Smith brothers historic Vickers Vimy finds showcase home in redeveloped Adelaide airport

The historic Vickers Vimy aircraft flown by Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith will finally come out of its hiding spot in Adelaide Airport parking lot — and into a new pride of place.

The Vickers Vimy is getting a new home. Picture: Mike Burton/AAP

• One of aviation’s most famous aircraft has been ignored in Adelaide
• SA astronaut Andy Thomas reflects on Vickers Vimy
• Entrepreneur Dick Smith furious over Vickers Vimy placement

The historic Vickers Vimy aircraft flown by Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith in the first England-to-Australia flight will come out of its hiding spot in an Adelaide Airport carpark into pride of place at the redeveloped airport terminal.

One of the world’s most significant aviation relics, the plane will be moved into a huge glass-walled room to be viewed from ground level and from inside the terminal.

Adelaide Airport Vickers Vimy design proposal.

The $6 million project was announced on Saturday with the Coalition, State Government and Adelaide Airport agreeing to each put in $2 million. Labor also committed funding if it wins Saturday’s election.

The funding pledges end a campaign led by some of the countries’ leading aviation and space enthusiasts , including astronaut Andy Thomas and entrepreneur Dick Smith.

Labor said later it would match the $2 million commitment if it won next Saturday’s federal election.

In 1919, the Smith brothers, accompanied by mechanics Jim Bennett and Wally Shiers, were the first to fly from England to Australia, winning a £10,000 race prize.

The move will bring the extraordinary feat into the spotlight it deserves, said David Byrne of the SA Aviation Museum in Port Adelaide.

And where its new home will be located.

“They had no navigation aides, no airstrips, no radio,” he said. “They flew in an open cockpit with two really noisy engines pounding away beside them.” The funding commitment is a victory for a group of history enthusiasts, especially Sunday Mail columnist and Churchill Fellowship winner Lainie Anderson, who have long campaigned for the plane’s importance to be recognised.

Making the funding announcement, Senator Simon Birmingham said all South Australians should be proud.

“Moving the plane will allow us to showcase this enduring symbol of our country’s contribution to the world’s aviation history,” he said. “This is exciting because 2019 is a celebration of the centenary of what is an amazing feat.

“This is a celebration of Australia’s history, our entrepreneurialism, our sense of adventure – and a wonderful future tourism icon for SA.”

Labor MP Mark Butler said all South Australians should celebrate the centenary and preservation of

the plane.

“South Australians have campaigned to preserve a triumphant moment in SA history, ensuring the story of the Vickers Vimy can be passed on for generations to come,” he said. Executive general manager of the airport Brenton Cox said the new showcase facility was being built as part of the $165 million redevelopment and extension of the airport terminal.

Housing the aircraft was expensive because the new site needed to be a controlled environment for temperature, humidity and light to ensure preservation of the timber and fabric structure. Moving it was also complicated because the current shed was built around the vehicle once it was in place.

“We’re going to have to take it apart and recreate it,” he said. “We expect the wings will have to be dismantled.

David Byrne of the Aviation Museum with the Vimy. Picture: Mike Burton/AAP

“We’ve walked through it with a historian curator to get an initial plan but it’ll have to be refined in all sorts of detail.”

Mr Cox said construction work on the redevelopment – which includes doubling the size of retail space and tripling Virgin’s lounge – is scheduled for late this year or early 2020.

The Vickers Vimy should be moved in 2021.

Education Minister John Gardner, whose portfolio includes the History Trust of SA, said the move would deepen understanding of SA’s position in the world. The State Government was also supporting a book and documentary.

“We’re involved with the Vickers Vimy committee and people like Lainie Anderson,” he said. “This will be the icing on top of the cake as we celebrate the centenary.” Speaking before the ALP announced matching funding, Mr Gardner commended the Coalition for being first to offer funding but said he would be “happy to talk to the federal Labor Party”.

SA’s chief entrepreneur Jim Whalley – a keen pilot and chair of defence company Nova Systems – said the Smith brothers were a tremendous inspiration for the state.

“It’s a real example of the sort of entrepreneurship on which SA was founded,” he said. “You just cannot underestimate the effort that was required to complete this task; it goes way beyond just the flight.

Historic footage can be viewed at:

https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/ross-smith-flight-london-australia-london-take