Newsletter No 18 Winter 2024
In our Eighteenth edition Winter 2024
- Max Sanders DFC – Part 2
- Stavanger and the RAAF Glider Pilots – Part 2
- Tasmanian Aviator – John Pugh
- Skyrace Tasmania
Newsletter No 17 Autumn 2024
Welcome to our Seventeenth edition Autumn 2024
- Presidents Report 2023
- Max Sanders DFC – Part 1
- Flying from Strahan by Dave Prosser
- Stavanger and the RAAF Glider Pilots – Part 1
- Tasmanian Spitfire Pilot
- 17 year old girl obtains Pilot’s Licence
Newsletter No 16 Summer 2023
Welcome to Our Sixteenth edition Summer 2023
- Tasmania’s “Giant Visitor” in 1938
- The Auster aircraft in Australia and Tasmania
- Tasmania’s Air Traffic Control Towers
- Gone but not Forgotten
- Tasmania’s Forgotten Aviation Heroes
- Tasmania’s Women Pilots
- Where are they now?
Newsletter No 15 Spring 2023
Welcome to our Fifteenth edition Spring 2023
- History of Tasmanian West Coast Airstrips
- Rosie the Auster
- The Martin Baker Ejection Seat
- History of early NW Coast Air Pageants
- Antarctic Aviation and Tas Involvement
"In the Air" Seminar - September 2023
The second annual aviation seminar was held on FRIDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2023 at the Launceston Church Grammar School, Button Street, Launceston. The newsletter previews the seminar and contains:
- Unique morning session involving students and aviation mentors
- Selected Speaker Profiles
- How to Register
Newsletter No 14 Winter 2023
In our Fourteenth edition Winter 2023
- 7 EFTS Western Junction Aug 1940 to Dec 1944
- Ansett-ANA F27 Incident L’ton Airport
- My Life Flying Helicopters – Part 3
- The Twelve Lives of a Chipmunk
- “In the Air” Aviation Seminar Preview
Newsletter No 13 Autumn 2023
In our thirteenth edition, Autumn 2023
- Presidents Report 2022
- Tribute to Neil Louis
- TAHS 4th birthday
- My Life Flying Helicopters – Part 2
- Leviathans of the air – Part 5 – Spruce Goose
Newsletter No 12 Summer 2022
On our twelfth newsletter, Summer 2022
- Tasmanian Aviation Tragedies – The DH.86 Miss Hobart Incident
- My Life Flying Helicopters – Part 1
- Andrew Delfosse Badgery, That First Flight at Hobart, Tasmania
- The Development of Smithton Airport – 1931 – 1944
- Leviathans of the Air – Part 4 – The Tarrant Tabor
Miss Currie - A Tribute - 90th Anniversary of the Commencement of Commercial Service
In September 1932, Victor and Ivan Holyman purchased a DH.83 Fox Moth biplane and commenced a twice weekly passenger and freight service between Western Junction and Flinders Island. They name the plane “Miss Currie.”
To mark the 90th Anniversary of the arrival of “Miss Currie” in Tasmania, we have produced a newsletter where we trace the aircraft’s early history, some of those early flights and the people associated with the aircraft that contributed to her brief career.
Newsletter No 11 Spring 2022
In our eleventh newsletter, Spring 2022:
- The Tasmanian Aero Club – Part 1 1927 – 1939
- The Tasmanian Glider Club 1929-1939 – Part 2
- Tasmanian Airways – Hobart to Launceston Service 1934 – 1935
- Latrobe Aerodrome 1931 to 1944
- Swansea Tragedy No 2
- Leviathans of the Air – Part 3 – The Bristol Brabazon
Newsletter No 10 Winter 2022
In our tenth newsletter, Winter 2022:
- Tasmanian Aviators. Captain Aubrey Koch MBE
- Tasmanian Glider Club – Part 1
- Tasmanian Aviators – Cummings and Lovell Brothers
- Hart Aviation Services – Bass Strait Service
- David Warren and the Black Box
- Swansea Demon Tragedy
- Leviathans from the past – The Dornier X
"In The Air" Seminar - 25 June 2022
This Seminar was held at Launceston Church Grammar School on 25 June 2022. The speaker profiles and topics are included in this Newsletter.
- Mac Cottrell and Bill Mattes – Pilots, 68 years of RAAF adventures
- Lindsay Millar – Historian, Tasmania’s aviation history
- Steve Murray – Pilot, 21 years Qantas Boeing 737 Captain
- Stuart Bryce – Pilot, administrator and winemaker
Newsletter No 9 Autumn 2022
In our ninth newsletter, Autumn 2022:
- Tasmanian Aviation Giants – The Holyman Family and ANA Part 5
- Matthews Aviation Bass Strait Service to Tasmania
- Believe it or not!! – Tasmanian and Bass Strait Mysteries
- Leviathans from the past – Junkers G 38
- Demons Over Waratah
Miss Flinders - A Tribute - 90th Anniversary of Tasmania's First Commercial Air Service to Flinders Island
In March 1932, Lawrence McKenzie Johnson purchased a Desoutter monoplane and flew the aircraft from Essendon airport to Western Junction (as Launceston’s airport was then known) and commenced a twice weekly passenger and freight service between Western Junction and Flinders Island.
To mark the 90th Anniversary of Tasmania’s first commercial air service we have produced a newsletter presenting the story of “Miss Flinders”, from its early service in Ireland, to its current display at Launceston Airport.
Newsletter No 8 Summer 2021
In our eighth newsletter, Summer 2021:
- Tasmanian World War 1 Aces – Arthur Palliser
- Some Helicopter Stories from Tasmania
- The 90th Anniversary of the first Australian Airmail Flight to the UK by “Smithy”
- Tasmanian Aviation Giants –Holyman Family – Part 4 – Hazel Holyman
- Sunderland Flying Boat visit to Tasmania to support the Victory Loan Scheme
- Tasmanian Aviation Giants – Harold Gatty
- Where are they now – the De Havilland Heron’s that flew in Tasmania
- Tasmanian Aviators – Frances Jackson, our first women pilot
Newsletter No 7 Spring 2021
In our seventh newsletter, Spring 2021:
- Tasmanian World War 1 Aces – Hudson Fysh
- Bass Strait DC3 Freighters – King Island Beef to Fiji
- Australian National Airways and the War Years
- The Visit of Bert Hinkler to Launceston in May 1928
- Tasmanian Airports – A short history of King Island Airport
- Miss Flinders on display at Launceston Airport 1966 – 1997
- Proposals to use Helicopters in Tasmania 1946 – 1954
- “The Flying Bug” – The Diary of John Stanwix
- Tasmanian Aviators – Lloyd Jones
Newsletter No 6 Winter 2021
In our sixth newsletter, Winter 2021:
- Tasmanian Born WWI Air Aces – Eric Douglas Cummings
- Tasmanian Aviators of No 1 Squadron, AFC
- Famous Tasmanians: Ivan Holyman
- Miss Flinders Aircraft Logbooks
- Tasmanian Airports and Airstrips past and present – Furneaux Group
- Mysteries of Aviation – Stutt and Dalzell
- Japanese Reconnaissance Flight of the “Glen” over Hobart on 01 Mar 1942
First Flight from Sydney to Tasmania 100th Commemmorative Newsletter
To commemorate the arrival of the Flying Boat in Launceston on the 20th of May 1921, the first flight between Sydney and Tasmania.
This survey trip left Sydney on the 13th of March and arrived back on the 4th of July.
Additional Information is presented on our Aircraft page.
Newsletter No 5 Autumn 2021
In our fifth newsletter, Autumn 2021:
- Tasmanian Born WWI Air Aces -Raymond Brownell
- Famous Tasmanians: Victor Holyman
- Aviation Heritage – Circular Head
- Miss Flinders: On display again at Launceston Airport
- Brief History of Tasmanian Airports: Devonport
- Airmail Letter Mystery – unlocking a fascinating story
Western Junction 90th Anniversary Newsletter
To commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the opening of Western Junction Aerodrome on 28 February 1931, this special newsletter summarises the major milestones at the airport and the advancement of commercial aviation in Tasmania.
Newsletter No 4 Summer 2020
In our fourth newsletter, Summer 2020:
- Tasmanian Born WWI Air Aces – Allan Runciman Brown
- Famous Tasmanians: Sir Hudson Fysh – Part 3
- Brief History of Tasmanian Airports: Wynard
- Miss Flinders: Its time in Tasmania
- Mysteries of Aviation: What happened to VH-WMD?
- What airline meals used to be like
Newsletter No 3 Spring 2020
In our third newsletter, Spring 2020:
- Tasmanian Born WWI Air Aces – Frank Alberry
- Famous Tasmanians: Sir Hudson Fysh – Part 2
- Brief History of Tasmanian Airports: Hobart
- Miss Flinders: comes to Australia
- Mysteries of Aviation: What happened to VH-AQL?
Newsletter No 2 Winter 2020
In our second newsletter, Winter 2020:
- Famous Tasmanians: Sir Hudson Fysh – part 1
- Brief History of Tasmanian Airports: Launceston
- Miss Flinders: its time in Ireland
- Mysteries of Aviation: What happened to VH-DSJ?
Newsletter No 1 Autumn 2020
Our first newsletter, Autumn 2020:
- Introduction to the TAHS, current office holders and activities
- “Miss Flinders”, its past and future
- Holyman hangar at Western Junction
- Our display at Georgetown Wings & Things
Articles for Future Newsletters
Do you have an idea for an article for a future newsletter or to add to our website? If so, please send you ideas to us: