Aviation Timeline
Firsts in Tasmanian Aviation and other significant events
First powered flight
17 Dec 1903
Wilbur and Orville Wright, at Kittyhawk (USA).
First powered flight in Australia
9 Dec 1909
Colin Defries. Wright Model A biplane, at Victoria Park Racecourse, Sydney.
First powered flight in an Australian-made plane
7 Oct 1910
John Duigan. Home-made biplane. Central Victoria.
First flight in Tasmania
10 Sep 1914
Delfose Badgery. Caudron biplane, at Elwick showground in Hobart, and later from Elphin showground in Launceston.
First World War
28 July 1914 to 11 Nov 1918
Second plane to fly in Tasmania
28 Aug 1919
Captain Eric Cummings, Australian Air Corps. Sopwith Pup biplane. Peace Loan Exhibition, at Elwick showgrounds in Hobart. He later flew at other locations in Tasmania.
First passenger flight from Hobart to Launceston
5 Nov 1919
Lieut. Arthur Long. Boulton Paul P.9 biplane. His passenger was Mrs Nelson, who was reported to have “enjoyed the novel experience immensely.” A flight time of 1¼ hours.
First flight across Bass Strait
16 Dec 1919
Lieut. Arthur Long. Boulton Paul P.9 biplane. From Stanley to Torquay Victoria, a flight time of 3½ hours. he then flew to Port Melbourne.
First flight from Victoria to Tasmania
23 Sep 1920
Maj. William Anderson, Australian Air Corps. Airco DH.9A. Conducting an aerial search for a missing ship.
First plane lost flying over Bass Strait
23 Sep 1920
Capt. Billy Stutt and Sgt. Dalzell, Australian Air Corps. Airco DH.9A. Conducting an aerial search for a missing ship, last seen south of Flinders Island. They were flying with Maj. Anderson.
First flight from Launceston to Victoria
17 Oct 1920
Maj. William Anderson, Australian Air Corps. Airco DH.9A. Returning to Point Cook after searching for Capt. Stutt and Sgt. Dalzell.
QANTAS founded
16 Nov 1920
(Tasmanian) Hudson Fysh, Paul McGuiness and Fergus McMaster. Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited.
First plane to land on King Island
23 Nov 1920
Lieut. Raymond Parer with two passengers. F.E.2B biplane. A holiday flight from Victoria to visit relatives.
First female passengers to fly across Bass Strait
4 Jan 1921
Capt. Frederick Huxley, accompanied by his wife and baby daughter. F.E.2B biplane. A holiday flight from Victoria to visit his parents on King Island.
First flight from King Island to Tasmania
15 Jan 1921
Capt. Frederick Huxley. F.E.2B biplane. He conducted joy rides in Tasmania for the next six months.
First plane to fly from Sydney to Launceston (and return)
13 March 1921 to 20 May 1921. Return: 19 June1921 to 04 July 1921.
Capt. Andrew Lang. Seagull Flying Boat. Taking 16 Individual flights and 36½ hours flying time.
First flight from Hobart to Victoria
11 Feb 1924
Flt. Lieut. Ivor Ewing McIntyre, Royal Australian Air Force. Fairey IIID Seaplane. First RAAF aerial survey of Tasmanian coastline for seaplane landing places.
First Aero Club formed in Tasmania
20 Oct 1927
Australian Aero Club (Tasmanian Section). Launceston.
First flight from USA to Australia
31 May – 09 Jun 1928
Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. Southern Cross, Fokker F.VIIb/3m monoplane. Three flights, California to Hawaii, then to Fiji and finally to Brisbane.
First flight from Hobart to Sydney
23 Feb 1929
Royal Australian Air Force. A11-2, Supermarine Southampton Flying Boat. A flight time of 7 hours 50 minutes.
First flight off a Tasmanian licenced aerodrome
23 Nov 1930
Capt. Joseph Francis, Australian Aero Club (Tasmanian Section). VH-ULM, de Havilland DH.60, Gipsy Moth. Flight off Western Junction Aerodrome.
First passenger flight from Melbourne to Launceston
18 Dec 1930
Frank Neale, Matthews Aviation. VH-UNV, Saro Cutty Sark. Evaluation flight for future service.
