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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 1751.PDF
966 FLIGHT International, II June 1964 Unt-up of aircraft at Archerfield on the day before the start of the Brisbane - Adelaide race, reported on this page. One hundred and thirty-eight of the 146 starters are in the picture SPORT AND MMMBH BUSINESS The Air Racing Scene The competition season for light aircraft in the United Kingdom gets under way today (June 11) at Sywell, where 20 pilots from five countries are competing in aerobatic skill and artistry for the British Lockheed Trophy. The Royal Aero Club's racing calendar at present stands at two events: the John Morgan and Air League Trophy races at Shoreham on July 17 and 18, and the King's Cup race at Baginton on August 1. A total of approximately 30 aircraft are expected to be entered for these races. By comparison, the recent Mr Ansett Air Race from Brisbane to Adelaide attracted no fewer than 170 entries. Of these, 146 made the starting line and 141 finished the 1,400-mile course. The race was sponsored by Mr Ansett, chairman and] managing director of Ansett Transport Industries, who in 1936 won the handi- cap section of the Brisbane - Adelaide Air Race organized in con- nection with the Adelaide centenary. The £500 prize in 1936 had enabled him to expand the then-modest scale of activities of his airline. For the 1964 race, prize money and trophies worth more than £5,000 were offered. Organization of the race was shared between the Royal Federa- tion of Aero Clubs of Australia, Ansett-ANA and the Department of Civil Aviation—a fruitful co-operation which resulted in an extremely smoothly run event. Previously the Australian general- aviation movement has been critical of the DCA and its policy for private flying, but the Department's wholehearted support for the race marked the first practical example of its new light aircraft policy. The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr D. G. Ander- son, commented that the excellent discipline and high standard of navigation and flying shown during the race had proved to his department that its faith in the ability of the Australian pilot was fully justified. Scheduled to begin on March 28, the race was delayed for 24 hours by gale conditions in Queensland, and in particular by torren- tial rain at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane, the starting point. The first section of the route was to Bankstown, Sydney's light-aircraft terminal, via Toowoomba and Tamworth. After an overnight stop at Sydney the next stage was to Moorabbin, Melbourne, with a compulsory stop at Wagga Wagga. Adverse weather conditions between Kilmore and Moorabbin, however, forced the race organ- izers to divert the final 40 aircraft into Mangalore and to cancel the Wagga - Melbourne leg of the race. After a second overnight stop, the final leg from Melbourne to Adelaide, with a compulsory stop at Nhill, was flown in clear weather. All entrants except the five who had withdrawn (one at Tamworth and four at Melbourne) reached Parafield, Adelaide, in brilliant sunshine. The £1,250 first prize was won by K. Bassett, flying an Auster J5B. The handicapping system, based on manufacturer's perfor- mance figures, aerodynamic analysis and estimated wind effect, proved successful in counterbalancing the obvious differences be- tween such types as the Tiger Moth, Mustang, Comper Swift, Victa Air Tourer, Cessna 310 and Beagle A.109. The entry list included no fewer than 79 Cessnas. At the final presentation dinner, attended by more than 600 pilots and helpers, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Senator Shane Palt- ridge, said "Today you have shown Australia and the world that flying is a practical possibility for anyone who has the will and desire to fly. This is indeed a great thing for aviation and Australia." Certainly the massive scale of participation in the Ansett Race gives much food for thought for the air-racing movement in Britain. Right, K. Bassett (Auster J.5B), overall winner; far right, youngest competitors 18-year-old Miss Sue VV//- liams and Miss Christine Henderson receive a spe- cial prize from Mr R. M. Ansett. Seated is Senator Shane Paltridge
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