During the period 6 April to 19 May 1924, Squadron Leader 'Jimmy' Goble and Sergeant Ivor Mcintyre of the RAAF made the first flight around Australia, in a Fairey seaplane. This was an epic journey, recognised by the award of the Britannia Trophy as the outstanding flight achievement of 1924.
Michael Smith is well known to many for his exploits, especially his flight around the world in his Searey amphibian In 2015. In 2018 he flew his Sea Bear amphibian from England to Australia to celebrate the centenary of the first flight, by Australians Ross and Keith Smith, Jim Bennett and Wally Shiers in the Vickers Vimy biplane. Over the period 8-23 March, 2019, Michael led a group of aircraft from Darwin to Adelaide to celebrate the last stages of this flight. Several light aircraft flew at least part of the way. At many stopping places, notably Darwin, Charleville, Longreach, Caboolture, Bourke and Narromine, the aircraft were welcomed by the local community.
Michael Smith intends to make a flight around Australia in April / May 2024, and David Geers, originator of this website, also intends to make a celebratory flight in his Searey. This website, as it develops, will collate information about the 2024 activities.
We have developed a simple and effective way by which people can take part. We simply put the itinerary details online as they become apparent. If people at the various stopping places would like to meet the aviators etc this can easily be arranged. If other aircraft owners and pilots would like to join in the celebrations, they are welcome to join in journey for as long as they would like, flying under standard DCA rules. The pilots take responsibility for their own decisions, and it is expected that safety will be the main consideration in deciding timetables etc. These events need to enhance the reputation of light aircraft flight.
Over the past two years I have been researching the story of this remarkable event, and the work in progress can be seen from the History heading on the Forum page.I have got all the information I can from the RAAF and from other records and am now contacting historical groups etc from stopping places and adding in locally sourced material. If you have information, suggestions or questions, please use this forum or direct email and I will be delighted to act accordingly.
About me: My former life had nothing to do with aviation, but since retiring in 2002 I have been able to spend a lot of time on my interest in early aviation history.
I hope that my role in 1924 will be as historian, archivist, and communications hub, using this website to try to keep everyone fully informed. As outlined above, I performed in these roles for the trans-Australia Smith Flight celebrations.
Over the last ten years especially I have been interested in early pioneering flights. The first occurred in 2014: Maurice Guillaux, in case you haven't heard about him, was a French airman who spent the period April to November 1914 in Australia, creating a sensation with his wonderful aerobatic displays in his Bleriot XI. He assembled and flew the first seaplane in Australia: it belonged to Lebbeus Hordern, who was a member of the wealthy Hordern family who owned the huge Anthony Hordern department store in Sydney. Later he flew from Melbourne to Sydney, carrying Australia's first email. I collected historical information about him, and in there were two major celebration events during 2014.
The Seaplane Pilots Association of Australia participated in a flight over Sydney exactly 100 years after the first seaplane flight, which occurred on 8 May 2014. Fourteen aircraft participated in a flight over Sydney and there was a gathering at Rose Bay RSL to mark the event.
A group of light aircraft flew from Melbourne to Sydney 12-14 July 2014 to celebrate the Melbourne-Sydney flight. The French community were very involved and the flight culminated in the delivery of commemorative air mail to the Bastille Day celebrations held at the Powerhouse Musueum.
There is already considerable interest in the Goble flight. Please take part by using this forum, and watch this space for more news!