Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's Memorial
Australian aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith is one of the most celebrity pilots of his time. However, his sudden death created quite a stir in the aviation industry. People still remember this brave, enthusiastic pilot for his incredible history. To pay tribute to this great celebrity pilot, the Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial was established. The Memorial has great historical significance too. Let's learn more about Charles Kingsford Smith's memorial.
Year of Establishment
The Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial was completed in 1988. It was built near the gateway of Brisbane International Airport so that passengers who arrive at the airport can witness the artefacts with their eyes.
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Who Created Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial?
The famous Charles Kingsford Smith memorial was designed by Noel Robinson Architect who was a talented architect team in Brisbane Australia. Barclay Brothers took on the construction project of this memorial. The project was managed by the Commonwealth of Australia.
What is Inside This Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial?
Inside this museum, which is named after Charles Kingsford Smith, is the original model of the Southern Cross Monoplane. Southern Cross is that particular aeroplane model that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith used while he was flying the world's first transpacific flight and made the world record.
How to Visit Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial?
You can easily visit Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial. The memorial is built near the driveway of Brisbane International Airport. There will be an information board available in the museum which will help you navigate a tour for yourself. Also, enthusiastic people who want to learn about this aircraft and other information related to this can hear the voiceover system that tells the story of the transpacific flight, Southern Cross and some brief information about the Australian aviation pioneer himself.
Location
Airport Drive,
Opposite the International Terminal,
Brisbane Airport, Brisbane Area
Queensland 4008
Direction
You have to go to the Airport drive to go to the museum. To exit from the museum, you have to reach the roundabout at the International Terminal. The exit will be just a bit ahead of the roundabout.
Opening Hours
Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial remains open for 24*7, 365 days. So, whenever you visit the airport or surrounding area, you can visit this museum also.
Entry Fees
There are no entry fees associated with this museum. Visitors can come and watch the artefacts or wreckage of the historical Lady Southern Cross plane for free.
Ratings and Reviews
This museum has an online rating of 4.6 stars. People love to visit this spot that holds quite a historical significance. This place is also popular because the museum is the witness of Charles Kingsford Smith's bravery and death. More than 130 reviews about this place are posted online. So, you can understand how popular this place is.
Significance of Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial
This museum holds a deep significance. While Charles Kingsford Smith's death is still a mystery, a lot of people still remember his historical achievements for the Australian aviation industry. aviation enthusiasts who love to learn more about aviation engineering and artefacts can boost their knowledge and experience while witnessing this Southern Cross Monoplane. Also, this plane is proof of old aviation technology used at that time. Apart from that, the main significance of this museum is to give tribute to this nobleman Charles Kingsford Smith for his incredible works for the nation and aviation industry. He was a national hero and worth a lot of respect.
Historical Fact
The history of the first transpacific flight is known to all. Australian aviation pioneer Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was the pilot of this flight. In the year 1928, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith successfully finished his transpacific journey from California to Brisbane via Hawaii and Fiji. He drove the plane Southern Cross along with co-pilot Charles Ulm, and crew members James Warner and Harry Lyon.
Southern Cross was a Fokker F.VII/3m monoplane. Australian polar explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins sold this plane to Charles Kingsford Smith when they were searching for a great plane before the transpacific journey. Kingsford bought this plane and named it Southern Cross. This plane model was one of his favourites. In 1935, Kingsford sold this plane to the Australian Government for £3000. The aim was to use this plane as a public display.
The plane was successfully stored by the Australian government and later in the year 1988, this museum was built by the Australian government by spending £31,000. Currently, the Commonwealth of Australia is in charge of the maintenance and preservation of this museum.
Frequently Asked Questions on Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial
What is the Timings of Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial?
There are no such timings associated with this museum and it is open to visitors 24*7. So, you can visit anytime.
What are the Entry Fees for Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial?
Entry to this museum is free.
More About Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford-Smith MC AFC, more commonly referred to as "Smithy," was a renowned pioneer in the world of aviation. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1915. Even though he was not a pilot, he served in the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, and Australian Flying Corps (the predecessor of the Royal Australian Air Force) during World War I. He also served as the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal Australian Flying Corps as per the Sir Charles Kingsford Smith memorial. After breaking many aviation world records throughout the 1920s and 1930s, he eventually settled on the idea of launching his own airline.
World War I
Here are some of the Sir Charles Kingsford Smith interesting facts, you may find useful–
The day after he turned eighteen, Smithy enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a gunner and served in World War I. He embarked on his journey on May 31st, 1915, bound for Gallipoli in the capacity of a Sapper in the 4th Signal Troop, 2nd Division Signal Company, and 4th Light Horse Brigade. Immediately following the evacuation of the peninsula, he sent motorcycles to Egypt and France.
In October 1916, he became a Sergeant in the Australian Flying Corps, but he was never assigned to a squadron. He left the AIF and joined the Royal Aviation Corps as a Second Lieutenant after the experience piqued his interest in flying. After more flight training, he was promoted to Flying Officer and posted to No.23 Squadron in France.
