Greg Mackie OAM, Chief Executive Officer of the History Trust of South Australia and Chairman of EFC2019 – the Epic Flight Centenary Committee, has released the Committee’s report Epic Flight Centenary 1919-2019 – Year in Review. It records the achievements throughout the year in celebrating the Centenary of the Epic Flight of  Vickers Vimy G-EAOU in the 1919 air race. You can download the report here

The South Australian Aviation Museum is proud of its contribution to the celebrations, including the service of our President, David Byrne, on the Epic Flight Committee and:

• the four 1919 Air Race Lectures given during the May History Festival;
• the launch of our Vickers Vimy Mural in July;
• the contribution of volunteer monitors at the Adelaide Airport Vickers Vimy Open Day in October; and
• the contribution of artefacts from the Museum’s collection to the State Library of South Australia’s Heroes of the Skies exhibition in November.

In addition, representatives of the Museum attended and supported many of the other events throughout the year.

Videos of the four History Festival lectures and the launch of the Vickers Vimy light show may be viewed on our Media Gallery page here.

Our big edition March Newsletter is ready for download. Just click here or go to the Newsletters tab to browse previous issues.

In this 25 page edition President David Byrne gives a glimpse of the new Collection Guide cover and explains the COVID-19 situation in relation to the Museum’s temporary closure; and there are the usual restoration updates, reports on the Mid North Christian College visit and Air League ISS radio hook-up, Graham Dicker’s Marsh AFB Museum visit, a couple of Chipmunk stories from long-term donor Trevor Shepherd and Nigel Daw’s profile of SAAM member Jimmy Pink’s long aviation career.

Should be a great read!

History Group member Nigel Daw has been busy – he has researched and written three new profiles that are now ready to download.

– A profile of SAAM member and ex RAF/BOAC pilot Jimmy Pink is under the WWII tab here: https://www.saam.org.au/download/jimmy-pink/;

– The history of Harry Butler’s 1919 flight to Minlaton and subsequent re-enactments here: http://www.saam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SAAM-Profiles-Re-enactment-flights-to-Minlaton-2.pdf

– and the history of Graham Carey’s 1917 flight to Gawler and its subsequent re-enactments here: http://www.saam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SAAM-Profiles-Re-enactment-flights-to-Gawler.pdf

“The 1966 National Air Show and RACSA’s part in it” is ready for download here: http://www.saam.org.au/download/1966-national-air-show-and-racsas-part-in-it/

History Group member Mike Milln has adapted chapter 29 of his book “Wing Tips – The story of the Royal Aero Club of South Australia – Book 2: 1941-1986” as another Significant Aviation Events profile.

It tells the story of the 1966 National Air Show at Parafield and Edinburgh, and RACSA’s part in its planning and execution.

“The development of Adelaide West Beach Airport” is ready for download here: http://www.saam.org.au/history/post-world-war-ii/

Mike Milln has adapted Chapter 11 of his book “Wing Tips – The story of the Royal Aero Club of South Australia – Book 2 1941-1986”, which details the circumstances that led to the need for a second airport in Adelaide, the selection of the site and all the drama of its lengthy construction timetable.