History recreated

By Rebecca Codey

The Wright Flyer replica, constructed by Narromine locals Eric and Keith Hayden, takes flight at the Narromine Air Pageant.

Photo by Murray Feddersen

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* On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright Brothers’ Wright Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard.

IT’S not every day a central western NSW town plays host to military and civilian aircraft from around the country, the launch of a Wright Flyer replica and world-renowned astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

However, Narromine did just that on October 1, and a couple of Air Force flying instructors were in the thick of the action. Flight Lieutenant Adrian Greener and Flight Lieutenant Martin Keer, from Central Flying School, RAAF Base East Sale, represented the Air Force at the Narromine Air Pageant.

More than 13,000 people from all around Australia gathered for an action-packed celebration of aviation and the history of aircraft.

Flight Lieutenant Jason Richardson, from No. 76 Squadron, opened the day’s flying events with a display in a Hawk 127, while Flight Lieutenant Greener flew the closing event for the day – a Roulette solo low-level aerobatics display in a PC-9.

According to Flight Lieutenant Greener, a qualified flying instructor, the experience was fantastic.

“It’s always such a rush flying upside down so close to the ground,” he said. “I also really enjoy meeting people on the day and having the chance to show them the person behind the aircraft. It’s great to think you could possibly motivate someone to consider a career as an Air Force pilot.”

Flight Lieutenant Greener and Flight Lieutenant Keer spoke to Dr Aldrin, an ex-United States Air Force fighter pilot, at the Barnstorming the Bellman Gala Dinner after the air show.

“Having talked to Buzz Aldrin about his great accomplishments in life – from being a fighter pilot to becoming an astronaut and then walking on the Moon – I think he is a very down-to-earth kind of guy,” Flight Lieutenant Greener said. “He is a great motivator and a real people person, who is more than happy to inspire other people in order to help them realise and achieve their dreams in life.”

Dr Aldrin dedicated the Wright Flyer replica, a full-size, fully operational replica of the Wright Brothers model-A bi-plane, before its maiden flight at the air pageant.

The aircraft was constructed in Narromine by self-confessed Wright Brothers fanatics, Eric and Keith Hayden, over seven years. The father-and-son team used the original plans supplied by the Short Brothers Aircraft Company in Ireland.

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