Hi Neil,
Today I will answer some of your questions.The duties of Interflug were located near the airport Schönefeld, there were several buildings.We layover /overnight in Larnaca /Cyprus with final destination Damascus and Bagdad,in Karachi/Pakistan to Hanoi,in Brazzaville/Kongo to Luanda and Maputo.Further stays we had in Havana, Hanoi, Luanda, Maputo, Addis Ababa.Special and charter flights led me to Montreal, Las Palmas, Montevideo, Nouadibou (Mauretania /North Africa), Cairo, Amman and Aden, further Moscow, Budapest, Prague, Paris, Bruxelles, Glasgow.
My favourite aircraft is the Ilyushin 62, the long distance aircraft of IF,(before A 310 ).In this aircraft I was so many hours, travelled around the world (5 millon kilometres).We had 150 PAX tourist class and 8 first class, still familiar.
But I also like the Tupolev 134A, because it is very elegant, starts in a steep angle and---- only 76 PAX, 2 seats , aisle, 2 seats.And of course , I like the Ilyushin 18, the Turboprop, but is not so comfortable for the passengers, because it is very loud, the speed is only 650 km/h and the travel height 6000 til 8000 m (turbulences in the clouds). In the IL 18 I had heavy turbulence with injured people, the trolley and I flew in the plane , that was bad experience.
Our rostering system was made for one month in advance, but there were many changes, we also had reserve times.
Neil, you know so much about IF, the GDR and our people. I know little about Australia, I`ve never heard of Ansett airline, but I will google it.
What is your favourite aircraft, what is your favourite destination?
By the way, the snow is almost gone , also in the mountains, and it feels like spring. But the winter, snow and ice will return, we only have January.
Thank you for the photo, I´ll also send some with the help of my husband and sons soon.
Looking forward for more---- Sigrid