NSW State Aviation School was the start of Australia's organised aviation history

By James Oglethorpe
Updated August 30 2016 - 2:24pm, first published August 29 2016 - 12:39pm
FIRST INTAKE: Line-up of student pilots from the first course at Richmond State Aviation School at the opening on August 28, 1916. Nigel is far left at the back. Picture: www.3squadron.org.au.
FIRST INTAKE: Line-up of student pilots from the first course at Richmond State Aviation School at the opening on August 28, 1916. Nigel is far left at the back. Picture: www.3squadron.org.au.

A CEREMONY at Ham Common last Sunday, August 28, was exactly 100 years since an event that was as important to Australia historically as the start of railway construction in the 1850s.