|
Museum Victoria celebrates first Aust flights |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 04 February 2010 |
Australia's first official flight is credited to the famous magician and escape artist Harry Houdini who, while on tour through Victoria, flew a Voisin biplane at Digger's Rest on March 18, 1910.
But it's only by chance that Houdini claimed the honour.
Four months earlier, English racing driver Colin Defries piloted a Wright Model A plane (named Stella - his wife's name) travelling about 91 metres.
The flight was witnessed and reported by several reliable sources - but was not officially recognised.
March 18 this year marks the centenary of powered flight in Australia and the engine from Defries' plane will go on display at Scienceworks in Melbourne.
His plane was lost when its owner, Lawrence Adamson, dumped it at sea off Port Phillip Bay to avoid paying a hefty Customs fee. The engine and its two propellers were salvaged in late 1910.
"The engine from Defries' aeroplane is one of the most significant aeronautical artefacts in the Museum Victoria's collections," said
David Crotty, the museum's curator, engineering and transport. "While it's not possible to definitively answer the question of whether Defries' was the first Australian flight, the Houdini centenary is a fitting occasion at least to recognise Defries' effort.
The Scienceworks display - 'Going Places: The Technology of Transport' highlights the achievement, drama and controversy of early flight in Australia. It's on from March 18 to 17 October.
More details at museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks or telephone (03) 93924800. -John Newton
|