First commercial passenger flight from Melbourne to Launceston
16 Jan 1931
Charles Kingsford Smith, Australian National Airways. Southern Cloud, VH-UMF, Avro Ten. With 10 passengers.
First commercial passenger flight from Melbourne to Hobart
24 Jan 1931
Charles Kingsford Smith, Australian National Airways. Southern Star, VH-UMG, Avro Ten. With 12 passengers.
Official opening of Western Junction Aerodrome (Launceston)
28 Feb 1931
First Bass Strait Passenger service ceases
26 June 1931
Australian National Airways. After carrying over 500 passengers across Bass Strait, company ceases operation due to economic depression.
Record round the world flight
23 Jun - 01 Jul 1931
Pilot Wiley Post and Navigator Tasmanian Harold Gatty. Winnie Mae, Lockheed Vega 5B. A new record of 8 ½ days.
First plane to land on Flinders Island
1 Sep 1931
Norman Chapman. Viking, VH-UKG, de Havilland DH.60 Gipsy Moth. On return flight from Tasmania to Victoria.
First plane to land on Deal Island
17 Oct 1931
Norman Chapman. Viking, VH-UKG, de Havilland DH.60 Gipsy Moth. On a flight to Melbourne, stopped due to bad weather.
First plane to land on Latrobe Aerodrome
28 Oct 1931
Capt. Joseph Francis, Australian Aero Club (Tasmanian Section). De Havilland DH.60, Gipsy Moth.
Official opening of Latrobe Aerodrome
27 Dec 1931
First passenger flight to Flinders Island
28 Dec 1931
Jack Turner, Hart Aircraft Services. VH-UPR, Desoutter Mark II monoplane. Chartered by Mr Thompson for a flight from Melbourne.
First passenger flight from Flinders Island to Tasmania
28 Dec 1931
Jack Turner, Hart Aircraft Services. VH-UPR, Desoutter Mark II monoplane. Mr & Mrs Jas. Woods of Emita as passengers, flight to Western Junction.
First plane to land at the ‘Happy Valley’ Aerodrome at Whitemark
29 Jan 1932
Lawrence Johnson, Matthews Aviation. VH-UBZ, Airco DH.4. Flight from Western Junction with one passenger and two passengers returning to Western Junction.
First plane to land at the first Wynyard Aerodrome
25 Feb 1932
Capt. Joseph Francis, Australian Aero Club (Tasmanian Section). De Havilland DH.60, Gipsy Moth.
First plane to land at Smithton Aerodrome
27 Feb 1932
Flight-Lieut. Wilson, Royal Australian Air Force. Westland Wapiti biplane.
First commercial passenger flight from Western Junction to Flinders Island
19 Mar 1932
Lawrence Johnson, Flinders Island Airways / Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Flinders, VH-UEE, Desoutter Mark II monoplane. Start of regular twice weekly return service.
First Aeromedical Evacuation from Flinders Island
21 Mar 1932
Lawrence Johnson, Flinders Island Airways / Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Flinders, VH-UEE, Desoutter Mark II monoplane. Patient, Mr A. Cook flown to Launceston.
First airmail letters delivered to Flinders Island
7 Jun 1932
Lawrence Johnson, Flinders Island Airways / Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Flinders, VH-UEE, Desoutter Mark II monoplane. 412 Letters flown to Flinders Island and 73 flown back to Launceston.
Holyman Brothers start passenger service to Flinders Island
30 Sep 1932
Capt. Victor Holyman, Holyman Brothers. Miss Currie, VH-UQM, de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth.
Tasmanian Aerial Services formed
12 Oct 1932
Miss Flinders, VH-UEE, and Miss Currie, VH-UQM. Holyman Brothers and Lawrence Johnson merge operations.
First Passenger Service Western Junction – Latrobe – Wynyard – Smithton
14 Nov 1932
Capt. Victor Holyman, Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Currie, VH-UQM, de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth. A return service.
First commercial passenger flight Launceston to King Island
24 Dec 1932
Capt. Victor Holyman, Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Currie, VH-UQM, de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth. With two passengers, returned to Launceston the following day, first plane to land on King Island Aerodrome.
