Kingsford-Smith, Sir Charles

Kingsford-Smith, Sir Charles, (1897-1935), Australian airman.

'Smithy' was one of the greatest of all the early long-distance pilots. With three companions, he made the first flight across the Pacific Ocean from the United States to Australia in May-June 1928.

In the same aircraft, a three-engined Fokker monoplane, named Southern Cross, he made the first flight from Australia to New Zealand and back in September-October 1928.

Then, in 1929, he flew the Southern Cross from Australia to England and in 1930 made the first successful east-west crossing of the North Atlantic in it.

Flying solo, 'Smithy' made a number of attempts upon the England to Australia and Australia to England speed records.

He was killed in a crash in November 1935 on a flight to Australia.

Today Australia's airport, at Sydney, is named after Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, and the Southern Cross can still be seen at Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane.

See Ian Mackersey Smithy