Aviation in Queensland
Various attempts at flying were made in early machines in the first decade of the Twentieth Century, however the rapid development of aviation did not begin until after the First World War, when its adoption for military purposes meant that pilots were available to continue flying in peace time. Interest had been aroused during the war with the operations of the Australian Flying Corps and afterwards by the flight of Sir Keith and Sir Ross Smith in their Vickers Vimy on the first flight between England and Australia in 1919.
A number of other pilots who had flown during the war gave demonstrations of their craft throughout Queensland and Western Australia. Amongst these were Hudson Fysh, P.J. McGinness and R.S. Adair. It was these men who were to lay the foundations of the airline Qantas in November 1922.
The first crossing of the Pacific in a Fokker FV11, the Southern Cross, was undertaken by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, Harry Lyon and James Warner in 1928.
Herbert John Louis Hinkler in his Avro Avian set a new record for an England to Darwin flight in 1928 travelling solo.
Qantas was also associated with the establishment of the world’s first flying doctor service which was inaugurated by the Australian Inland Mission. The service was based in Cloncurry where Qantas contracted to maintain a pilot and a DH50 aircraft to operate the service.
Last updated: 26th October 2009
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