Space launch

A new Aviation space was officially opened earlier this year at the Senior Campus.

With notable alumni including Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh, co-founder of Qantas, David Warren, creator of the black box flight recorder, and Victor and Ivan Holyman, co-founders of Holyman’s Airlines (later to become part of Australian National Airlines and AnsettANA), aviation is very much a part of the School’s heritage, and now its future.

The purpose-built fit-out is now the epicentre for students enrolled in the School’s unique Aviation programme – the only one of its kind in the state. The programme provides a practical pathway to acquire highly specialised skills for Grade 8 to 10 students who have a passion for aeronautics and engineering.

Aviation programme coordinator, Dr Cameron Rogers says students choose to study aviation for a variety of reasons.

“I would suggest a quarter of the students plan on becoming pilots in any sort of professional capacity,” says Cameron. “With the remainder interested in seeing how subjects complement each other in a learning environment. “When combined, Science, Mathematics and Engineering can empower a student to understand both theoretical and practical components of aeronautical engineering.”

Cameron says the Aviation space features functional flight simulators, a relaxed space for drone flying instruction, and the RV-12 plane, currently under construction.

“The plane is being built as part of two electives offered by the School for students across Grades 9 and 10.

“Building a plane is not only about the engineering side of the project it will also teach students a variety of important skills.

“The creation of a plane is easier, engineering-wise, than building a car, as there are less parts, so this makes for a much better school project.

“I am very excited about the new Aviation space and the opportunity for students to be involved in this largescale aviation project.”

Grade 9 Aviation Studies student, Reiley Hind building a model aircraft to be displayed in the new Aviation space

SPACE LAUNCH

Alumnus, John Seaton MBE with wife Barbara Alumnus (1943) John Seaton MBE (1927–2020) held a distinguished career within aviation which spanned over 50 years. He began his flight training in January 1952 at Archerfield Queensland (a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) station at the time) graduating the same year with a posting to the Williamtown RAAF Base, north of Newcastle, followed by Japan, Korea, Australia, and Antarctica. Whilst on an exploratory photographic flight he had the good fortune to find the largest glacier in the world – the Lambert Glacier.

In 1958 John took up a role at Qantas Empire Airways in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea and is credited as flying Qantas’s first B707-138 A and Bs to routes including Hong Kong, Karachi, Cairo, Rome, San Francisco, Hawaii, and New York.

John was to become Chief Pilot of Solair, the Solomon Islands national airline and later Managing Director. During this period, he undertook considerable aerial exploration and discovery of WWII sites and was involved in flying Japanese officials to airdrop leaflets to remote islands where it was thought Japanese soldiers may still be hiding.

In recognition of his contribution to tourism and aviation, John was awarded an MBE in 1975, with an investiture conducted by HM the Queen at Buckingham Palace.