Description
Mr. Guillaux (1883–1917), an aviation pioneer from Montoire who became a hero in Australia by completing the first mail flight between Melbourne and Sydney in July 1914. A young French aviation pioneer from Montoire, Maurice Guillaux decided in February 1914 to set sail for Australia.
Lecture by Eric Berti: Who Is Maurice Guillaux? In Montoire-sur-le-Loir, he took with him a disassembled Blériot XI, with the intention of giving flight demonstrations in Australian cities. After several aerial displays showcasing his skill, he was offered the chance to accomplish an unprecedented feat: to make the first mail flight between Melbourne and Sydney, which he carried out between July 16 and 18, 1914, making him a hero of Australia’s fledgling aviation industry. Eric Berti, a retired diplomat, served as Consul General in Sydney from 2012 to 2015. Together with the Australian Aviation History Association, he organized a reenactment of this historic flight to mark the centennial of this feat.