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Last month, a rebuilt replica of the first aircraft to fly from America to Australia made its first powered taxi run at HARS Aviation Museum.
Charles Kingsford Smith’s Southern Cross was originally recreated in the 1980s but suffered a broken wing in an emergency landing in SA in May 2002. Its restoration team, led by project manager Jim Thurston, hopes it will take to the air later in 2022.
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Richard de Crespigny
says:Adam, my father was 6 years old when he flew with Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross.
It was the 8th March 1932. Dad and a young girl sat on two wicker passenger seats as Smithy took off from Ararat Racecourese and made two circuits of the town of Ararat. That flight ignited Dad’s passion to fly, and today, at 95 years young, after many year flying, he still owns a Piper Turbo Arrow.
We are both in awe of the skill and dedication of the people at HARS who rebuilt this replica and hope to both be present at the happy occasion when the Southern Cross takes to the sky again.
Arlys Baker
says:How utterly beautiful. And this is how it all started, and look at us today. Thankyou to the brilliant Engineers and Pilots at HARS, for your work, with them all.
Robert coopes
says:Well done HARS.Great for Heritage Aviatio andour National history.Bob Coopes HH-AF
Peter Gardiner
says:Kingsford Smith was a friend & employee of my grandparents at Australian National Airways. I was lucky enough to be one of the pilots who flew the replica around Australia & New Zealand & 30 years later I am still in awe of the achievements of Smithy & his crew with this aircraft.