1911: William Hart

The First Australian Pilot Licence

William Hart started his career as a dentist, and became the first “qualified” Australian pilot. He was awarded Australian aviator’s licence No. 1.

His first record flight, in 1911, was from Penrith to Parammatta Park (near Sydney), a distance of about 29km. This flight took 19 minutes.

The following year an American, Eugene “Wizard” Stone, challenged William to a race (those were the days, eh?). This race was from Botany (East Sydney) to Paramatta (West Sydney), a distance of 32km. William completed the distance in 23 minutes and won the race. The Wizard got lost, which may have helped!

William set up a flying school in 1912, but had an unfortunate crash 3 days later. He was badly injured and never flew again, returning to his previous occupation of dentist.

William in his Bristol Box-Kite, Penrith, 1911

William Ewart Hart

(1885-1943)

• 1911: Airman’s Certificate
  First issued in Australia
• 1911: Pentrith to Paramatta (29km)
  then back to Sydney Showground
• 1912: Australia’s first Air Race
  Botany to Parramatta – Winner
• 1912: Australia’s first flying school
  Crashed 3 days later, survived.