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King Island Courier
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023
Historic exhibit takes 昀氀ight
FLYING by the seat of their pants is
not something airline passengers wish
for or expect from pilots on approach
to or departure from King Island, but
it is an appropriate turn of phrase for
a new exhibition in the King Island
Airport terminal.
The touring exhibition, which
focuses on pioneering aviation in Bass
Strait from 1919-39, was created as
a collaborative project between the
Flinders Island Furneaux Museum
and the Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society (TAHS), based in Launceston. The TAHS’ objective is to
recognise, document, and promote
aviation history of Tasmania, including King Island.
The King Island Historical Society was keen to be involved with this
unique touring exhibition.
“The touring exhibition started
about a year ago on Flinders Island
and went on to the Queen Victoria
Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston before making its full 180 to
King Island,” KIHS president Luke
Agati said.
“The King Island Historical Society is proud to be part of this unique
exhibition and to have been made an
Honorary Member of the Tasmanian
Aviation Historical Society.”
TAHS president Andrew Johnson
said the exhibition had come together
well in the airport terminal space.
“We are very excited about the
potential exposure the displays will
have over the summer period,” he said.
“Being able to display the exhibition Flying by the Seat of their Pants
on King Island was important, allowing us to share these pioneer aviation
stories with the community of one of
the two major islands in Bass Strait.”
A timber and aluminium frame that
resembles an early aircraft fuselage created using eight timber panels and
subpanels - and a 9m banner mounted
on the terminal wall, follows the Bass
Strait 1919-39 aviation evolution timeline. The exhibition has artifacts strategically placed around the fuselage
telling the stories, many previously
unknown, that directly contributed
to the development of Australian
aviation.
“The early aircraft and their courageous pilots introduced in the exhibition not only contributed to Tasmania’s
aviation history but also played a part
in Australia’s aviation story,” Mr Johnson said.
Airport Reporting Of昀椀cer Jaiden
Rainbow added that King Island residents and visitors will love the exhibit,
with interest high while it was being
installed.
“Even when the installation was
LEFT: King Island
Historical Society
President Luke Agati
with Tasmanian Aviation
Historical Society
President Andrew
Johnson in the King
Island Airport terminal.
BELOW: The Flying by
the Seat of their Pants
installation in the King
Island Airport terminal,
which will be showing
until April next year
Picture: Luke Agati
being built, people stopped and were
fascinated with the structure and the
stories,” Mr Rainbow said.
Mr Johnson while King Island was
to be the 昀椀nal leg of the exhibition’s
tour of Bass Strait, but it may kick on.
“Possibilities of continuing to Melbourne and maybe interstate are now
being explored. Expanding the reach
of these signi昀椀cant Tasmanian aviation
stories would be an exciting prospect
for the Tasmanian Aviation Historical
Society,” he said.
The mainland will have to wait
though, as the exhibition will remain
on King Island until April, 2024.
For more information about the Flying by the Seat of their Pants exhibition go to bassstrait昀氀ight.au or for
more information the TAHS and future
exhibitions visit www.tahs.org.au
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