History of the Toowoomba aerodrome

The first recorded attempt at flight on the Darling Downs was on the mid-summer morning of the 15th of December 1911.

A young Englishman named Arthur William Jones, flying his Bleriot-copy monoplane, made a series of 90 metre hops.

Unfortunately the Bleriot was grossly underpowered so these 6 metre high leaps didn’t fulfill the criteria of true powered flight. Jones’ experiments in Warwick led him to acquire a French built Caudron G-11.

His first flight over Warwick was on the 30th of May 1913. A local journalist witnessed this remarkable sight and wrote that it was of 'a quite entrancing aerial journey'.

 Jones’ triumph happened in a place where the motorcar was still comparatively rare, and only 10 years after the Wright Brothers had achieved the impossible at Kittyhawk.

Arthur 'Wizard' Stone was another notable showman-flyer who emerged on the flying scene in 1912. Wizard was a 'barn-stormer' who became famous for his presence at various shows throughout Queensland. His first visit to Toowoomba was on July 27, 1912.

Toowoomba was once a port of call on a Qantas International Airline Service and a Qantas flight between Brisbane and Toowoomba was the first unsubsidized passenger service in Australia. This regular daily service commenced on the 9th May 1928 with a DH50A.

Qantas charged 2 pounds, 15 shillings for the 50 minute trip. Unfortunately this service was discontinued in December of the same year.

Several notable people have landed in Toowoomba. Bert Hinkler (opens in new window), born in Bundaberg, Queensland, was another pioneer aviator. In 1928 he flew the first solo flight from England to Australia, for this achievement he flew his Avro Avian G-EBOV. It was on the 16th of June 1928 that Hinkler landed in Toowoomba at the Clifford Park racecourse flying G-EBOV.

On the 29th of May 1930, the first woman to fly from England to Australia landed at the Werrington Park Aerodrome – now called the Toowoomba Airport (also known as the Wilsonton Airport). She was, of course, Amy Johnson or 'Johnnie' as her fans called her.

In August 1932 Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith (opens in new window), a pioneer Australian aviator, landed at Toowoomba in his Fokker Trimotor named the 'Southern Cross'. It was in this plane that he made the first non-stop flight across the Australian Continent and the first flight across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

In 1929 he completed a round-the-world flight. Unfortunately in November 1935, on a flight from England to Australia, he and his flying companion disappeared in typhoon weather over the Bay of Bengal.

"The aerodrome at Toowoomba was not required by the RAAF and there has not been any RAAF occupation there known to this Department"

In January 1944 the RAAF's Directorate of Works and Building (DWB) responded thus in writing to Mr William Rankin who owned land adjoining the southern boundary of the Civil aerodrome, Mr Rankin had requested to have various fences re-erected.

Fences were legitimately removed to allow the dispersal and better operation of 5 Sqn's Wirraways. Inevitably, cattle made it onto the aerodrome, at times causing the obvious hazard.

On the 12 February 1942 when patriotic fervour knew few bounds, Mr Rankin wrote to Gp Capt. Lachal CO of 3 SFTS AMBERLEY.

"Sir, In reference to recent telephonic conversation with your Assistant, in which I expressed my desire to assist the Defence Authorities by placing my Toowoomba property at the disposal of the Air Force without charge for the duration, and to call today by an Officer of your Department requesting me to place the matter in writing, it gives me pleasure therefore to confirm my offer as follows: To give my property at Toowoomba, known as Werrington Park, to the Defence Department for use of the Air Force unconditionally and absolutely without charge for the duration of the war and for six months thereafter"

However persistence won out and satisfaction was finally achieved. The RAAF did use Mr Rankin's land and the aerodrome on the 12th May 1942. A flight of No 5 Army Co-op Squadron moved to Toowoomba, and was quartered and its Wirraways were dispersed in trees across the Western Highway some 200-300m north of the Wilsonton Post Office.

By June 1942 3 SFTS was disbanded and DWB was advised by the Director of training of no further requirement for Toowoomba and No 5 Squadron moved out.

Over the years there have been many other pilots who have helped put the Toowoomba Airport on the map.

Some of these are familiar names, such as Dr. Mervyn Hall, first President of the Aero Club, Mr. John Bange and his rare Porterfield and who was also a designer of a Primary Glider and well known Australian and International pilot, Mr. Guido Zuccoli. Toowoomba is the home of the famed Zuccoli Collection.

In June 1996, The Toowoomba based Aero Club celebrated its 50th anniversary. This marked half a century since a small yet eager group of pilots formed a club/flying school on the grass paddock at Wilsonton.

The Darling Downs Aero Club originated here in Toowoomba in 1946. Initially, it operated only on the weekends (out of a borrowed tent), and flying training was conducted for and on behalf of the Club by the Royal Queensland Aero Club (Archerfield).

This was until 1951, when the Darling Downs Aero Club purchased its first aircraft (a Tiger Moth), and began flying training in its own right. It was at this time that the Club employed its first flying instructor, and commenced full-time operations. It has been in continuous full-time operation ever since.

We remember the Aviation Pioneers from the past and acknowledge their love of flying and the sense of adventure, which contributed to the history of the Toowoomba Airport (Wilsonton Airport).

Over the years there have been many people, of which there are too many to mention, who have contributed in various ways to making this Airport an essential part of many peoples lives.

Toowoomba has a thriving airport and is looking toward future expansion.  This will encourage economic growth and an increase in tourism. We are proud of our Airport and its place in history and it will continue to play an important role in the development of the City and the Darling Downs.

The Zuccoli Collection of Historic Aircraft

Sea Fury VH-HFG "Baghdad Express" Built in England by Hawker in 1947. Powered by a Bristol Centaurus sleeve valve, fuel injected, supercharged 18 Cylinder radial engine of 2470 hp. (1841kW) Fastest piston engine fighter ever built. Top speed in excess of 460 mph (740 km/h). Served with Iraqi Air Force in the 1976 7-Day War. Armed with 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk5 cannon, plus a mix of bomb and rockets. Fuel consumption 260 gph Imperial (572 lph) at take-off. Aircraft Number Royal Navy WJ298 Iraqi Air Force 308.

Fiat G 59B VH-LIX "Ciao Bella" Advanced military trainer. Painted in North African desert Italian colour scheme. Built in 1949 and powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin 500.20 engine of 1420 hp (1060 kW), Capable of a maximum speed of 420 mph (675 km/h). Armed with one 7.7 mm gun. De-commissioned by the Italian Air Force in 1953 and restored in the U.S.A. in 1987. Best Warbird at Oshkosh 1987.  

CAC-19 Boomerang A46-208 VH-BOM "Milingimbi Ghost" The only Australian designed and built fighter. Served with distinction in New Guinea in a ground support and strafing role. Powered by a Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp 14 cylinder radial of 1200 hp (895 kW). Maximum speed 296 mph (476 km/h). Armed with two 20 mm Hispano cannon and four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine - guns, plus a 500 lb (226 kg) bomb. "Milingimbi Ghost" served on the Arnhem Land coast, with 83 Squadron RAAF, and is the only one of the type flying in the world. Fuselage Number A46-206. New Wings.

Trojan T-28D VH-ZUC "Just Dreamin" Built by North American in the U.S.A. it was used for training and ground attack. Powered by a Wright Cyclone 1820-86, cylinder radial of 1425 hp (1062 kW). Max. level speed 188 mph (461 km/h) Max. range 1008 miles (1612 km) VH-ZUC was refurbished by Aerotec. Aircraft Number US Air Force 91576.