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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0384.PDF
MAY 17,11928 m Sydney Harbour from above : Our photograph shows the view looking west from Farm Cove. IS SB that the aerial age had arrived, and many of them strongly disinclined, or else unable, to take up non-flying work. But things were rather worse in Australia because at first there was no control. It was not until November, 1920, that an Air Navigation Act was passed. One reason for the delay was that some of the States were loath to surrender their rights over the air above them to the Federal Government. Accordingly, pilots were free to run joy-riding concerns quite unhampered by C. of A. restrictions, or any other restric- tions ; and a number of unpleasant crashes was the not un- natural result. A number of flying companies were also formed, of which only one (that founded by the Larkin brothers) still survives. The Australian Aero Club, led and inspired by the late Col. Oswald Watt, did useful work in agitating for control, and at last, in 1920,'salutary control of civil flying was established. Col. H. C. Brinsmead, O.B.E., M.C., was appointed Controller of Civil Aviation. Some Notable Incidents The pre-control period, however, saw some stout flying accomplished by Australians. Pride of place must be given to the flight of Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith, accom- panied by Sergts. (afterwards commissioned) W. H. Shiers and J. M. Bennett, from England to Australia in a Vickers Vimy, with two Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engines. Five machines entered for the prize of ^10,000 offered by the Commonwealth Government for the first flight from England to Australia. Among the " also-rans," two names deserve notice, Captain G. C. Matthews, of the " Wallaby," and Capt. G. H. Wilkins, of the " Kangaroo." Matthews has lately formed a company in Victoria, and is said to be hoping to secure a contract for the Melbourne-Tasmania service. We shall surely hear more of Matthews in the future. Of Wilkins we have lately heard a great deal. His recent flight from Alaska to Spitzbergen elicited from Capt. Amundsen the remark that " no flight had been made anywhere at any time which could be at all compared with it." Good work was done in Australia preparing for the arrival of the Vimy. A route with landing grounds was laid out from Darwin to Sydney and Melbourne, and Capt. (now Squadron-Leader) H. N. Wrigley, D.F.C., A.F.C., and Sergt. (now Flight-Lieut.) A. W. "Murphy, D.F.C., A.F.C. flew in a very old B.E.2.E from Point Cook to Darwin, 2,500 miles to meet Ross Smith and his party. Wrigley and Murphy were each given the Air Force Cross for that exploit. This B.E.2.E. was the first aeroplane ever seen at Longreach (now the headquarters of Q.A.N.T.A.S.), and before its arrival, the Shire Clerk, with a laudable desire to promote air-mindedness distributed a handbill, which said that Aerial view of Sale Yards, New- market, and Aerodrome, Mel- bourne. » m m sm is m m m m» 348
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