GippsAero founders Peter Furlong and George Morgan are among four aviation identities that will be inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) in October.
The two join Sir Macpherson Robertson and Jack Grant as the 2024 AAHOF honourees.
AAHOF will also present the 2024 Southern Cross Award to the Australian Women Pilots Association (AWPA).
Peter Furlong and George Morgan
The late Peter Furlong founded Gippsland Aeronautics in 1977 as a sole trader, with George Morgan becoming a partner in 1984, which led to the company being incorporated at Latrobe Valley Airport. GippsAero began by modifying PA25 Pawnee aerial application aircraft via Supplemental Type Certificate, but went on to certify their own aeroplane, the GA200 Fatman in 1991. Furlong and Morgan then turned their attention to a utility aircraft that could perform several mission types and have greater loading capability than the Cessna 206. In 2000, CASA awarded a type certificate for the GA8 Airvan. The type went on to become the most successful Australian-manufactured aircraft in history. In 2010, Peter Furlong retired, but George Morgan stayed on to help navigate the company through the GA10 turbine project and the turbulent era with Mahindra as a majority shareholder. Furlong died in 2017, so didn't live to see Mahindra stop Airvan production and send the company into wind-down. However, late last year, Morgan announced he and his family had bought out Mahindra, placing this iconic company back into Australian hands.
Sir Macpherson Robertson
Known mostly for his chocolates, Mac Robertson is best known in aviation for providing significant financial support for the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race from London to Melbourne. Robertson's support enabled the race to go global with several prominent international aviators entering, showcasing Australia to the world and further closing the distance between the UK and Australia. The race has become an iconic event in Australian aviation, with the Comet Grosvenor House taking line honours and the KLM DC-2 Uiver providing an enduring legend when it become stuck in the mud at Albury after getting lost in a storm. According to AAHOF, Robertson's "enduring legacy serves as a testament to the power of vision, generosity, and
innovation in shaping the world we live in today."
Jack Grant
Jack Grant gave the world one of the most important safety innovations in regular public transport: the escape slide raft. A Queenslander, Grant was Operations Safety Superintendent at Qantas when he devised the inflatable aircraft escape slide raft, which was introduced in 1975. The invention re-shaped safety protocols in the airline industry, soon becoming a staple of airline safety right around the world. Its effectiveness was most recently demonstrated when US Airways Flight 1549 landed on the Hudson River in 2009. There were no deaths and few serious injuries incurred from the landing or the evacuation. Recognised globally for his contribution to aviation safety, Grant received widespread acclaim and accolades. His legacy endures as the slide raft continues to be integral to ensuring passenger safety in air travel worldwide.
Australian Women Pilots Association (AWPA)
Founded in 1950 with AAHOF inductee Nancy-Bird Walton as its first president, the AWPA endures today as an important part of general aviation, primarily in its role in encouraging women to fly. Driven completely by volunteers, the AWPA of today offers a platform for women pilots to connect, share experiences and provide ongoing support. The principles outlined in the original constitution underscore the AWPA's mission to promote friendship among women aviators and contribute to the advancement of aviation as a whole. Approaching its 75th anniversary, the AWPA has now been recognised with the 2024 AAHOF Southern Cross Award.
AAHOF is a not-for-profit organisation co-located with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at Shellharbour Regional Airport in NSW.
The 2024 induction dinner is scheduled for Saturday 26 October 2024.
More information on the inductees and the dinner is on the AAHOF website.