His toes had to be removed after he shot down four enemy planes and a balloon a month after getting his pilot's license. Smithy was awarded the prestigious Military Cross (MC) for his bravery and dedication to the cause. With his promotion to Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps (and eventually the Royal Air Force) in April of 1918, he was tasked with training future pilots for the British military. As 1997 marked the centennial of the birth of aviation pioneer Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, a beautiful coin. The Sir Charles Kingsford Smith coin worth was $1 struck in his honour.
The Honourable Charles Edward "Smithy" Kingsford-Smith, MC, AFC
Workplace
Charles Kingsford Smith and Tasmanian Cyril Maddocks created Kingsford Smith, Maddocks Aeros Ltd. in early 1919 to provide joy rides throughout Northern England. Kingsford Smith returned to Australia in 1921 after barnstorming in the US. He supplied Australian airmail services. He and Charles Ulm were the first to circumnavigate Australia in 1927. After the 1928 maiden flight across the Pacific Ocean, he was designated an honorary Squadron Leader in the Royal Australian Air Force and awarded the Air Force Cross in the King's Birthday Honours. He was the first to fly nonstop from Australia to New Zealand and then over the Pacific from Australia to the US. He flew from Australia to London in 10.5 days, a record as per the Sir Charles Kingsford Smith memorial.
Kingsford Smith, who co-founded Australian National Airways with Charles Ulm, flew one of five brand-new Avro 618 Tens, like Smithy's Southern Cloud, on the Sydney–Melbourne route in January 1930. The Royal Australian Air Force made him an Air Commodore in November 1930. Despite his airline's bankruptcy in 1931 following two plane crashes, he was knighted in the 1932 King's Birthday Honours for his aviation work.
After that, he founded a successful Sydney flying school at Mascot Airfield. In May 1935, he began the Tasman airmail service. Captain Patrick Gordon (PG) Taylor, his co-pilot, climbed out of the plane to get oil from the dead engine and transfer it to the overheating engine on the other side, saving them from crashing into the Tasman Sea. To continue their trip, they received Morse code orders to dump the New Zealand mail overboard. Sydney radio stations carried the transmissions live. At Sydney Airport's bull paddock, "Smithy" had to cut his remaining two motors to prevent hitting the herd. The maiden flight would have failed without safety precautions.
Let’s go over some more Charles Kingsford Smith facts in various phases of his life.
Personal History
Charles Edward Smith, the fifth son and seventh child of banker William Charles Smith and Catherine Mary Kingsford, was born on February 9, 1897, in Riverview Terrace, Hamilton, Queensland, Australia. In Canada, William entered the real estate industry in 1903 and later worked as a clerk for Canadian Pacific Railways, where the surname was shortened to Kingsford. After spending time in Melbourne, the Sir Charles Kingsford Smith family relocated to Sydney in 1907.
In the first of his two marriages, to Thelma Corboy, Smithy tied the knot on June 6, 1923, in Marble Bar, Western Australia. In May 1929, they decided to divorce after living separately for some time. In 1930, on the 10th of December, he wed Mary Powell in a ceremony held at the Scots Presbyterian Church in Melbourne. In January of 1930, Victoria Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm launched their airline, Australian National Airways. Kingsford Smith piloted one of the carrier's five brand-new Avro 618 Ten aeroplanes—very similar to Smithy's Southern Cloud—on the Sydney–Melbourne route. In November of 1930, the Royal Australian Air Force bestowed upon him the honorary rank of Air Commodore. He was made a Knight Bachelor for his contributions to aviation in the King's Birthday Honours of 1932.
His Family (Sir Charles Kingsford Smith Family Tree)
Let’s talk about the Sir Charles Kingsford Smith family tree
He was born in Australia's Hamilton on February 9, 1897
He is the offspring of William Charles (Smith) and Catherine Mary (Kingsford) Smith.
Leofric Kingsford Smith, Eric Kingsford Smith, and Richard Harold Kingsford Smith were his siblings, along with Winifred Kingsford (Smith) Sealby, Wilfred Kingsford Smith, Elsie Kingsford (Smith) Pike, and Leofric Kingsford Smith.
The Mystery Behind Sir Charles Kingsford's Death
As per the reports, he began mail deliveries over the Tasman Sea in May 1935. Still having business problems, his brave co-pilot, Captain Patrick Gordon (PG) Taylor, leapt out of the sinking plane over the Tasman Sea to retrieve oil from the dead engine and transfer it to the overheating engine on the other side. By transmitting a Morse code signal, they were given permission to throw the New Zealand-bound mail into the ocean and continue their journey. Sydney radio stations were able to pick up the signals and play them again nearly immediately. "Smithy" shut down his final two engines to avoid crashing into the throng at Sydney Airport. That prevented the test flight from failing.
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How did Charles Kingsford Smith die?
When did Charles Kingsford Smith die?
What is the Mystery behind Charles Kingsford Smith's Death?
