eHive Object Details

Name/TitleBert Hinkler, Australian pioneer aviator, with his Avro Avian aircraft

About this objectIn 1928, Bert Hinkler, originally from Bundaberg in Queensland, made history by becoming the first person to fly solo from England to Australia. He was born in Bundaberg in 1892, the son of a stockman. He became interested in aviation, joined the Queensland Aero Club and built two gliders.

In 1913 Hinkler went to England where he got a job with the Sopwith Aircraft Company. After war broke out in 1914 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service as an observer and gunner. Later, he qualified as a pilot and in July 1918 he was posted to No. 28 Squadron, RAF.

After the War, Hinkler bought an Avro Baby light aircraft and undertook a record-breaking flight from Croydon to Turin. He shipped the Avro to Australia and made several flights here. These included a non-stop flight from Sydney Bundaberg in eight and three-quarter hours, at the time the world’s longest solo flight. He returned to England, worked as test pilot for the Avro Company and bought his famous Avro Avian, registered as G-EBOV.

In February 1928 Hinkler flew his Avian from London to Darwin in sixteen days, becoming the first person to fly solo from England to Australia. He was given £2000 by the Australian Government and made an honorary squadron leader in the Royal Australian Air Force.

He went back to England and later went to Canada where he bought a De Havilland Puss Moth and flew it to England. He planned another flight to Australia in the Puss Moth. He left Heathrow on 7th January 1933 and disappeared. In April 1933 wreckage and his body were found in the Apennines between Florence and Arezzo. He was buried in Florence with full military honours.

When on his long flights Hinkler was known to sing to pass the time, leading C. J. Dennis to pen a poem about him called The Singing Ace.

One of the many slides purchased from retailers or specifically made for illustrated lectures given by Isaac Selby between c. 1930 and c. 1955 to raise money for the Old Pioneers Memorial Fund.

This image is provided for research purposes and must not be reproduced without prior permission.For a high resolution copy of this image, contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria

Inscription and MarksIn image : "Hinkler Beside the Avro Avian Plane in which he Flew to Australia" / "OVER 11,000 MILES IN 16 DAYS" / [List of stages of the flight with distances flown]

Object TypeGlass slide

Subject and Association KeywordsCivil aviation

Subject and Association KeywordsLight aircraft

Subject and Association KeywordsFamous aviators

Subject and Association KeywordsNotable flights

Subject and Association KeywordsHinkler, Herbert John Louis, 1892-1933.

Medium and MaterialsGelatin silver print on glass

Named CollectionImages collection

Object numberGS-IT-78

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved