Wireless in the Sky, a presentation by club member Peter Wolfenden traced a number of aspects of early amateur radio involving early civilian aviation, leading up to and including Australia’s first major air race in 1929. It also looked at some key people involved with amateur activities at the time including mention of the embryonic Wireless Reserve and the WIA (Vic. Div.) Aero Section.
Some of the amateur leaders then, included Howard K. Love OA3BM (later Kingsley Radio), Ross Hull OA3JU of Radio Broadcast magazine, (later involved with the ARRL Handbook and QST magazine) and Bill Gronow (Zephyr Products).
The Air Race commenced from Sydney in late September 1929. It involved other keen amateurs such as “Watty” Watkins VK7DX, Dougall Whitburn VK5BY and Ivan Hodder VK3RH (who became an important officer in the Department of Civil Aviation). George Taylor, who helped establish the WIA was also deeply involved in early civil aviation through the Aerial League of Australia, established 1909, of which he was secretary. A man of many hats!
The presentation focused on the air race, known in the Eastern States as the East-West Air Race and in West Australia as the West Australian Centenary air Race. It was over 2400 miles or 4000 kM and fourteen of the seventeen starters completed the race.
The presentation included many photographs of people, radio equipment and ‘planes.
What was amazing is how some of the very first wireless communications in Australia was put to work in aircraft. The WIA had an aerial group very early on.
They don’t make logos like they used to.