ArchivesACT has chosen records relating to Australia’s flying history for its January ‘Find of the Month’.
According to the records, two well-known Australian adventurers set about organising an air rally from England to Australia back in 1990.
Not content with a rally that included the latest in aeronautics, Hans Tholstrup and Lang Kidby planned a rally for vintage aircraft built prior to 1950.
Archives said Hans had previously made a name for himself by circumnavigating the Australian continent in an open-powered boat and by completing the first transcontinental journey in a solar-powered car, while Lang had organised various expeditions in New Guinea and Australia.
It said the organisers were keen to point out that the event was not a race, but an “air adventure of a lifetime” that would test each pilot’s flying and planning abilities.
It was an enticing challenge for one Canberra resident.
Antek Skotnicki registered for the event and decided to seek sponsorship from Canberra-based businesses and organisations.
A file was raised when Dr Skotnicki asked for financial support from the Canberra Tourism Development Bureau (CTDB).
In a letter to the Bureau, Dr Skotnicki said “it would be a privilege to carry the Canberra livery on the fuselage of my vintage Bonanza”.
The Bonanza he referred to was the aircraft he chose to fly, an early model Beech 35 Bonanza built in 1948 (pictured).
Dr Skotnicki’s was one of seven of the same model aircraft that took part in the rally.
Twenty-four rally entrants and their crew took off from White Waltham airport near London on 25 March 1990.
Eleven finished the race by arriving at their intended destination in Australia.
Dr Skotnicki and his co-pilot Don Young left the rally at Crete due to delays and safety concerns, flying ahead of the remaining aircraft.
They continued onto Australia and landed in Canberra on the 28 April 1990, having flown 30,000 kilometres in 35 days.
Further research on this topic can be made via ArchivesACT through its Request a Record service at this PS News link.
