249 – Captain Harry Butler and his Red Devil

2015 GISA Ellipsis GSM … tasting notes

https://twitter.com/TheAdelaideShow/status/1003062647359602688

August next year, 2019, will mark 100 years since Captain Harry Butler became the first person to fly from Adelaide, across the Gulf St Vincent, to Yorke Peninsula, where he delivered mail to a waiting crowd in Minlaton. Although he wasn’t the first South Australian to fly, he chalked up a staggering number of firsts as he pursued his passion for flying that embodies the saying, The sky’s the limit. A book about the fearless aviator is due out soon and its authors, or pilots, are Les Parsons and Dr Sam Battams.

Get ready for the most amazing story about #SouthAustralian #aviation #pioneer Captain #HarryButler from #Minlaton on #YorkePeninsula. He made #history and made up history with flair! An #Adelaide Show not to miss with @BattamsSamantha and Les Parsons https://t.co/kFSfR9Y4hy

— The Adelaide Show (@TheAdelaideShow) May 30, 2018

Who’s the pilot, who’s the co-pilot on this project?

Why Harry?

Tell us more about that flight 100 years ago. It was more than just the first mail flight across the Gulf, wasn’t it?

Why did he choose Minlaton?

How did he get involved in the RAF during WWI?

Did he really invent Airmail?

What did he set up at Northfield?

Was he alone as an aviator in SA?

What was the Red Devil?

What sort of flying did he do, apart from his mail runs?

Tell us about the crash that ultimately claimed his life?

Where can we see his memorials?

Nigel Dobson-Keeffe challenges the panel to pick the fake story from three stories from South Australia’s past. And Adrian, one of Ralf’s popular drivers, also steps in for the challenge.

The News June 1933
GLIDING CLUB MAKES HISTORY
First Passenger Flight in South Australia
The first passenger flight in a glider in South Australia was made at Pooraka, where the Gliding Club of South Australia operates. The flight was made by Lance Burt, who carried another member as passenger. As a safeguard against possible failure the machine was permitted to rise only a few feet off the ground. A record attendance of members witnessed the feat. Conditions were ideal for gliding, and many single flights were made. Members will, again conduct flights on. Sunday, when the activities will be enlivened by an exhibition of crazy flying by Capt. H. Miller in the Bristol
monoplane in which the -late Capt. Harry Butler used to fly.

The Mail May 1935
First Local Flight Of Automatic Blimp
BETWEEN 3,000 and 5,000 people were thrilled at Parafield Aerodrome this afternoon by an aerial display conducted under the auspices of the South Australian Aero Club. In addition to witnessing an exciting and varied programme arranged to commemorate Empire Air Day, onlookers inspected the various machines on the flying field. They paid particular attention to the automatic control blimp, the first machine of its kind seen in Australia. Early in the afternoon eager eyes scanned the horizon for the arrival from Western Australia of the blimp at the aerodrome. The pilots of the blimp, Messrs.H. A. de Kantzow and C Gatenby reported on arrival that an excellent trip had been experienced, although head winds had delayed the flight slightly. The automatic blimp maintained an average speed of 50 mph whilst flying in a perfectly straight course using magnetic compass control. The pilots spent last night on a sheep station about 150 miles from Ceduna.

The Advertiser April 1935
AVIATION NOTES
Girls’ School Entrant In Air Race Heats
Scheduled In time to become one of the most important flying events of the year, the heats for the 1935 public schools’ head of the air race, conducted by the Aero Club, will be flown at Parafield (weather permitting), at 2 pm. on Sunday. Open to all pilots in South Australia, who attended one of the big public schools, and who have completed a minimum of 40 hours solo flying or who have completed the advanced course approved by the Civil Aviation Department. In former years only three schools, St. Peter’s College, Prince Alfred College and Adelaide High School, have been represented. This year, however, added Interest will centre round an entry from Girton House Girls' School, whose representative will be Miss Brownie Lunn, one of Adelaide’s leading girl fliers. This will not be the first time Miss Lunn has flown in an air race, as she won the club trained women’s race at Parafield two years ago from Miss Helen Cato.