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"Centenaries of Australian Aviation"

From 2009 through to 2011 Australia celebrates the centenaries of many Australian Aviation firsts, Taylor, the first heavier than air glider flight, (December 1909), The first attempts and mixed results at powered flight, by Defries, Wittber, Banks and Custance (December 1909 - March 1910), the first successful controlled and sustained powered flight in Australia - famed escapoligist Harry Houdini ( Diggers Rest Victoria - March 1910), the first flight of an Australian designed and built aircraft by John and Reg Duigan (Mia Mia Victoria - July 1910), while in 1911 JJ Hammond undertook the first passenger flights, the first paying passenger flight, and the first cross country flight in Australia (Altona Victoria - February 1911).

The National Australian Aviation Museum, in association with other organisations, is celebrating these Centenaries with a number of events.

These include:

HOUDINI Centenary - Commemorative Plaque

March 2010 sees the Centenary Celebrations of Harry Houdini's first successful, controlled and sustained powered flight in Australia.
The museum is dedicating a plaque to commemorate that event, at the museum at 3pm on Sunday 14th of March, members, and museum visitors are invited to attend - refreshments available.
- 14th March

HOUDINI Centenary - Other Celebrations/Events

Harry Houdin, (Ehrich Weiss) the famed American escapoligist came to Australia in 1910 with his own aircraft and mechanic as part of his Australian tour of escapes and death defying feats, in March 1910 at Diggers Rest he flew the first successful, controlled and sustained flights in Australia. The museum is participating and supporting a number of other events in association with the Melton Shire Council and the Diggers Rest community, including the Festival of Flight Commemorative Ceremony of the flight, Thursday 18th of March, the Houdini Centenary Airshow Saturday 20th of March, and the Festival of Flight community celebrations at Diggers Rest on Sunday 21st.

- 18th, 20th and 21st March

DUIGAN Centenary - Commemorative Plaque

July 2010 sees the Centenary Celebrations of the Duigan brother's first flight of an Australian designed and built aircraft. The museum is dedicating a plaque to commemorate that event, at the museum at 3pm, Sunday 11th of July, members, and museum visitors are invited to attend and celebrate this important centenary- refreshments available.
- 11th July



Duigan Centenary - Other Celebrations/Events

John Duigan and his brother Reg researched, experimented, designed and built Australia's first indigenous aircraft over the period of 1909 to 1910 and July 2010 sees the Centenary Celebrations of the first flight of that aircraft. The museum is participating and supporting a number of other events in association with the Duigan family, the Duigan Centenary of Flight - 2010 Replica project, the Bendigo City Council and the Mia Mia community, including the Commemorative Ceremony of the flight, Friday 16th of July at Mia Mia, and the Australian Centenary of Powered Flight community celebrations at Mia Mia.

- 16th, 17th & 18th July

Further details: http://www.aarg.com.au/events.htm

The Museum is involved in the construction of a flying replica of the 1910 Duigan pusher Bi-plane: http://www.duigancentenaryofflight.org.au/

Regards

Mark Pilkington
Secretary, Australian National Aviation Museum

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20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

Good Stuff Thanks!!

Shay
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Semper Fortis