FINAL FLIGHT OF FANCY
The Spirit of Surfers Paradise left the Coast on its last flight across the globe to the UK just over 50 years ago, helped by dedicated locals
THE Gold Coast is set to connect with Greece as budget airline Scoot prepares to begin flying European routes from the Glitter Strip.
It’s big news for travellers hoping to head for the Mediterranean and comes a little more than 50 years after a historic flight across the world took off from the Coast.
The Spirit of Surfers Paradise, an Avro Lancaster, made its final flight from Australia to the UK in mid1965 where it was to be retired and put on display.
The plane was built in Birmingham in April 1945 and was originally known as Just Jane.
Finished the same month German dictator Adolf Hitler committed suicide, the 32m (102 foot) plane was destined not to fly over Europe.
Instead, its destiny was to be part of the Royal Air Force’s Tiger Force where its mission was to fight the Japan Empire.
But World War II ended in August and suddenly the Lancaster, powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 engines, was no longer needed and was put into storage in the UK.
Purchased by the French Government in the 1950s, it flew for more than a decade, including a long stint in the Pacific based out of New Caledonia where it served in a maritime patrol role.
By 1964, the ageing craft was retired and was flown to Australia to prepare it for the long flight home back to the UK.
And the Gold Coast was to be a big part of it.
Arthur Joseph Johnston was Surfers Paradise manager of real estate LJ Hooker group and a retired RAAF serviceman.
He joined with friend and fellow airman Keith McCarthy, and members of the Australian branch of the Historical Aircraft Preservation Society, to help fund the plane’s homecoming.
A newspaper appeal was launched in Sydney but failed to raise sufficient money to help foot the costs to fly it to England.
An approach was then made to the Surfers Paradise Mirror, a weekly publication through the 1960s, and through its chief writer Alex McRobbie a successful appeal was launched locally. Mayor Ern Harley secured the support of his colleagues at the Gold Coast City Council to fund a leg of the flight between Sydney to the Glitter Strip.
The plane was renamed The Spirit of the Surfers Paradise for the journey between Australia and the UK. Among its crew for the flight were Mr Johnston and Mr McCarthy who acted as radio operator and navigator respectively.
The plane, bearing a custom white livery and the Gold Coast name, took off from Mascot, Sydney on April 25, 1965 and arrived at Coolangatta Airport later the same day.
Ald Harley and a crowd of onlookers were there to greet it and the plane’s visit was a major event.
The late Mr McRobbie wrote in his book 20th Century Gold Coast People: “The trials and tribulations of the flight were followed daily by the world’s media.”
The Spirit of Surfers Paradise touched down at Biggin Hill, England on May 13, 1965.
After being flown a handful of times, it now sits on display in the UK at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre near the historic market town of Spilsby.
Mr Johnson died in 2007, age 85.