The Story

The 1919 Air Race captured the imagination of the world. The winning crew – led by South Australian brothers Ross and Keith Smith – flew their Vickers Vimy from England to Australia in 28 days to claim victory and the Australian Government’s £10,000 prize.

Image: Biplane on open field surrounded by onlookers

The 1919 Air Race

Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes was flying between England and France for the Paris Peace Conference when he...

Ross Smith and the Vimy crew

Ross Smith was always the leader, despite being two years younger than his brother (and Vimy navigator) Keith. As...

Image: Javan locals assisting with a bogged biplane

The Epic Flight

The weather report in Hounslow, England, was dire on the morning of 12 November 1919: “Totally unfit for all...

Large biplane surrounded by crowds of people.

Into Darwin and into history

At precisely 3pm on 10 December 1919, the Vimy touched down on a makeshift air strip near Fannie Bay Gaol. Darwin was...

Ross Smith’s Adelaide

Keith Smith was employed in the merchandise department at Elder Smith & Co. before the war, and Ross worked in the...

Legacy and looking forward

The legacy of Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith cannot be underestimated. The epic flight highlighted that a ‘Kangaroo...