First plane to land on Robbins Island
5 Jan 1933
Capt. Victor Holyman, Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Currie, VH-UQM, de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth. Landed on the emergency landing ground in bad weather.
Official Opening of Smithton Aerodrome
17 Feb 1933
First Aeromedical Evacuation from King Island
27 Feb 1933
Lawrence Johnson, Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Flinders, VH-UEE, Desoutter Mark II monoplane. Patient flown to Melbourne.
Matthews Aviation commence Bass Strait Passenger Service
3 Feb 1933
Frank Neale & Norman Chapman, Matthews Aviation. VH-UPB, Saro Windhover. Essendon to Brighton, via King Island, Smithton & Western Junction, two flights per week.
Hart Aviation Services commence Bass Strait Passenger Service
4 Apr 1933
Jack Turner, Hart Aviation Services. Tasman, VH-UMG, Avro Ten. Essendon to Western Junction, via Flinders Island, two flights per week.
First woman pilot to fly across Bass Strait
5 May 1933
Nancy Lyle. Diana, VH-UKV, de Havilland DH.60 Gipsy Moth. Flight via King Island to Western Junction, to visit friends at Cressy.
Tasmanian Aerial Services commence Bass Strait Passenger Service
2 Sep 1933
Capt. Victor Holyman, Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Launceston, VH-URD, de Havilland DH.84. Three services per week.
First plane to land on Cape Barren Island
6 Oct 1933
Lawrence Johnson, Tasmanian Aerial Services. Miss Flinders, VH-UEE, Desoutter Mark II monoplane. Testing newly prepared emergency landing strip.
First airmail letters delivered to King Island
13 Oct 1933
Matthews Aviation. VH-UPB, Saro Windhover.
Official Opening of King Island Aerodrome
2 Dec 1933
Matthews Aviation cease Bass Strait Passenger Service
Jan 1934
Matthews Aviation. Due to mechanical damage to the Windhover.
Hart Aviation Services cease Bass Strait Passenger Service
28 Feb 1934
Hart Aviation Services. Due to mechanical damage to the Tasman.
First Pilot to fly across Bass Strait 100 times
1933 – 1934
Norman Chapman, Matthews Aviation. VH-UPB, Saro Windhover.
Official Opening of the second Wynyard Aerodrome
26 Feb 1934
Tasmanian Aerial Services renamed Holyman’s Airways
Jul 1934
First loss of a commercial airliner in Tasmania
19 Oct 1934
Gilbert Jenkins & Capt. Victor Holyman, Holyman’s Airways. Miss Hobart, VH-URN, de Havilland DH.86 Express. On a flight from Launceston to Melbourne. Last reported near Wilson’s Promontory, the 2 pilots and 9 passengers were lost.
First plane to land at Pats River Aerodrome at Whitemark
11 Dec 1934
Ken Frewin, Holyman’s Airways. Miss Currie, VH-UQM, de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth. Regular Western Junction to Flinders Island service, one passenger.
Official Opening of Pats River Aerodrome at Whitemark
16 Feb 1935
First large passenger plane to land at Cambridge Aerodrome
28 Sep 1935
Holyman’s Airways. Loina, VH-URT, de Havilland DH.86 Express.
Loss of Loina on landing at Whitemark
2 Oct 1935
Norman Evans & Max Brown, Holyman’s Airways. Loina, VH-URT, de Havilland DH.86 Express. Crashed into the sea on approaching the aerodrome, 2 crew and three passengers were lost.
First flight of regular DC-2 passenger service across Bass Strait
10 May 1936
Ken Frewin and Alex Bayne, Holyman’s Airways. Bungana, VH-USY, DC-2. Essendon - Western Junction - Cambridge direct service.
Australian National Airways (A.N.A.) formed
1 Jul 1936
Holyman’s Airways and Adelaide Airways merge to form largest airline in Australia. Ivan Holyman is the Managing Director.
First flight of regular DC-3 passenger service across Bass Strait
20 Dec 1937
Australian National Airways. Kurana, VH-UZK, DC-3. Essendon - Western Junction - Cambridge direct service.