User:Eloyise/The Royal Aero Club of WA

The Royal Aero Club of WA

Major Norman Brearley formed the Australian Aero Club (Western Australian section) in 1919 This was after the war and during a monumental distrust of aviation by the Australian Government.

"History"

"Sir Norman Brearley (1890-1989)"

Norman Brearley was born in Geelong in 1890. He came to Western Australia with his parents and became an apprentice at Hoskins Foundry where in 1914, he completed a five-year course in engineering. But his enthusiasm for aviation of three years earlier, when he had seen Hammond fly at Belmont Racecourse, had remained updiminished and when World War I started he went to England and joined the Royal Flying Corps. while on combat duty over France, he was forced down after being shot through the lung. He survived the crash and was repatriated to Australia to convalesce.

Soon afterwards Brearley married Violet Stubbs, daughter of Sydney Stubbs, a prominent parliamentarian whose influence would help shape Brearley's destiny, not the mention that of the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia.

Before Brearley returned to WA from the war, there was no operational aeroplane anywhere in the state. Few people had seen aircraft and there were certainly no aerodromes or landing strips. Brearley had 2 Avro 504J biplanes, considered to be the best training aeroplane of their day. They cost him 2000 pounds and he was determined to get his money back. The two 'state of the art' Avros were training aircraft with a 10.9m wingspan, a maximum take-off weight of 830kg and they could carry a pilot and passenger at 144km/h.

The Club's father figure died in 1989, but even after his death his influence on the club and general aviation continued. When he returned from WWI a highly decorated war hero, he knew that air travel had come to stay and that mail and passengers will soon be flown across the world.

In March 1920, The Federal Government assumed control of legislating for licensing of pilots, airworthiness and all major responsibilities previously the domain of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale and it's members. The Air navigation Act became law in December 1929 and the first Controller of Civil Aviation was immediately appointed to the newly formed Civil Aviation Branch of the Defence Department.

"Lt John McIntosh"

In 1920 Lt John McIntosh and pilot Ray Parer flew from London to Australia in a single engine aircraft in eight months. McIntosh could not fly, but wanted to get into the aviation industry and proposed taking over Brearley's outfit. In early 1921, Brearley (who had never properly recovered from his war wound) gave McIntosh 11hours flying tuition and handed over the company.

On March 28th 1921- died throttled from behind by drunk passenger, crashed airplane and died.

-Incorporated in August 1929 (aero club WA branch) -flight training, aircraft hire for members and general public -not-for-profit -owned by members and not external stakeholders -services benefit members -first flight school on the strip (wings of change-1999) -located at 41 Eagle drive Jandakot airport -busiest airport in Australia in terms of aircraft movements -