Allens' connection with the iconic biscuit brand Arnott's dates back to 1951.
David Allen (the last Allen family member to work at the firm) was in England, preparing to return home to continue his work at the firm after a round-the-world holiday. David, who was a pilot during WWII, was shocked to discover that a four-day air passage to Sydney would set him back around £325 (roughly A$19,000 in today's currency). Horrified, he enlisted the help of his friend Robert (Bob) Arnott, an alpine skier who had been training in Europe and who was the great grandson of William Arnott - the founder of Arnott's. David was 27 at the time and Bob, who would compete the following year in the Winter Olympics, was 28.
Their journey took six weeks and involved over 30 stops, including some heart-stopping moments.
Together they bought a single-engine Percival Proctor plane, having decided it would be cheaper to buy a plane and fly themselves home to Australia. David registered the plane as DAAAH (David Allen Allen Allen Hemsley) and, on 10 June 1951, the two adventurers set off.
Their journey took six weeks and involved over 30 stops, including some heart-stopping moments (as they neared Indonesia the plane almost ran out of fuel and they landed in the dark in Koepang with only three gallons of petrol remaining).
The duo arrived in Sydney on 24 July at a cost of £300 pounds, chuffed at having saved on the £350 cost for two commercial air tickets. David had high hopes of using the plane as a marketing tool for the firm, however the partners didn't share his enthusiasm and the plane was sold.