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...

1922 The first Australian-built Avro 504 was accepted by the RAAF at Mascot airport on 16 June 1922. The aircraft was constructed by Australian Aircraft & Enginering Company, and was the first of a batch of six aircraft. The aircraft was christened 'Mary' by Dame Mary Hughes CBE, wife of Prime Minister Billy Hughes. The aircraft was then test-flown by AA&ECo Managing Director Nigel Love, who carried his fiancee as a passenger. The aircraft was accepted by RAAF SQNLDR Frank Barnwell. Meggs, Keith, Australian Aircraft and the Industry, Vol 1 Book 1 p.146

1932 The Jones Wonga Monoplane VH-ULZ flown by Dr. N.P Bolton crashed at Quakers Hill, NSW on 16 June 1932. The Wonga was a single engine, high wing monoplane designed by L.J.R. Jones and built during 1929-30 (First registered 13 September 1929). It was said to have been based on large pieces of Boulton Paul P.9 G-AUCT (first registered 28 June 1921, C of R 323) which had been withdrawn from use on 27 June 1922, although it bore little resemblance to a Boulton Paul P.9. After successfully completing about 100 hours of flying, the aircraft crashed during a short test flight at Quaker's Hill, NSW on 16 June 1932. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft banked steeply before diving into the ground causing fatal injuries to both occupants. At the inquest held on 5 July 1932, the AAIC reported its conclusion that the accident had resulted from low flying and bad weather. Subsequently T.D.J. Leech, lecturer in civil engineering, University of Sydney, built a scale model of the Quaker's Hill area and tested it in the G.A. Taylor memorial wind tunnel. From these tests he concluded that the aircraft probably encountered severe turbulence when the loss of control occurred. Source: aviation-safety.net website