Lexi Webster
Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist and magician, was also a pioneer aviator. On March 18, 1910, he made the first controlled, powered flight over Australian soil, flying over Diggers Rest, Victoria, just north of Melbourne. Houdini flew a French Voisin biplane, which he had bought and first flown in Germany the previous year. This flight was witnessed by at least nine people and verified by reporters, and it earned him a place in the record books. Houdini's aviation interests were encouraged by a British friend, Lord Northcliffe, who wanted to showcase the military potential of air power. After his Australian tour, Houdini put the Voisin into storage in England and never flew again.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Houdini's first flight in Australia | March 18, 1910 |
| Houdini's aircraft | Voisin biplane |
| Houdini's total number of flights in Australia | 18 |
| Houdini's first flight duration | 1 minute |
| Houdini's third flight duration | 3.5 minutes |
| Houdini's third flight altitude | 100 feet |
| Houdini's longest flight duration | 3 minutes and 37 seconds |
| Houdini's longest flight distance | 2 miles |
| Place of Houdini's first flight | Plumpton's paddock at Diggers Rest, Victoria, just north of Melbourne |
| Number of witnesses to Houdini's first flight | 9 |
| Notable witnesses to Houdini's first flight | Ralph Banks, reporters from The Argus and The Age |
| Rival claimants to the first flight in Australia | Fred Custance, Colin Defries, John Robertson Duigan |
| Status of Houdini's aircraft | Unknown, possibly sold or given away |
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What You'll Learn
- Harry Houdini made the first powered, controlled flight in Australia on 18 March 1910
- Houdini's flight lasted three and a half minutes and reached an altitude of 100 feet
- Houdini's flight was witnessed by at least nine people who signed a witness statement
- Houdini's Voisin biplane was French and was purchased by Houdini in Germany
- After his Australia tour, Houdini put the Voisin into storage in England
Harry Houdini made the first powered, controlled flight in Australia on 18 March 1910
Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist and magician, made the first powered and controlled flight in Australia on 18 March 1910. Houdini was already a renowned performer, having risen to fame at the turn of the century with his improbable escapes from handcuffs, chains, and jails. However, in 1909, he developed a fascination with aviation, just six years after the Wright Brothers' inaugural flight.
Houdini purchased a 60-horsepower Voisin biplane for $5000 and flew it for the first time in Germany. He then had it shipped to Australia, with the ambition of entering the record books as the first to achieve powered and controlled flight in the country. Houdini's choice to bring his aircraft to Australia was not without competition. Several aviators had their eyes on the same prize, and two competitors, in particular, posed a significant challenge. Ralph Banks, a Melbourne garage owner, was using a Wright Brothers airplane, and 19-year-old Fred Custance from South Australia was piloting a Blériot monoplane.
On March 18, 1910, Houdini made three flights in his Voisin biplane at Plumpton's paddock in Diggers Rest, located near Melbourne. The first flight lasted only about a minute and reached a height of approximately 25 feet. The second flight was almost marred by a crash upon landing. However, the third and final flight was flawless, lasting three and a half minutes and attaining an altitude of 100 feet. This final flight was witnessed by at least nine people, including Ralph Banks, who signed a witness statement. Reporters from The Argus and The Age were also present to verify the flight.
Houdini's achievement was officially recognised by the Australian Aerial League, marking a significant milestone in Australia's aviation history. After his triumph, Houdini commented, "I know what it is to fly in real earnest. I can fly now." Despite his initial success, Houdini did not continue flying after his Australian tour. He sold the Voisin biplane in 1913, and the aircraft's whereabouts have since remained a mystery.
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Houdini's flight lasted three and a half minutes and reached an altitude of 100 feet
Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist and magician, was the first person to make a controlled, powered flight over Australia. On 18 March 1910, Houdini made three flights in his 60-horsepower Voisin biplane, the third of which lasted about three and a half minutes and reached an altitude of 100 feet. This flight, which took place at the Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, was the longest of the three, covering a distance of two miles.
Houdini's fascination with aviation began in 1909, six years after the Wright Brothers' first flight. That year, he bought a French Voisin biplane for $5000 and made his first successful flight in Hamburg, Germany, on 26 November. Houdini then transported his plane to Australia, hoping to enter the record books. At the time, the Australian government had offered a prize for the first Australian-made flying machine suitable for military purposes, and several aviators were vying to make the first controlled, powered flight in the country.
Houdini's flight on 18 March 1910 was certified and acknowledged as the first powered flight over Australian soil, beating a rival claim by Fred Custance, who lacked adequate documentation for his purported flight the previous day. Houdini's achievement was witnessed by magic and aviation enthusiasts, newspaper reporters, and representatives of the Australian Aerial League. The escapologist himself described the sense of freedom and exhilaration he felt during the flight:
> "The funny thing was that as soon as I was aloft, all the tension and strain left me. As soon as I was up all my muscles relaxed, and I sat back, feeling a sense of ease. Freedom and exhilaration, that's what it is."
After his triumph at Rosehill Racecourse, Houdini flew an even longer flight on 21 March 1910, covering over three and a half miles before a crowd of about 100-120 spectators at Diggers Rest, Victoria, just north of Melbourne. This flight, which lasted 7 minutes and 31 seconds, further solidified Houdini's place in Australian aviation history.
