The Sky Racers

The 1919 Air Race from London to Australia

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By: Peter Maiden

Paperback

Published: 1st July 2010

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Fasten your fleecy-lined flying suit, and pull on your leather helmet, goggles, and gloves. It is 1919, the First World War is over, and the Commonwealth Government has put up 10,000 prize money for the first Australian air crew to fly from London to Port Darwin. Up until now, the longest flight anywhere in the world has been 2,000 miles, yet this one will be 11,000 miles, almost halfway round the planet - with very few landing strips on the way.

Sixteen outstanding young Australian aviators - decorated ex-servicemen - have the opportunity to participate in this unique air race. Kingsford Smith, Bert Hinkler, Hudson Fysh, Keith and Ross Smith, and the indefatigable Ray Parer - all to become legendary for their exploits - are involved. By today's standards their aircraft would be considered almost unbelievably primitive. Yet at the time, they were at the cutting edge of the new science of aeronautics.

Still, only six flyers will reach Australia by aeroplane. Others will never see their country again.

Abbreviations And Awards, Measurements
The 1919 Air Race Biplnes And Their Crews
Brooklands - 1922
1. The Hight And Mighty
2. The Storm Of Joy
3. A Gathering Of Eagles
4. The Birdman Of Bundaberg
5. Smithy
6. Fysh Of The Inland
7. Friends In High Places
8. Preparing For Take Off
9. The Weather Man
10. The French Chicken
11. First Of The Few
12. The Smith Brothers Start
13. The Answer To A Maiden's Prayer
13. A Sandstorm At Ramadie
15. French Without Tears
16. The Meeting In Akyab
17. The New Way To The Stars
18. Trouble At Singora
19. Nobbled At St Rafael
20. For Whom The Clock Tolls
21. Australia In Sight
22. Jockeying For Positions
23. With A Better Plane...
24. V For Victory
25. Snowbound For Novi Sad
26. Australian Snapshot
27. Third Time Lucky
28. A Country Of Great Distances
29. A Roman Holiday
30. The End Of The Wallaby
31. Somebody Up There Liked Them
32 Like Columbus In His Day
33. The Crash At Moulmein
34. A Certain Amount Of Glory
35. The Do-Or-Die Route
36. A Red Letter For Cootamundra
37. A Second Aircraft Makes Port Darwin
38. A Falling Star
39. A Tragedy Unutterably Sad
Notes
Bibliography
Index

ISBN: 9781921274145
ISBN-10: 192127414X
Audience: General
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 305
Published: 1st July 2010
Publisher: Central Queensland University Press
Dimensions (cm): 23.4 x 15.3 x 2.400