Sydney – En Avion Tintin

Author: Hergé & Editions Moulinsart
Price: £65.00
Publisher: Editions Moulinsart
Publication date: 2014
Format: Original pictorial boards with plane on plinth
Condition: In near fine condition
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout

Description:

Original pictorial boards. Text in French. Includes the accompanying model and figurine. One from the collection of 50 books and models. Very slight wear. In very near fine, clean condition overall.

Tintin in Flight 714: A Brief Account

Flight 714 (Vol 714 pour Sydney), first published in 1968, is one of the most enigmatic and psychologically complex volumes in The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé (Georges Remi). Combining the structure of a classic thriller with elements of science fiction, it explores themes of greed, captivity, and human transcendence, set against the vivid backdrop of global air travel and Cold War intrigue.

The story begins as Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Professor Calculus travel to Sydney to attend an international astronautics congress. During a stopover in Jakarta, they meet the eccentric and wealthy aircraft magnate Laszlo Carreidas, a reclusive millionaire known for his vanity and cunning. Carreidas invites the trio to accompany him aboard his private jet—Flight 714—for the final leg of their journey. What begins as a gesture of hospitality soon devolves into a descent into peril, as the plane is hijacked by Allan Thompson (Captain Haddock’s old adversary) under the direction of the sinister Dr Krollspell and the ruthless mastermind Rastapopoulos, one of Tintin’s recurring nemeses.

The jet, a sleek Carreidas 160 (a fictional aircraft closely resembling the Dassault Falcon and other contemporary business jets), is forced to land on a remote volcanic island in the Indian Ocean. There, Tintin and his companions are imprisoned in an underground complex built by Rastapopoulos and his criminal associates. The villains’ objective is to extort Carreidas’s vast fortune, stored in secret Swiss bank accounts. What follows is a tense sequence of psychological manipulation, daring escape, and supernatural intervention.

The story’s tone differs markedly from earlier Tintin adventures. Hergé’s post-war optimism gives way to a mood of moral and metaphysical unease. The island setting—a labyrinth of lava tunnels, military installations, and ancient ruins—creates a sense of claustrophobic tension. The narrative’s pace alternates between moments of sharp realism and surreal disquiet, culminating in the unexpected appearance of extraterrestrial beings who intervene to rescue Tintin, his friends, and the repentant Krollspell, while erasing the memory of their presence from all involved.

Visually, Flight 714 represents Hergé’s ligne claire style at its most mature and detailed. The Carreidas jet is drawn with precise aeronautical realism, complete with technical interiors and instrumentation. The volcanic landscapes of the island are rendered with atmospheric depth, enhanced by careful use of shadow, reflection, and texture. The artwork reflects Hergé’s fascination with modern technology and human psychology: the precision of the machine contrasts with the fragility of human motives.

Characterisation is particularly strong. Carreidas—nicknamed “the man who never laughs”—is both comic and tragic: a caricature of capitalist arrogance, yet also a victim of his own mistrust. His presence allows Hergé to explore themes of power, paranoia, and moral blindness. Rastapopoulos, meanwhile, is portrayed not as a flamboyant villain but as a calculating embodiment of greed. Even Tintin himself seems more introspective than in earlier adventures, while Captain Haddock provides bursts of humour and humanity amidst the growing strangeness.

Thematically, Flight 714 is one of Hergé’s most ambitious works. It interrogates the limits of rationalism, suggesting that human progress—technological, scientific, and economic—remains shadowed by forces beyond comprehension. The inclusion of extraterrestrial intelligence represents both a narrative shock and a symbolic release: a gesture towards transcendence and compassion in a story otherwise dominated by moral decay. The closing scenes, in which Tintin and his companions awaken aboard a rescue aircraft with no memory of what occurred, lend the tale a dreamlike, almost mystical ambiguity.

Although less overtly political than earlier albums, Flight 714 reflects the cultural atmosphere of the late 1960s—an era of technological optimism, existential questioning, and fascination with the paranormal. Its references to telepathy, alien contact, and moral corruption place it at the intersection of modern adventure and metaphysical allegory.

Critically, the album has long divided readers: some admire its tension, depth, and visual mastery, while others find its conclusion puzzling or unresolved. Yet its enduring appeal lies precisely in that ambiguity. Flight 714 is not merely an adventure but a meditation on the nature of truth, memory, and redemption—a narrative that invites reflection as much as excitement.

Today, the album stands as one of Hergé’s most intriguing achievements: a work of psychological and philosophical resonance, executed with the clarity of a master draughtsman and the insight of a storyteller who had begun to question the certainties that once defined his hero’s world. In Flight 714, Tintin’s journey extends not only across continents but into the mysteries of the human and cosmic spirit.

