2010 $1 Centenary of Powered Flight Harry Houdini 18th March 1910 PNC

On 18 March 1910, at Digger’s Rest, Victoria, renowned American ‘escapologist’ Harry Houdini made the first of several well-publicised flights in Australia. His aircraft was an imported Voisin with his name emblazoned on the tail. Houdini’s longest flight that day, over a distance of about three kilometres, earned him a trophy from the Aerial League of Australia. However, according to the criteria set by the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain, Houdini did not make the first powered flight in this country. This honour belonged to Englishman Colin Defries, who flew his modified Wright Model A ‘The Stella’ a distance of 105 metres on 9 December 1909 at Victoria Park Racecourse in Sydney.