21 March 2024
Serial flying adventurer Michael Smith has yet another historic flight coming up. On 6 April Mike will set off on an anti-clockwise circumnavigation of Australia, marking the centenary of the first time that route was flown.
Mike will be flying his Russian Seabear L65 seaplane, powered by two Rotax 915 engines, which he calls Southern Sun.
The original flight in 1924 was a Royal Australian Air Force flight, using a Fairey IIID piloted by Wing Commander Stanley (aka Jimmy) Goble, who later became Air Vice Marshal, and Flight Lieutenant Ivor McIntyre. They were awarded the Britannia Trophy by the Royal Aero Club for their circumnavigation of Australia in 44 days.
Mike’s route around the coastline of Australia mimicks the original flight 100 years ago. Image: Mike Smith
Mike Smith said of the original flight, “That this was not undertaken until five years after the first (1919) and many subsequent flights from England to Australia, is testament to the difficulty in undertaking this endeavour.
“Even today, it is a project of logistics, flight planning and time management – but in 1924 it was a gargantuan mission, involving military forces, grit and some luck… a primitive fragile aircraft through inhospitable terrain. It was an incredible achievement.”
The Seabear L65 Mike has already flown from London to Darwin, recreating a previous historic flight
Mike’s flight will follow the route and dates as closely as possible, to celebrate the anniversary and great achievement, and look at how aviation and the towns visited have changed over the last 100 years.
Watch the video here
