RandomFacts Aircraft

South Australian Historic Aircraft
Photo: Lieut. Frank Willmott landed his de Havilland DH-6 aircraft at Granite Island on 26 March 1921. SLSA [B 73950]
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Fun Fact - George Richardson's 'Albatros' Flying Machine

This aircraft was built in George's Thebarton factory. The design was said to have been influenced by the flight of the albatros bird. It was built of a calico covered blackwood frame mounted on four bicycle wheels. It had two propellors. The wings were worked by hand levers from the pilot's seat and flapped to create lift. There is no report of this craft actually flying when it was tested in the west parklands (now called Bonython Park).

Fun Fact - The plane that didn't fly over the Antarctic

Douglas Mawson was a lecturer in mineralogy and petrology at Adelaide University and had survived a near-disastrous expedition to Antarctica in 1907-09. Mawson arranged to import a Vickers REP monoplane when he was in England in 1911 organising and recruiting personnel for his next Antarctic expedition. During a test flight on October 4 1911, at Adelaide's Cheltenham racecourse, its petrol tank exploded and the next day it crashed. It was sent south with the expedition, stripped of its wings and metal sheathing from the fuselage and used as an air tractor towing four sledges.

Cessna Silverwing Replica

The original Silverwing was flown by Clyde Cessna on 11 August 1911 at Enid, Oklahoma. This replica was built by Rossair, Adelaide and was displayed at Parafield and Edinburgh during the 1966 National Air Show. In February 1968 it was on display at Australia Square, Sydney. Its location was unknown for more than 40 years. This replica is now display at the South Australian Aviation Museum.
Click here for more information on this Cessna Silverwing Replica.

Bristol M1C Monoplane C5001

Known as the 'Red Devil' this plane was built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (later the Bristol Aeroplane Company) at Filton, England, and delivered to the Royal Flying Corps on the 4th February, 1918. Capt. Harry Butler A.F.C. purchased this plane from the British Government and shipped it to South Australia in 1919 and used it to carry air mail from Adelaide to his home town, Minlaton, on 6th August 1919. This plane is on public display at Minlaton, South Australia.
More about this aircraft: vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/541 [external website].
More about Harry Butler: adb.anu.edu.au/biography/butler-henry-john-5446 [external website]

Vickers Vimy G-EAOU

G-EAOU was flown by the brothers Ross and Keith Smith, together with mechanics Jim Bennett and Wally Shiers, to victory in the 1919 England to Australia Air Race. In the process, they became the first people ever to fly from England to Australia. This plane is on public display at Adelaide Airport.
More about this aircraft: vickersvimy.com.au/discover/the-vickers-vimy/ [external website].

deHavilland DH-60G Gipsy Moth VH-ULJ

First Registered in 1929 as VH-ULJ in Queensland. In 1933, it was flown to New Guinea to be used by Holden's Air Transoprt, based at Salamaua, New Guinea, servicing the Bulolo goldfields. It was sold to Guinea Airways in 1937 and evacuated to Adelaide in 1942 (during WW2). It was later used by the Education Department of S.A. for instructional purposes. This plane is on public display at the South Australian Aviation Museum.
Click here for more information about VH-ULJ

deHavilland DH-60M Gipsy Moth VH-ULO

Assigned to Australian Aero Club (S.A. section) in 1929 at Parafield. Crashed at Kapunda 1937. VH-ULO was flown by Brownie Lunn and Roy Gropler and was the aircraft that Jimmy Melrose first went solo in. This plane is in storage at the South Australian Aviation Museum awaiting a major restoration.
Click here for more information about VH-ULO

Sheppard CS2

Designed and built in 1930 by Clem Sheppard. Powered by a Henderson (Indian) motor cycle engine. This plane had fold back wings so it could be towed behind a car. It was flown at Virginia by Bill Maddocks (an RACSA instructor). This plane is on public display at the South Australian Aviation Museum.
Click here for more information about Sheppard CS2.

Free Flight Hornet

Free Flight Hang Gliders engaged Mr. Betteridge to plan a motorised hang glider but the concept developed into a flying wing something like the American Mitchell wing. David Betteridge referred to it as a minimum weight powered sailplane. The prototype Hornet S10 made its first flight at Aldinga on the 8th March 1979, piloted by Mr. Colin Scott. It had an open cockpit and was built of aluminium and plywood. Power was from a rear mounted ducted fan driven by a modified Yamaha 175cc motorcycle. The prototype hornet is in storage at the South Australian Aviation Museum.