Smith Centenary Celebration Group – Bulletin 6

Less than 4 weeks to go

Thanks to all people who have contacted us. I hope we have responded adequately in each case, but please be in contact as above if you need more information or want to tell us something. And tell us via the contact form if you do not want to receive this information.

Please look at https://ahsansw.com/. It is a pretty basic website but for the next few months has been given over to news about the flight.

Welcome to all people who are receiving, for the first time, information about the Smith Centenary Celebration Flight Darwin to Adelaide by light, ultralight and historic aircraft, March 8-22 2020. If you are not sure what is happening go to https://ahsansw.com/ and look at the current media information and final itinerary  and also General information booklet for non-aviators. If you would like a copy of this in printed from, send your postal address.

Everyone should look at the Pilot Handbook , assembled by technical advisor Anthony Coleiro. He has done an excellent job, and many thank to everyone who has helped.

Even more vital at this stage is the run sheet, Many details have to be added: could local stopping places please read what has been written about them and send corrections and extra information. It will be continually updated until the end of the flight.

The most constant question is ‘how many aircraft are participating’? We have started an Excel file listing those who have recently said they are taking part, either for the whole journey or for part of the journey.

Please, if you intend to fly in the event, even if only one section, advise us via the website contact form or phone. This is not binding: the whole event is based on voluntary participation, and expressions of intention to fly are not a contract! You can withdraw at any time. But expressing your intentions does give everyone an idea of what will happen.

Technically, participants are responsible for arranging their won accommodation but a booking sheet to assist the process will be available this week.

Please spread the word! We have emailed all flying clubs and aircraft historical groups we can find, we continually bombard the aviation press and other media with information, but still many people have not heard of what is happening. Go to this page for helpful material. Media people, phone 0403 615 134 to get any additional information needed.

One thing that has occurred is a recent publication, The Even More Forgotten Air Race,  re the 1969 England-Australia air race. This huge event is almost forgotten and one of the bi-products of planning for this year’s event is a quickly prepared booklet, available online in  single pages and print your own booklet . We hope that many people who have connections to the 1969 race will be able to take part in the current event even if just by visiting a stopping point. And we hope that our event will result in the discovery and dissemination of more historical material.

Finally, here is the basic itinerary: Mark your participation in your diary, now! Remember that the run sheet gives far more detail.

DAY ROUTE ARRIVAL DATE NM NOTES
1 Darwin to Daly Waters Sunday
8/03/20
200 Main departure form Darwin Aviation Museum, 0900 to 1100. Brief official function 1000. Alternative departure point Emkaytee airfield, home of the Top End Flying Club. Options: stop at Katherine (Tindal RAAF), overfly Warlock Ponds (Elsey)
Alternatives for slow aircraft available: day 2 is very long!
2 Daly Waters to Cloncurry Monday
9/03/20
555 Stops – AACo stations Anthony Lagoon, Brunette Downs and Avon Downs
3 Cloncurry to Longreach Tuesday
10/03/20
270 Evening at QANTAS Heritage Museum
4 Longreach to Charleville Wednesday
11/03/20
235 Visits to local attractions and evening meal with interested people
5 Charleville to Caboolture Thursday
12/03/20
368 Visits to local attractions and evening meal with interested people
Day 6: Friday 13/3/20: full day at Caboolture, (TAVAS Museum) various options
7 Caboolture to Narromine Saturday
14/03/20
594 Via Bourke (otherwise 444 NM),
Day 8:   Sunday 15/3/20 day at Narromine: Various activities – Narromine Aviation Museum
9 Narromine to Wollongong (HARS) Monday 16/03/20 265 Via Richmond or Luskintyre, then V1 to HARS Albion Park. Landing at Rose Bay by seaplanes if practicable
Day 10: Tuesday 17/03/20 day at Historical Aircraft Restoration Society museum etc
10 HARS to Cootamundra Wednesday 18/03/20 203 via Temora to visit Australian Aviation Museum
Evening function being planned
11 Cootamundra to Benalla Thursday 19/3/20 250 Henty optional stop
12 Benalla to ‘Little River’ airstrips (full journey participants) or Lilydale Friday
20/03/20
Visit to Point Cook Museum
13 Melbourne airfields to Adelaide (Gawler) Saturday 21/03/20 445 Nhill as staging point fuel etc and visit Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre. Airmail philatelic display at Gawler.
14 Adelaide Sunday 22/03/20 Gawler to Aldinga fly-in to culminate flight. Short official function about 1200.
Day 15 Monday 23 March: Exactly 100 years since the arrival of the Smith Flight: visit to South Australian Aviation Museum and possible event eg at Adelaide airport if desired.