WHEN Richmond’s first air pageant was held on Monday, November 26, 1934, it was the first demonstration of its kind ever held in NSW.
Motor cars encircled the aerodrome, and a special train to carry passengers to Clarendon station had to be supplemented by another from Parramatta and a third from Sydney.
More than 40 planes took part in 19 events. Demonstrations included individual aerobatics, crazy flying, a tow home and an exhibition of crop dusting.
With the arrival of Governor Sir Philip Game at 2pm, the main events began.
The paper reported: “on the left a great swarm of aeroplanes lay in ranks. Propellers began to revolve and the machines began to advance one by one on the spectators, roaring furiously as they came along the ground.
“There were large grim-looking fighting planes and pert-looking smaller ones. Others seemed snub-nosed and aggressive. One or two had floats…
“Then with a crescendo of whirring and spluttering they raced off in threes across the field like ungainly birds chasing each other. They rose from the ground – and turned into graceful birds with red and blue circles on the wings, red and white striped tails, and glistening silver sides. This was the parade and fly past.
“Formation flying to music by five Bulldog machines was a demonstration of radio-telephony for communication between ground and air. The crowd were amused to see the Bulldogs somersaulting lazily in the air as the band played ‘Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush’.
“Picking up messages and dropping supplies was demonstrated by three Wapiti machines. Huge imitation bottles 15 feet high were the targets of heavy weights trailed beneath three Wapiti planes, in a demonstration of air skittling’, a performance requiring accuracy.”
The paper reported that the day was spoilt later by gusty wind and rain and meant the cancellation of a stunt where parachutists walked the wings.
Chief of Air Staff (Air-Commodore Williams) stated at the end of the display that, for the spectators, the results were disappointing.