Ansett Flying Boat Services – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB30/12/202431/12/2024

Outlook AHSA Newsletter December 2024

The December 2024 edition of Outlook / AHSA News was distributed to members recently. This edition can be read online in the viewer below....

1939 The first flight of the CA-2 Wackett Trainer, the first in-house aircraft design by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation was made on 19 September 1939 by CAC test pilot Hubert Boss-Walker. The Wackett Trainer was the first Australian-designed aircraft to enter mass production (202 built) and the first Australian-designed aircraft to enter service with a foreign air force (the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force - later the Indonesian Air Force). Source: Joe Vella, Aircraft Projects of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, 2022, ISBN 978-0-4651859-0-4

1941 The first flight of the CA-4 Wackett Bomber, later known as the Woomera, was made on 19 September 1941 by CAC test pilot Hubert Boss-Walker. The aircraft made one low circuit after taking off from the factory airfield. Source: Keith Meggs, Australian-Built Aircraft and the Industry, Volume 2 Book 1. ISBN 978-0-646-99655-4

1954 The RAAF held an Air Force Day Display at Mallala, South Australia on 19 September 1954. Various aircraft participated in the flying and static displays, including Bristol Freighter A81-1 of No 34 (Communications) Squadron, Douglas C47B A65-87, and Gloster Meteor NF11 A77-3 (ex RAF WM262) used at Woomera by the Weapons Research Establishment. Source: AWM

1981 Cessna U206G VH-RQV crashed 5km north of Charleville, Queensland on 19 September 1981. The aircraft experienced an engine failure, causing it to strike trees and impact the ground. All seven occupants on board were killed. Sources: ATSB investigation report 198100064; aviation-safety.net website