By XAVIER SMERDON
MORE than 50,000 people from all over Australia are expected to flock to Point Cook next year to celebrate 100 years of the birth place of the Royal Australian Air Force.
On 1 March 1914, Lieutenant Eric Harrison flew a Bristol Boxkite aircraft at the Point Cook airfield and entered himself into the history books.
It was the first flight of an Australian military aircraft and signified the beginning of what would become 100 years of military aviation in the country.
Exactly 100 years to the day next year Point Cook will once again host one of the most significant days in the Air Force’s history.
On 1-2 March 1 the Point Cook RAAF base will open to the public to host the official celebrations.
On display will be a perfect replica of the original aeroplane that Lieutenant Harrison flew 99 years ago, along with 49 other aircraft displaying the complete history of Australia’s Air Force.
The replica, which has only been flown once, took Ron Gretton and Geoff Matthews seven years to build and will be on public display for the first time next March.
Air Vice-Marshal Mark Skidmore became the only person to fly the replica plane in September this year when he soared for about 1000 metres at about 30 feet in the air.
“As soon as I saw they were rebuilding this plane I said ’I’m going to be the one to fly that’,” Air Vice-Marshal Skidmore said.
“It was a real thrill to be able to do it. It’s just great to be a part of the history of this great place.”
The Point Cook RAAF base is now the oldest continually operated military airfield in the world, making next year’s celebrations even more important.
People that buy tickets for the event will receive free public transport to Williams Landing railway station where buses will shuttle them continuously to the air show.
For more information visit www.airforce.gov.au/airshows
