Lawrence Wackett – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB30/11/202223/11/2024

Australian aviation history digital archive

In its mission to preserve and promote Australia's aviation heritage, the AHSA hosts the following digital archives. Click on the image to go to...

DerekB27/04/202204/06/2023

The Aircraft Projects of Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation

This new book by author and AHSA member Joe Vella has just been published (April 2022). Joe began writing this book in 1983 when...

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 - CAC Ceres by Derek Buckmaster

DerekB08/06/202027/12/2022

CAC Ceres – Australia’s Heavyweight Cropduster by Derek Buckmaster

The Ceres agricultural aircraft was produced by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) in Australia from 1959 to 1963. A total of only 20 airframes were...

1936 Prime Minister Joseph Lyons announced on 18 June 1936 that a company would be formed to manufacture aircraft in Australia. The Prime Minister’s statement indicated that “the chief companies associated in the syndicate which had been formed at the invitation of the Government were the BHP, BHAS and GM-H. The industry would be established without financial backing or guarantee by the Commonwealth Government. The British government had undertaken to assist and cooperate in the supply of technical information to the greatest possible extent”. The company which would be formed would become known as Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, the first company to mass-produce military aircraft in Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald 19 Jun 1936: p.11. "AIRCRAFT. LOCAL BUILDING PLANS."

1950 Fifteen passengers and the crew of four escaped injury when Douglas C-47A-25-DK (c/n 13362, registered VH-BZK, 'Anstratus') of Ansett Airways crashed into a train of empty coal trucks and burst into flames at Mascot airport on 18 June 1950. The frightened passengers, who tried to get out of the plane by the main door, were driven back by flames. They escaped through an emergency exit. The plane, about to take off for Brisbane, had taxied for several hundred yards when it crashed into the coal train, which was standing across part of the end of the main runway. The starboard engine was torn off and caught fire. A member of the crew received a slight cut on the face. The plane was travelling at about 70 m.p.h. The crash overturned five 10-ton trucks. The train, from the Bunnerong powerhouse, was not moving. Sources: "PLANE HITS TRAIN" The Sydney Morning Herald 19 June 1950 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18165029>; Aussie Airliners website

1989 Mooney M20J VH-WCK crashed at Maitland Airport, Rutherford, NSW on 18 June 1989. The pilot conducted a go-around on the initial approach to Maitland Airport. Following the second approach, the aircraft touched down heavily and was substantially damaged. The aircraft bounced on the runway and became airborne again and was observed to have commenced a second go-around. The aircraft was at an estimated height of 200-300 feet when it stalled and fell to the ground. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and the two occupants were fatally injured. Sources: ATSB; aviation-safety.net website

2020 Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC announced on 18 June 2020 the purchase of an additional Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, which once delivered would bring Australia’s Triton fleet to three. Minister Reynolds stated “The fleet is being developed and purchased through a Cooperative Program with the US Navy. This Program strengthens our ability to develop advanced maritime surveillance capability and ensure our capabilities remain complementary with our security partners, while sharing in the benefits of their technical expertise and project costs. The US Navy’s Triton aircraft have commenced operations in our region and are already demonstrating their operational value. The Triton and P-8A Poseidon capabilities will operate in a complementary way to deliver a comprehensive Maritime Patrol and Response capability." Source: Department of Defence press release.