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Aviation Historical Society of Australia
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Author: DerekB

I'm a mechanical engineer by training, and I've spent most of my career in materials - engineering plastics first, then composites (fibreglass and carbon fibre materials). My aviation interests are centred on the CAC Wirraway, Boomerang and Ceres. I've published a book about the Ceres and I'm working on a manuscript for a Wirraway book.
DerekB18/11/202006/12/2021

AHSA Monthly Meeting 18 November 2020 (Martin James: Commemorating the RAAF Centenary)

Martin James (Royal Australian Air Force Histrian) gave a presentation describing how the RAAF is planning to commemorate its centenary during 2021, including an...
DerekB08/11/202014/04/2021

Membership subscriptions for 2021 reduced due to COVID-19 situation

At the 21st Annual General Meeting of the Incorporated Society on Wednesday 23rd September 2020, the Committee recommended reducing the annual subscriptions for the...
DerekB21/10/202006/12/2021

AHSA Monthly Meeting 21 October 2020 (Tony Wheeler: The Great Airline Bazaar / London to Melbourne In 22 Hops)

Tony Wheeler (co-founder of Lonely Planet guides) gave a presentation "The Great Airline Bazaar" covering his extraordinary 22-flight journey from London to Melbourne. The...
DerekB29/09/202027/12/2022

Australian-built Aircraft and the Industry (Vol 2) by Keith Meggs

The latest book released by author Keith Meggs Volume 2 of this encyclopaedic work (containing only one chapter, being chapter 15, spread across two...
DerekB16/09/202027/12/2022

AHSA Monthly Meeting 16 Sep 2020 (Derek Buckmaster: The Wirraway “Newspaper War”)

Derek Buckmaster gave a presentation on The Wirraway "Newspaper War". The AHSA September monthly meeting was held online via Zoom. A recording of the...
Cover image: Aviation Heritage Vol 51 No 3
DerekB01/09/202026/04/2021

Aviation Heritage Volume 51 Number 3 contents listing

The latest quarterly edition (September 2020) of the AHSA journal - Aviation Heritage - has recently been hosted to members. Full contents listing: Aviation...
DerekB19/08/202006/12/2021

AHSA Monthly Meeting 19 August 2020 (Phil Vabre: The Empire Air Mail Scheme In Operation 1938-39)

Phil Vabre gave a presentation on The Empire Air Mail Scheme In Operation 1938-39. The August 2020 monthly meeting of the AHSA was held...
DerekB15/07/202014/07/2022

AHSA Monthly Meeting 15 July 2020 (Roger McKay: Jet Fighter Evolution)

Squadron Leader Roger McKay gave a presentation on the evolution of jet fighter design, explaining the development from "first generation" to "fifth generation" designs....
DerekB30/06/202021/12/2021

Aviation Heritage Volume 51 Number 2 contents listing

The latest quarterly edition (June 2020) of the AHSA journal - Aviation Heritage - has been posted to members. Full contents listing: Aviation Heritage...
DerekB11/06/202006/12/2021

AHSA Monthly Meeting 11 June 2020 (Dr Ellen Stoddart: The Record-Setting Flights of the Perlan Glider)

Dr Ellen Stoddart gave a fascinating presentation covering the development and record-setting flights of the Perlan high-altitude glider. Ellen's son Morgan Sandercock is one...

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Welcome to the website of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia Inc.
The AHSA is dedicated to recording and promoting Australian aviation history. We find and tell the stories of how aviation (both civil and military) has contributed to the development of Australia and the experiences of Australian people.
To navigate around the site, select from the menu bar above, click on one of the updates below or choose one of the categories below.

On this day in Australian aviation history:

1926 The British aviator Alan Cobham arrived in London, England on 1 October 1926 after completing an around-trip to Australia. He flew the de Havilland D.H. 50J, G-EBFO for the entire trip, the first time that an aircraft had flown from England to Australia and returned. The aircraft was later sold to Western Australian Airlines. Source: National Film & Sound Archive
1942 No. 1 Rescue and Communication Squadron Royal Australian Air Force was raised on 1 October 1942 at Port Moresby under the command of SQNLDR Jerry Pentland - a World War I veteran who was considered the oldest pilot in the RAAF at the time, and who had extensive experience operating in New Guinea. Initially formed as a single flight, the unit was expanded to a full squadron in November 1942. The Squadron operated for around a year, serving in the New Guinea campaign. The Squadron was based at various locations around New Guinea, including Goodenough Island, and mainland airfields such as Vailala, Kerma, Amau, Dobodura, Gurney and Garaina. Crews often operated from remote airfields, dropping supplies to Australian troops around Milne Bay; evacuating civilians from remote areas in the northern highlands; evacuating wounded soldiers from locations as far afield as Buin as well as along the Kokoda Track; and rescuing downed Australian and US airmen. Sources: NAA: A9186, 370 "RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] 1 Rescue and Communication Unit Nov 42 - Nov 43"; RAAF Historical Section, Units of the Royal Australian Air Force, p. 186
2012 de Havilland DH-84 Dragon Mk 2 VH-UXG crashed near Borumba Dam, South of Gympie, Queensland on 1 October 2012. At about 1107 hours the pilot-owner of the restored vintage Dragon, took off on a private flight from Monto to Caboolture, Queensland. On board with the pilot were five passengers, baggage and equipment. The pilot was not qualified for instrument flight and the aircraft not equipped for instrument flight. The weather on the coast and extending inland included low clouds and rain. At 1315, the pilot radioed air traffic control (ATC) and requested navigation assistance, advising that the aircraft was in cloud. Over the next 50 minutes ATC provided assistance to the pilot and a search and rescue (SAR) helicopter was dispatched to the area. From the pilot’s radio calls it was apparent that he was unable to navigate clear of the cloud. Radio contact was intermittent and no transmissions from the aircraft were received after 1405. An extensive search was initiated, and the aircraft wreckage was located on 3 October in high terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and there were no survivors. The ATSB found that with no or limited visual references available in and near cloud, it would have been very difficult for the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. After maintaining control in such conditions for about an hour, and being unable to navigate away from the mountain range, the pilot most likely became spatially disoriented and lost control of the aircraft before it impacted the ground. Due to the limited radio and radar coverage in the area, the ability of ATC and the SAR helicopter to assist was limited. However, the ATSB found that there were areas of potential improvement in the management of in-flight emergencies and coordination between ATC and SAR aircraft. Sources: ATSB investigation number AO-2012-130; aviation-safety.net website

A Mouse At Moresby Ansett Airways Ansett Flying Boat Services Ballarat Bellanca 28/70 Bill Bedford Boeing Brinsmead Bronco CAC CAC Boomerang CAC Ceres CAC Mustang CAC Wackett Trainer CAC Wirraway CAC Woomera Chartair Cyclone Tracy DAP DC-3 DCA DH.50 DH60 Moth Double Sunrise Duigan Memorial Lecture Eric Bonar Essington Lewis Eyre Peninsula Airways GAF Guinea Airways Halestorm JC Fitzmaurice Junkers F13 Lawrence Wackett Macchi Meteor Michael Smith Outlook Percival Proctor Qantas RAF 205 Squadron RFD Winged Target Roy Goon Sid Marshall Target towing

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