DC-3 – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB10/03/202511/05/2025

Ticket sales have closed for the DC-3 flights from Essendon to Ballarat 17 & 18 May 2025

The Ballarat branch of the Air Force Association (BAFA) is chartering the Shortstop Jetcharter (SJC) Douglas DC-3 VH-OVM to operate Essendon-Ballarat return flights on...

1941 On 28 June 1941 nine Curtiss Tomahawks of 3 Squadron RAAF encountered six Glenn-Martin 167Fs of the French Vichy Forces attacking Allied ground forces in Syria. They engaged and shot them all down without loss. A further 30 French aircraft were destroyed in the air in the campaign for the loss of just 11 Allied planes. 3 Squadron lost only one aircraft during the whole campaign. Source: RAAF Association South Australian Division

2002 In a serious incident, Hazelton SAAB 340 VH-OLM operating flight 186 from Sydney to Bathurst rolled severely with 32 aboard on 28 June 2002. Subsequent ATSB investigation highlighted wing ice as the cause, noting the incident of 11 November 1998. Source: ATSB Accident and Incident Report, 28 January 2004. Australian, 6 August 2002. via aph.gov.au website

2021 An endurance record for electric-powered flight in a standard production aircraft was set when the Pipistrel Alpha Electro aircraft 23-0938 landed at Adelaide airport, South Australia, on 28 June 2021. The record attempt was organised by the Adelaide company Eyre to There Aviation (ETA) with support from sponsors AvPlan EFB, Aerometrex, West Coast Bitumen and Recreational Aviation Australia. The cumulative distance flow over seven flying days was 729 nm (1,350 km). In addition to the record claimed for the longest distance flown by a production electric aircraft, the team also claimed records for the longest over-water flight (30.8 km); furthest distance in a 24-hour period (330 km); and fastest speed between waypoints (177 km/h ground speed). The pilots were Catherine Conway OAM, David Bradshaw and Barrie Rogers. Sources: Eyre to There Aviation; AHSA Outlook newsletter vol 37 no 4 Sept 2021.