Maurice Guillaux and the re-enactment flight…
French aviator Maurice Guillaux came to Australia in April 1914, bringing his new Bleriot monoplane, specially designed for ‘looping the loop’, a new and exciting feat. He gave performances throughout south-eastern Australia and hundreds of thousands of people paid to see him fly.
In July 1914 he flew from Melbourne to Sydney, carrying Australia’s first airmail and air freight. The journey took two and a half days, and at the time was claimed to be the longest such flight in the world. It was certainly an epic flight, demanding skill and fortitude.
Light and recreational aircraft aviators are conducting a re-enactment flight on 12-14 July this year.
The route is Essendon / Mangalore / Benalla / Wangaratta / Albury (overnight Saturday 12 / Sunday 13 July), Wagga Wagga, Temora, Harden (overnight Sunday 13 July / Monday 14 July), Goulburn, Mittagong, Bankstown (arriving Bankstown about 1330 hrs). The mail will then be delivered to the Powerhouse Museum for the commemoration of Bastille Day, 6pm – 8pm.
An Australian-made, Australian-designed Jabiru aircraft will carry a similar load to that carried by Maurice Guillaux and a relay of other significant and historical aircraft will carry a philatelic package prepared by Australia Post. Commemorative postage stamps are being released on July 1.
At each stopping place the local communities are invited to conduct special events to co-incide with the arrival of the airmail aircraft, and this is happening in several places.
Also on 14 July there will be a flyover of Sydney Harbour at lunch time by light, recreational and historic aircraft.
The event is made up of many individual private flights, co-ordinated by the Aviation Historical Society of Australia, (NSW) inc. It is being financed by the sale of philatelic material, principally 1785 numbered postcards, based on the orginals carried by Guillaux.
For further information visit www.australiasfirstairmail.com or email guillauxcentenary@gmail.com .