The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Aviation Museum will host its annual flyover this Sunday, paying tribute to onetime resident Lawrence Hargrave and his pioneering contributions to aviation development.
Each year since 2004 on November 12 the museum directs vintage planes to fly past Stanwell Park and Bald Hill for the Lawrence Hargrave Eric Waite Memorial flyover.
“It's just a tribute flypast, it's just a very simple way of honouring and commemorating Lawrence Hargrave and Eric Waite,” said Robert Deacon, president of the Lawrence Hargrave Society.
“If you haven't seen it, it's very spectacular, something to see at least once in your life.”
Robert lives in Stanwell Park and has been a physical education teacher at Lawrence Hargrave School at Warwick Farm since 1987. Being a resident of the hamlet where Hargrave once lived fuelled his interest in the aviation hero. Robert even used to run the local school’s kite day, which started in 2001 to honour Hargrave after his memorial at Bald Hill was vandalised.
“We're just trying to get that story out there about Lawrence Hargrave and his achievements and his contribution to the development of the early aeroplanes,” Robert said.
“It's a great Australian story, probably better known internationally than it is here in Australia.
“It's just another opportunity to share his story and honour his achievements.”
On November 12, 1894, this Australian inventor, astronomer, historian and explorer flew four interconnected box kites 16 feet (4.8 metres) above the ground. His groundbreaking achievement demonstrated the possibility of safer, heavier-than-air flying machines and helped lead to the development of the planes we see today.
“It was the first time anyone had achieved heavier-than-air vertical lift-off,” Robert said.
“Those box flights then became the craft that was used by people like the Wright brothers and the French to have the first flying machines.
“He didn't believe in patents, so when he did his research here in isolation at Stanwell Park, he then sent what he found overseas in papers to various science societies across the world and then people were able to use that to develop their own aeroplanes.”
Eric Waite, an ABC broadcaster and former president of the Lawrence Hargrave Foundation, helped raise the aviation pioneer's profile and ensure his remarkable contributions were known to a global audience.
Vintage aircraft in Sunday's showcase will include HAR's Caribou, DC3 and a Tracker, which will take off from Shellharbour Airport at 10:45am and fly north along the coast to Stanwell Park and Bald Hill, before returning for landing at 11:20.
Spectators standing on Bald Hill should have a great view.
“The planes will be pretty much below the height of the hill,” Robert said.
“With these three planes paying tribute to Lawrence Hargrave and Eric Waite, it'll look spectacular.”
HARS will also be showcasing these planes and many more at this weekend's Tarmac Days (November 10-12) at the museum, located at Shellharbour Airport in Albion Park Rail. Tarmac Days allow visitors to check out a section with more than 60 heritage aircraft.
For more information on Lawrence Hargrave and the memorial flyover, check out the Lawrence Hargrave Society Facebook page.
To find out more about the HARS Aviation Museum, visit their website.
