It’s a glorious morning at 16,000ft as the Australian Geographic Flyer, piloted by Dick Smith and John Wallington, passes over Mildura, 450km east-south-east of Carnarvon, WA. By afternoon (pictured), problems with the balloon’s twin propane burners that threatened the flight soon after take-off have been rectified. With mounting confidence the pair prepare for their second night aloft. 

Setting-off. Its upper helium compartment swollen with gas in the late stages of inflation, the AG Flyer strains to become airborne at Carnarvon, WA. After a wait of over two weeks following an initial take-off attempt that was abandoned because of high winds, the fill proceeded in dead calm without a hitch. 

The flight started out with some problems as winds sent Dick and John headed in the wrong direction and out to sea. They struggled to keep the balloon burners alight, but after some quick adjustments they got back on course. “[H]alf an hour after take-off our spirits lifted as we passed 10,000ft,” wrote Dick in a story on his journey in AG issue 34. “Putting on oxygen masks, we watched with relief as our GPS unit showed that we were moving south-east. Soon we would be back over land, heading, we hoped, for the east coast, some 4500km and up to six days away.” 

As take-off approaches, Dick operated the propane burners to warm the helium and increase its buoyancy. The flame lifts high above the burners because the surging gas must first mix with air. At altitude, where there is less oxygen, flame lift was so pronounced that the burners went out after burning only briefly – putting out the pilot flame in the process.

Although it was almost 11pm local time by the time Dick and John were ready to take-off, young and old turned in force to witness their departure. Among those late to bed were members of the Carnarvon High School Band, who fairwelled the balloonists with Advanced Australia Fair.  

On Friday 18 June, John Wallington is on watch while Dick has his first sleep in two days. John looked down on the coastal lights of Ceduna, he expressed fears he may be blown out over the Great Australian Bight to the voices down the wireless, but the Bureau of Meteorology team at Mission Control assures him they would soon swing to the north. 

At Mission Control at the AG Centre, Terrey Hills, radio hams – members of the Wireless Insitute of Australia – oversee communications. 

Throughout the day, the balloon flew on “automatic pilot”, with the sun warming the helium compartment and the crew. At night they were in the cabin, but Dick and John had to go out into the cold high-altitude air and regularly check the burners were still alight. 

Dick and John contempated landing the Australian Geographic Flyer before the Great Dividing Range as the light began running out, but after studying the charts they took their nerves in the hands and eventually made the landing just at dusk on the other side of the range, making it a record flight. 

Landing. After a rapid descent from over 20,000ft, Dick and John make a perfect landing near Tabulam, a small rural community on the Clarence River in north-eastern NSW. They have covered 3867km, crossing the continent at its widest latitude.

In the gathering dusk, the Australian Geographic Flyer floats from its trail rope at Tabulam in north-eastern NSW. It’s a dream touchdown in perfect calm. Helicopters were appearing from everywhere as the balloon approached and Frank Young and George Forsyth, the ground crew that helped them set off on the other side of the country helped pull the gondola down. John joked that he’s be hanging on the whole way over. 

One of John Wallington’s favorite memories of this trip; sitting on a $2 deckchair enjoying the view. 

As well as the feature story in AG issue 34, Sydney’s biggest newspaper, The Daily Telegraph Mirror (now The Daily Telegraph) ran Dick and John’s story on their front page.