Today in History - August 30: Empty plane flies over Sydney for three hours

[Admin]

In a freak accident, an unmanned plane took off from a Sydney airstrip by itself on August 30, 1955. When a pilot in training suffered engine troubles, he landed at Bankstown Airport. After he climbed out, he spun the propeller by hand and the plane unexpectedly started moving on its own.

 

The Auster, like this one below, somehow took off from the runway and began flying in ever wider circles. For hours the unmanned plane flew over the city, its range extending from Mascot to Vaucluse, over Punchbowl, Rockdale, Redfern and the CBD. RAAF planes were dispatched from Richmond and Newcastle to shoot down the plane over the ocean, but they were unsuccessful.

 

Eventually two British pilots JR Bluett and Peter McNay, who had flown up from Nowra, were able to knock the plane out of the sky. The two pilots were celebrated, but the Australian government was grilled on why it took three hours to successfully intercept a light plane with nobody flying it.

 

[facthunter]

I remember that Happening . It was a 2 seat version. Archer or Aiglet. Nev

[Admin]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

I remember that Happening . It was a 2 seat version. Archer or Aiglet. Nev

Nev, the news story says it was an Auster

[facthunter]

That's the 2 two seat versions of the Auster Range.. They didn't have flaps. 90 Hp Motor, usually a Cirrus Minor.  Nev.

[Flightrite]

Still happens today, just not M/T😂😂
That event was an embarrassing time for Australian military😂😂 

Edited 14 hours ago by Flightrite

[danny_galaga]

How on earth were they not able to shoot it down 😧

 

I can imagine the procurement process:

 

"Cancel those new Mirage Jets! Auster is where it's at!"