Smithy (movie) – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB30/09/202319/11/2023

Aviation Heritage Vol. 54 No. 3 (September 2023) Contents Listing

The latest quarterly AHSA journal – Aviation Heritage – has recently been posted to members. The contents of all articles are listed below: Aviation...

1919 On 19 March 1919, the acting Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. W.A. Watt, speaking in the House of Representatives in Melbourne, made the following official announcement. "With a view to stimulating aerial activity, the Commonwealth Government has decided to offer £10,000 for the first successful flight to Australia from Great Britain on a machine manned by Australians. Rules are being drawn up covering the conditions of the test, and it is proposed that competitors shall be required to supply their own machines and make all other arrangements necessary for the flight". Source: Aviation Heritage vol 47 no 3 September 2016

1930 RAAF Supermarine Seagull III A9-4 crashed at Norfolk Bay Tasmania on 19 March 1930. Flying from HMAS Albatross, the aircraft entered a spin and crashed while spotting during a gunnery shoot. The pilot PLTOFF Gordon Grant and the observer LT Elliot, RN were injured and the TAG Donald McGowan RAN was killed. McGowan was the first Australian naval aviator to die in an air accident. Sources: aviation-safety.net website; ADF-Serials

1932 On 19 March 1932 Flinders Island Airways began a regular aerial service using the Desoutter Mk.II VH-UEE "Miss Flinders" between Launceston, Tasmania and Flinders Island in Bass Strait. The new air service competed with shipping services offered by William Holyman and Sons Ltd. Source: Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society

1932 Westland Wapitis of No.3 Squadron RAAF provided an aerial flypast as part of the official ceremonies for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Source: 3 Squadron RAAF Association

1944 A USAAF P-47D-20/25 Thunderbolt destroyed two RAAF Kittyhawks when it veered off the airstrip during take-off after suffering an engine failure. Six Kittyhawks of 86 Squadron RAAF were at Horn Island for a temporary attachment to 84 Squadron RAAF. The Thunderbolt crashed into two of 86 Squadron's Kittyhawks (A29-336 and A29-308) which were parked in a standby position at the eastern end of the Horn island airstrip. Source: Ozatwar website

1997 On 19 March 1997 Parliament debated the Aviation Legislation Amendment Bill (No.1) 1997 to allow for environmental standards at airports and establish a register of encumbered aircraft. Source: House of Representatives, Debates p. 1834. via aph.gov.au website

2003 Bell 47G-4A VH-MTX crashed at Caboolture, Queensland on 19 March 2003. At approximately 0830 EST, the pilot was conducting a lift-off to the hover from a mobile helicopter landing site at Caboolture aerodrome, when the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The helicopter was substantially damaged and there was no post-occurrence fire. The pilot, who occupied the left seat, was fatally injured and the passenger, who occupied the right seat, sustained minor injuries. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the phenomenon known as dynamic rollover. Scrape marks from the helicopter's right skid were found on the lip along the right side of the mobile platform. That indicated that the helicopter was not raised to a height sufficient to clear the platform in the event of lateral movement. Source: ATSB

2004 On 19 March 2004 National Airspace System member Mr Dick Smith drew attention to an improvement in aviation safety statistics since the new airspace system began, while Broome International Airport considered taking legal action against any further changes. Source: Australian, 19 March 2004, p. 26. via aph.gov.au website

2012 CZAW SportCruiser 24-7552 operated by Hinkler Flying School crashed near Fairymead, just north of Bundaberg, QLD on 19 March 2012. The ultralight with two men on board took off on a training flight from Bundaberg airport about lunchtime. A search began when they failed to return to the airport by early afternoon and the wreckage was found at first light the following day in a cane field. Police scientific officers attended the scene and a coroner's report was prepared. Emergency crews found the bodies of the pilot and his passenger in the wreckage, but Inspector Kev Gutteridge says efforts to recover the bodies and clear the site were difficult. "We're currently sitting in the middle of a very wet, boggy cane paddock," he said. "It's relatively accessible by foot; however, vehicular access to that area is going to be very restricted." Sources: aviation-safety.net website; ABC News