A Proud Tradition. 100 Years of Naval Aviation

The Fleet Air Arm marks 100 years of Australian naval aviation

2017 has been a significant year for the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. Historically, it has marked the centenary of naval aviation and yet, with an eye to the future, by year’s end it will have seen the completion of a major re-capitalisation project, which over a decade has replaced every helicopter in its inventory.

History Above the Waves.

One hundred years ago, a tiny Sopwith Baby biplane on floats was borrowed from the British Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and assigned to the Australian cruiser, HMAS Brisbane. Winched down to the waterline and then hoisted back aboard after flight, it was used to scout for the German raider, SMS Wolf off the shores of Colombo (Sri Lanka). Later that same year, a Sopwith Pup, with wheels and not floats, was launched from a platform fitted to the HMAS Australia’s gun turrets. And so began a very proud tradition of Australian naval aviation.