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Houdini's flight was witnessed by at least nine people who signed a witness statement
Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist, was also fascinated with aviation. In 1909, six years after the Wright Brothers' first flight, Houdini bought a 60-horsepower Voisin biplane for $5000 and first flew it in Germany. He then transported it to Australia, hoping to enter the record books as the first person to make a controlled, powered flight in the country.
On March 18, 1910, Houdini made three flights in his Voisin biplane at Diggers Rest, Victoria, just north of Melbourne. His third flight lasted about three and a half minutes, reaching an altitude of 100 feet. Houdini's flight was witnessed by at least nine people who signed a witness statement, including reporters from The Argus and The Age, who verified the flight. Other witnesses included magic and aviation enthusiasts, newspaper reporters, and representatives of the Australian Aerial League. Houdini's flight was certified and acknowledged as the first controlled powered flight over Australian soil, making him the first person to fly over Australian soil.
Houdini's achievement was significant, and he even entered the record books for his feat. He was presented with a trophy, which he displayed proudly in his New York home. After his successful flights in Australia, Houdini returned to England and put his Voisin biplane into storage. He had planned to use it during his next tour and even promised to leap from it handcuffed, but he never flew it again.
Houdini's aviation endeavours in Australia showcase his diverse interests and talents beyond his renowned escapology stunts. His flights in Australia not only contributed to the country's aviation history but also highlighted his determination to push the boundaries of what was possible.
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Houdini's Voisin biplane was French and was purchased by Houdini in Germany
Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist, was also fascinated with aviation. In 1909, six years after the Wright Brothers' first flight, Houdini purchased a French Voisin biplane for $5000. The 60-horsepower biplane was built especially for Houdini and weighed 1,350 pounds. After crashing once, he made his first successful flight on November 26, 1909, in Hamburg, Germany.
Houdini then transported the biplane to Australia, hoping to enter the record books. In 1909, the Australian government had offered a prize for the first Australian-made flying machine suitable for military purposes. Houdini aimed to make the first controlled, powered flight in the country. On March 18, 1910, Houdini made three flights in his Voisin biplane, the third lasting about three and a half minutes. He covered a distance of two miles and achieved a height of 100 feet in 3 1/2 minutes. This flight was witnessed by magic and aviation enthusiasts, newspaper reporters, and representatives of the Australian Aerial League. It was certified and acknowledged as the first controlled, powered flight in Australia, and Houdini became the first person to fly over Australian soil.
After his triumph, Houdini flew at the Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, where he boasted, "I made the flight of my life." He made 18 flights in Australia and then had the Voisin shipped back to England. He planned to fly the biplane as part of his UK tour as a publicity stunt but never flew it again. Houdini's biplane was subsequently put into storage in England, and its current whereabouts are unknown.
Despite some disputes, Houdini's flight on March 18, 1910, is widely recognised as the first controlled, powered flight in Australia. Houdini's aviation achievements add an intriguing dimension to his already remarkable legacy.
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After his Australia tour, Houdini put the Voisin into storage in England
Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist and magician, was also a pioneer aviator. In 1910, he made the first controlled, powered flight over Australian soil, flying over Diggers Rest, Victoria, just north of Melbourne. This was a significant achievement, as it demonstrated the potential of air power for military purposes and showcased the possibility of human flight.
Houdini's flight on March 18, 1910, in his Voisin biplane, was a historic moment. He made three successful flights that day, with the third being flawless and lasting three and a half minutes, reaching an altitude of 100 feet. This flight was witnessed by at least nine people, including Ralph Banks, who signed a witness statement, and reporters from The Argus and The Age, who verified the flight.
After his triumph at Diggers Rest, Houdini continued his Australia tour, making several more spectacular flight exhibitions at Rosehill Racecourse near Sydney and the Rosenill racetrack. He is reported to have made 18 flights in total during his time in Australia. Houdini's aviation achievements were a significant milestone in the country's aviation history, and he proudly displayed a trophy commemorating his Australian flight in his New York home.
After completing his tour, Houdini put the Voisin into storage in England. He had planned to use it during his next UK tour as a publicity stunt, even promising to leap from it while handcuffed. However, Houdini never flew the Voisin again. He sold the plane in 1913, but its ultimate fate remains a mystery. Despite this, Houdini's legacy in Australian aviation history endures, and he remains an important figure in the country's aeronautical past.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Houdini did not fly to Australia. Houdini was a famous escapologist and magician, but he was also a pioneer aviator. He made the first controlled, powered flight over Australian soil on March 18, 1910, at Diggers Rest, near Melbourne.
Houdini flew a 60-horsepower Voisin biplane, which he had purchased for $5000 and first flew in Germany.
Houdini's first flight lasted only about a minute and reached a height of 25 feet. However, he made three flights that day, with the third lasting about three and a half minutes and reaching an altitude of 100 feet.
After making 18 flights in Australia, Houdini had the Voisin crated and shipped back to England. He planned to fly it during his next tour as a publicity stunt, but he never flew it again. The plane's whereabouts are currently unknown.
