Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

[First aircraft] single-seat monoplane; [second aircraft] two-seat biplane

Power Plant:

One 37 kw (50 hp) Gnome seven-cylinder rotary piston engine

Specifications:

History:

William Ewart Hart was born on 20 April 1885 at Parramatta, NSW. He was a dentist who had an interest in flight and who contributed much to early aviation in Australia. He observed Harry Houdini (Ehrich Weiss), the escapologist, fly at Rosehill Racecourse in western Sydney, NSW on 18 April 1911 and, as a 26 years old, he negotiated to obtain one of two Bristol Boxkites which were imported to Australia (Nos 10 and 11). He obtained No 11 in September 1911 for £1,333 ($2,666) from Mr Joseph J Hammond of the Bristol Sales Mission which was in Australia at the time. This Mission was attempting to sell the aircraft to the Australian Government for military purposes but had no success.

Hart purchased No 11 without an engine but with some spares. Hart claimed 33⅓ per cent (₤330) on the aircraft from the Government for duty paid and received, this amount being by way of refund from the Minister for Customs. Bristol sought from Hart that he undertake not to build aircraft in Australia. He refused, and the company would not provide him with flying tuition. One of the Mission members, Leslie MacDonald, however, supervised Hart’s attempts at taxiing the aircraft and learning to fly. He took him for several flights between 25 and 29 September 1911 from Belmore Park, Penrith, NSW,a site just north of the present railway station, which he leased from the owner, the Hon Sydney Smith.

On 3 October 1911 the Boxkite was badly damaged in a storm whilst hangared in a tent and it had to be re-built using Australian timbers. On Thursday 2 November he flew solo and later he made a number of passenger carrying local flights. On 3 November 1911 he took off from Penrith in the Bristol Boxkite, carrying his 16 years old brother Stanley John Hart (who had assisted in the rebuild of the aircraft) as a passenger, flying at 814 m (3,000 ft), and landing at Parramatta Park, NSW 31 km (19 miles) away, 19 minutes later where he had breakfast with his father William Henry Hart.

Hart flew his Boxkite to the main arena of the Royal Agricultural Society grounds at the Sydney Showground at Moore Park, NSW on Saturday 18 November 1911. He flew from Penrith, leaving at 4.20 am, flying the distance of 47 miles (76 km) in 55 minutes at altitudes of up to approximately 1,829 m (6,000 ft). He made the return flight on 21 November 1911, having some difficulty taking-off in the small area of the showground.

Hart had qualified on 16 November 1911 for Australia’s first flying licence, and received Aviators Certificate No 1 from the Aerial League of Australia on 5 December 1911. He completed his flying tests under the supervision of Col W L Vernon, Major C Rosenthal, Captain F E Stowe and George A Taylor, all officials of the Aerial League of Australia. On 26 March 1912 he was awarded Licence No 199 by the Royal Aero Club of London, England. On 3 January 1912 he set up and opened Hart’s Aviation School, also known as the Australian Flying School, at Belmore Park at Penrith and commenced training pilots.

On 6 January 1912 he made a forced landing at Mount Druitt, NSW beside the railway line and the machine was badly damaged. On this occasion he was conveying Major C Rosenthal on a demonstration flight from Penrith to Parramatta to attend an official function. Hart weighed around 70 kg (150 lb) whereas Major Rosenthal weighed some 114 kg (251 lb). The aircraft encountered strong winds and adverse weather, and crash landed. The two men were slightly injured. Major Rosenthal continued his journey by train. The aeroplane was again repaired. This has been considered to be Australia’s first aviation accident.

During March 1912 Hart moved his organisation to a new landing ground at Ham Common, which eventually became RAAF Richmond. He formed Hart’s Aviation Company Ltd and issued a prospectus on 9 March 1912. The company was incorporated on 26 April 1912.

