William Ewart Hart (20 April 1885 – 29 July 1943) was an Australian aviator and dentist. He was the first qualified pilot in Australia.[1] His aviator's licence, No. 1, was issued on 5 December 1911 by the Aerial League of Australia.
William Ewart Hart was often referred to as “Billy” or “Bill”.[2] His birth was registered as taking place in the Hart family home on Darcy Street Parramatta.[2] His father William Hart Junior and grandfather Mr William Hart, were well-known businessmen[3] from the Parramatta shire of Wentworthville. His father purchased a property on Wentworth Avenue, building Castrella in July 1888, where young William would most probably have grown up.[4] His father was known to be a philanthropist and supported young William and the Australian aviation industry financially.[4]
Hart was born and educated in the Parramatta district. Aged 16 he was apprenticed to a local dentist, Mr Maxwell. He was registered as a dentist on 26 June 1906.[5] After registration he practiced as a dentist in Wyalong, where he rode the first motorcycle and drove the first car in town. He went on to practice in Newcastle.
In September 1911 Hart met Joseph Hammond who was touring Australia as a demonstration pilot for the British & Colonial Aeroplane Company. He bought (for £1,333) a Bristol Boxkite from Hammond, received some instruction from Hammond's mechanic, McDonald. A gale blew the plane, which was parked at Belmore Park, Penrith, over, and it was wrecked. Hart, with the help of friends and the mechanic, built a new aircraft, using some salvaged parts. Timbers were supplied by Hart’s father.[6] He first flew the machine, solo, on 3 November. The next day he flew from Penrith to Parramatta with his younger brother Jack as passenger, completing the first cross-country flight in New South Wales. In 1963, a monument was erected in Parramatta Park where he had landed.
On 30 June 1912, Hart won an air race—from Botany to Parramatta Park and return, and billed as the 'First International Aviation Contest'—when his opponent lost his way due to rain clouds and landed at Belmore. The race had been planned for 16 June 1912, but had been deferred due to bad weather.[7][8]
William Ewart Hart in his Bristol Boxkite Biplane, 1912.
Referencesedit
^Isaacs, Keith, "Hart, William Ewart (Bill) (1885–1943)", "Australian Dictionary of Biography", 1983. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
^ ab"Men of Parramatta - William "Billy" Ewart Hart | Parramatta History and Heritage". historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
^"Hart, Hitchcock and Co. Timber Merchants, Darcy Street, Parramatta | Parramatta History and Heritage". historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
^ ab"Obituary - William Hart - Obituaries Australia". oa.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
^Bullivant, June, "The Hart Family and their Contribution to Parramatta including their favourite son William Ewart Hart (Billy the Flying Dentist)", "Granville Historical Society", 2011-11. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
^airscapemag (1 July 2021). "Pilot No.1". airscape Magazine. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
^"FIRST AVIATION RACE". Register. 1 July 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^"First international aviation contest : W. E. Hart v. 'Wizard' Stone". Trove. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
External linksedit
Programme of 'First international aviation contest : W. E. Hart v. "Wizard" Stone, Sydney to Parramatta & return', Saturday, June 15, 1912.
This Australian biography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
william, ewart, hart, april, 1885, july, 1943, australian, aviator, dentist, first, qualified, pilot, australia, aviator, licence, issued, december, 1911, aerial, league, australia, born, 1885, april, 1885parramatta, south, wales, australiadiedjuly, 1943, 1943. William Ewart Hart 20 April 1885 29 July 1943 was an Australian aviator and dentist He was the first qualified pilot in Australia 1 His aviator s licence No 1 was issued on 5 December 1911 by the Aerial League of Australia William Ewart HartBorn 1885 04 20 April 20 1885Parramatta New South Wales AustraliaDiedJuly 29 1943 1943 07 29 aged 58 Sydney AustraliaNationalityAustralianSpouseThelma Clare Cock m 10 August 1929 William Ewart Hart was often referred to as Billy or Bill 2 His birth was registered as taking place in the Hart family home on Darcy Street Parramatta 2 His father William Hart Junior and grandfather Mr William Hart were well known businessmen 3 from the Parramatta shire of Wentworthville His father purchased a property on Wentworth Avenue building Castrella in July 1888 where young William would most probably have grown up 4 His father was known to be a philanthropist and supported young William and the Australian aviation industry financially 4 Hart was born and educated in the Parramatta district Aged 16 he was apprenticed to a local dentist Mr Maxwell He was registered as a dentist on 26 June 1906 5 After registration he practiced as a dentist in Wyalong where he rode the first motorcycle and drove the first car in town He went on to practice in Newcastle In September 1911 Hart met Joseph Hammond who was touring Australia as a demonstration pilot for the British amp Colonial Aeroplane Company He bought for 1 333 a Bristol Boxkite from Hammond received some instruction from Hammond s mechanic McDonald A gale blew the plane which was parked at Belmore Park Penrith over and it was wrecked Hart with the help of friends and the mechanic built a new aircraft using some salvaged parts Timbers were supplied by Hart s father 6 He first flew the machine solo on 3 November The next day he flew from Penrith to Parramatta with his younger brother Jack as passenger completing the first cross country flight in New South Wales In 1963 a monument was erected in Parramatta Park where he had landed On 30 June 1912 Hart won an air race from Botany to Parramatta Park and return and billed as the First International Aviation Contest when his opponent lost his way due to rain clouds and landed at Belmore The race had been planned for 16 June 1912 but had been deferred due to bad weather 7 8 William Ewart Hart in his Bristol Boxkite Biplane 1912 References edit Isaacs Keith Hart William Ewart Bill 1885 1943 Australian Dictionary of Biography 1983 Retrieved 2014 07 23 a b Men of Parramatta William Billy Ewart Hart Parramatta History and Heritage historyandheritage cityofparramatta nsw gov au Retrieved 10 April 2024 Hart Hitchcock and Co Timber Merchants Darcy Street Parramatta Parramatta History and Heritage historyandheritage cityofparramatta nsw gov au Retrieved 10 April 2024 a b Obituary William Hart Obituaries Australia oa anu edu au Retrieved 9 April 2024 Bullivant June The Hart Family and their Contribution to Parramatta including their favourite son William Ewart Hart Billy the Flying Dentist Granville Historical Society 2011 11 Retrieved 2014 07 24 airscapemag 1 July 2021 Pilot No 1 airscape Magazine Retrieved 6 May 2024 FIRST AVIATION RACE Register 1 July 1912 p 7 Retrieved 10 July 2022 First international aviation contest W E Hart v Wizard Stone Trove Retrieved 10 July 2022 External links editProgramme of First international aviation contest W E Hart v Wizard Stone Sydney to Parramatta amp return Saturday June 15 1912 nbsp nbsp This Australian biography article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This biographical article related to aviation is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Ewart Hart amp oldid 1223017287, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
