Mar 31, 2021
Today is the 100th Anniversary of the RAAF — Royal Australian Air Force. The RAAF was established on 31 March 1921. The Wright Brothers flew the first power-driven aircraft on 17 December 2003, which stayed in the air for a mere 12 seconds. I actually thought it was a little longer than that, but anyway…
I find it mind-blowing that aviation went from ‘go to whoa’ in less than 18 years! Mankind went from learning to fly for a few seconds to sustained aerial combat in World War One. The RAF — Royal Air Force — was formed in England on 1 April 1918, and only three years later, our own air force was formed in Australia.
It makes me wonder if there’s been any other human achievement that has advanced so quickly.
Written by Adrienne Beaumont: contemplating flight
