The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) has announced that five new members will be inducted into the hall of fame this year, and that Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) is to be recognised with the 2017 Southern Cross Award.
The five new members are:
- Edward Connellan AO, CBE – highly respected NT aviator and businessman. Established the successful Connellan Airways in 1943
- John Corby – distinguished aviation engineer and designer of the Corby Starlet
- James Strong AO – highly-regarded CEO and board member of Qantas. Oversaw the successful merger of Australian Airlines (previously TAA) and Qantas
- Bob Tait – renowned aviation educator, pilot and publisher
- Nancy-Bird Walton AO, OBE – in 1934 the youngest woman to obtain a commercial licence in the British Empire and founder of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association.
“These five outstanding individuals and TAA join thirty seven other individuals and six organizations in the Hall of Fame," said AAHOF Chairman Steve Padgett. "All have made quite magnificent contributions in their respective fields for the major benefit of Australia, particularly regional and remote Australia,”
Southern Cross Award winner TAA was formed in 1946 and took over Queensland domestic routes from Qantas. It became part of the "two-airlne" policy of the Australian government with Ansett. In 1986. TAA was re-branded as Australian Airlines and in 1996 was merged with Qantas, which gave Qantas access to Australia domestic air routes again.
The AAHOF induction is scheduled for 25 November at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) facility at Illawarra Regional Airport, where AAHOF will establish a permanent display.
More information is on the AAHOF website.