The Qantas Boeing 707: A Brief Account

The Qantas Boeing 707 is one of the most iconic aircraft in the history of civil aviation and a powerful symbol of the jet age. Operated by Qantas Airways, Australia’s national carrier, the Boeing 707 was the aircraft that transformed long-distance travel from a demanding, multi-stop journey into a fast, comfortable, and modern experience. It also holds a special place in cultural history through its appearance in Hergé’s Flight 714 to Sydney (Vol 714 pour Sydney), where it represents technological sophistication and the glamour of 1960s air travel.

Introduced by Qantas in 1959, the Boeing 707 was part of the airline’s drive to become one of the world’s leading international carriers. The model chosen was the Boeing 707-138, a shortened, long-range variant designed specifically to meet Qantas’s operational needs across vast Pacific and Indian Ocean routes. It was the first jet airliner in regular commercial service in the Southern Hemisphere, marking a defining moment in Australian aviation.

Technically, the Qantas Boeing 707 combined power, efficiency, and style. It was equipped with four Pratt & Whitney JT3C or JT3D turbojet or turbofan engines, each capable of delivering up to 18,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft cruised at speeds of around 600 mph (965 km/h) and had a range exceeding 5,000 miles (8,000 km), enabling it to connect Sydney directly with key global destinations such as London, Singapore, and Los Angeles. Its swept-back wings, low-mounted engines, and clean aerodynamic design embodied the futuristic aesthetic of the early jet age.

Inside, the Qantas 707 offered a new standard of luxury and comfort. The cabin was pressurised, air-conditioned, and fitted with wide windows and improved soundproofing—an enormous leap forward from the piston-engine aircraft of the previous decade. Passengers enjoyed spacious seating, attentive service, and the refinement associated with the “Kangaroo Route,” the airline’s celebrated long-haul service linking Australia and Europe. For many travellers, the Qantas 707 symbolised a new era of accessibility, connecting Australia more directly than ever to the rest of the world.

In Hergé’s Flight 714 to Sydney (1968), the Qantas Boeing 707 makes a brief but significant appearance. Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Professor Calculus are due to fly to Sydney aboard a Qantas service when they become entangled with the eccentric millionaire Laszlo Carreidas, whose private jet—Flight 714—is later hijacked. Hergé’s depiction of the Qantas aircraft is remarkably accurate, reflecting his well-known commitment to visual authenticity. The red kangaroo emblem and the aircraft’s clean white-and-red livery evoke the prestige and reliability for which Qantas was internationally admired. The choice of a Boeing 707 was not incidental—it symbolised the cutting-edge technology and optimism of the 1960s, aligning perfectly with the book’s themes of modernity and adventure.

Historically, the Qantas Boeing 707 marked the beginning of Australia’s jet age and the airline’s transformation into a truly global carrier. It drastically reduced travel times—cutting the Sydney–London route from four days to less than 30 hours—and projected an image of Australian confidence and technical competence. The aircraft was also notable for its safety record and mechanical reliability, factors that cemented Qantas’s reputation as one of the world’s safest and most respected airlines.

By the 1970s, the 707 had begun to give way to larger, more efficient aircraft such as the Boeing 747, but its legacy remains immense. Several examples have been preserved, including one restored and operated by the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, Queensland—a testament to the pioneering spirit that defined both the aircraft and the airline.

Today, the Qantas Boeing 707 is remembered not merely as a mode of transport but as a cultural and technological milestone: the aircraft that ushered Australia into the jet age, redefined global connectivity, and became an enduring symbol of mid-century progress and elegance. Whether encountered in the pages of Tintin or in the annals of aviation history, it stands as a masterpiece of engineering and an icon of international modernity.

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Cataloguer: Daniel Hornsey

Daniel Hornsey has specialised in fine and rare books, ephemera, and collectors’ editions for over thirty years. As a long-standing member of the antiquarian book trade, he has advised private collectors, curated catalogues, and sourced works for leading dealers, libraries and institutions across the world.

Hornseys’ exhibit regularly at book and map fairs in London and throughout the UK and are members of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association, the PBFA.

His fascination with Hergé’s work — especially ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ — began in childhood. Daniel recalls reading Tintin in original European editions and quickly recognising that these were not merely children’s books, but finely illustrated narratives crafted with artistic depth and wit.

As noted by the Musée Hergé in Louvain-la-Neuve, Hergé’s ‘ligne claire’ style has influenced generations of European comic artists and his original drawings and paintings command very high prices with his painting of ‘The Blue Lotus’ jar fetching £2.8m at auction in 2021.

By presenting these works through Hornseys’, he hopes to contribute to the continued appreciation of one of the 20th century’s most influential illustrators, helping new generations discover the artistry and legacy of Hergé.