On 29 June 1912 Hart took part in and won what was described as the First International Aviation Contest with American Eugene Stone. With Hart in the Bristol Boxkite and Eugene ‘Wizard’ Stone in a Metz Bleriot, the two aircraft were to fly from Surrey Park, located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Botany and Gardeners Roads, Mascot, to Parramatta Park and return. This event was originally to be held on 15 June 1912 but was postponed. It was described as the “sensation of the century” and “Australia’s first aerial race under the direction of Philip Lytton. Hart v Stone, Ascot Racecourse”. Hart arrived at Parramatta Park 23 minutes 52 seconds after taking off. However, Stone did not complete the journey, being forced to land at Wylie’s Lane (then Lakemba, now Wylie Park) after entering cloud, getting lost, and getting low on fuel, being well off course at the time. Hart was declared the winner of the race.

With the assistance of Mr F E Sandford, Hart’s Aviation Company Ltd built a two-seat monoplane at Richmond. Said to be similar in appearance to a French Nieuport, it was fitted with a 37 kw (50 hp) Gnome seven-cylinder rotary piston engine in the pusher configuration, this engine having been previously installed in his Bristol Boxkite. The monoplane was said to have used parts from the Bristol Boxkite.

Flight testing commenced at Richmond on 4 September 1912, the first two flights being near the landing field but the third being across the river flats to Freeman’s Reach. When making its third trial flight in the hands of Hart at Richmond at about 5.30 pm, the aircraft crashed from 61 m (200 ft) and was wrecked. Hart fractured his left leg and right knee-cap, and suffered serious head injuries. One report of the time claimed at the time of the crash Hart had made 27 flights in the aircraft. On 15 September he announced his intention to give up aviation and return to his profession of dentistry. It was said he promised his mother he would not fly again.

In any event, Hart survived and re-built the aircraft. His company, Hart’s Aviation Company Ltd, went into liquidation on 30 April 1913, although he continued to use the facilities at Ham Common. At this time he had been using a 37 kw (50 hp) Gnome engine in his aircraft and he offered it to the Department of Defence, but his offer was declined. The engine was then loaned to Mr Sydney Nelson Staff, a builder, who also resided in Parramatta, he experiencing some trouble in obtaining an engine of sufficient power for an aircraft he was constructing.

Hart went on in 1913 to build a biplane of his own design also fitted with a Gnome rotary engine. It was stated this aircraft was to be built as a hydro-aeroplane (floatplane) and that F E Sandford would be carrying out testing. However, it seems all flying carried out was with a land-type undercarriage. Whilst awaiting good conditions for flying, and whilst unattended, the machine was attempted to be started “by persons unknown” and the propeller was damaged. Following the installation of a new propeller, it flew on 19 January 1914 at Ham Common, climbing to a height of about 46 m (150 ft), this also being the first time he had flown since his accident on 4 September 1912, the flight being made shortly before sunrise, the field being circled twice before a landing was made.

The aircraft was built of hickory, spruce, spotted gum and maple, and was powered by the same 37 kw (50 hp) Gnome rotary piston engine. On that day three successful flights were made with Mr James White as passenger, the longest being 4.8 km (3 miles). On one landing the undercarriage was damaged when a bracing wire broke and that evening the aircraft was further damaged when the tent in which it was hangared was blown down by a storm. The ‘Windsor Gazette’ at the time stated the aircraft was removed from Richmond and would be taken to Parramatta for repair.

On 24 December 1915 Hart was given a temporary commission in the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) by the Minister of State for Defence, effective from 14 January 1916, and became a 1st Lieutenant. His application stated he had flown 8,047 km (5,000 miles) and 1,000 hours. He was sent to Egypt and to the United Kingdom for training. He embarked for England on 28 April 1916 for further training. On 24 June 1916, he was shipped back to Australia. He was discharged as medically unfit due to mild epilepsy and rheumatic pain suffered as a result of the major accident he had suffered in Australia in September 1912. He was discharged from the Australian Flying Corps on 11 September 1916. He returned to his profession as a dentist but maintained an active interest in aviation.

Hart in 1911-1912 had the only aeroplane in Sydney and there was much interest in aviation at the time. He and his aircraft featured in three feature films at that time, these being ‘Camera in the Clouds, a trip in the air with Hart’, the photographer on this occasion making 18 flights to take the film; ‘Among the Clouds with a Camera’; and ‘Australia Calls’. As far as is known copies of these films have not survived but would be of great historic significance if copies were available. Hart died suddenly in Sydney on 29 July 1943 aged 58 years.