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In 2019, South Australia celebrates the centenary of the 1919 Great Air Race which honours and commemorates the epic, ground-breaking flight by South Australian aviators Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith as they flew a Vickers Vimy biplane from England to Australia.

The epic flight centenary will be celebrated in Adelaide on Sunday, October 20.  The Hangar Trust is planning a major fly-past of significant Adelaide sites relating to the Vimy crew and the epic flight. It’s important to note that this event is the only flying activity planned as part of this year’s celebrations.

The flypast will be coordinated through The Hangar Trust and be flown by owner-pilots who are members of the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia. We all own, maintain and operate aircraft types that are almost extinct, and understand first-hand the difficulties of keeping these flying memorials airborne.

The proposed fly-past line-up, subject to change, is:

• 1 x DH Dragon (representing the Vimy)
• 1 x DH 60
• 1 x Avro Cadet
• 4 x Tiger Moths
• 2 x Stearman

The proposed flight path, also subject to change, is:

• Semaphore - birthplace of Ross Smith
• Northfield (present day suburb of Oakden) - landing location when G-EAOU came to Adelaide.
• North Rd Cemetery - burial location of Smith family
• North Adelaide - birthplace of Keith Smith
• Ross Smith Statue, Memorial Drive
• Vimy Hangar, Adelaide Airport
• Centennial Park - burial location of Wally Shiers
• Landing, and aircraft on display, at Aldinga Airfield

The aircraft are expected to arrive at Aldinga at around 12:00 and will be parked in front of the Aero Club and the adjacent hangar for public viewing.

Aldinga Aero Club will be running a sausage sizzle and soft drinks from approximately 11:30 - 14:30; Adelaide Biplanes will be serving coffee, cakes and other snacks.  The Hangar Trust anticipates 200 - 300 visitors on the day so we will need plenty of volunteers to help with cooking, serving, parking etc.