Adelaide/Perth

Norman Brearley's "Western Australian Airways" operated the first flight on the Adelaide / Perth route 2 June 1929, using DH66 Hercules. [AHSA Newsletter March 1999]

The early route was Adelaide, Ceduna, Forrest, Kalgoorlie and Perth. The route involved refuelling at Ceduna, Forrest and Kalgoorlie. A hot lunch was at Ceduna, evening meal, overnight accommodation and hot breakfast at Forrest and the final catered food service at Kalgoorlie.

This route was still used in the 1960's. The only real difference was by the 1960's the towns had become navigation waypoints instead of refuelling points. Kalgoorlie was still used as a reserve fuel location for westbound traffic if the headwinds were too strong.

The use of Great Circle type routes over the Great Australian Bight came with aircraft equipped with larger fuel tanks. Direct Perth to Sydney / Melbourne traffic used these routes as well.