Parafield was Adelaide's only civil airport until Adelaide Airport was opened in February 1955 and is currently used for small aircraft, pilot training and recreational aviation. The airport is home to the University of South Australia Aviation Academy. The airport hosts a jet fighter museum and historic aircraft displays. The museum now houses an authentic flight worthy Wirraway.
There are also multiple flight training schools including the University of South Australia Aviation Academy, FTA (Flight Training Adelaide)[4] formerly known as Australian Aviation College, Bruce Hartwig Flying School,[5] AFTC (Adelaide Flight Training Centre), Aerostar Aviation,[6] and Parafield Flying Centre. Parafield Squadron[7] of the Australian Air League, a national uniformed cadet organisation promoting and encouraging the interest of aviation and flying training in the youth of Australia, is also located at Parafield Airport.
History
The first powered flight in South Australia was of a Blériot Aéronautiquemonoplane on March 13, 1910, south-west of Salisbury in Bolivar, South Australia, the flight was nicknamed the “Wittber hop”.[8] In the 1920s investigations began into construction of an airport in Adelaide. Land was initially purchased in Albert Park with the aerodrome site becoming the new suburb of Hendon; but within a few years the cost of acquiring sufficient land, neighbouring residential development and the erection of power transmission lines all interfered with airport plans and the Hendon site was effectively abandoned.[9] In 1927, the Commonwealth government purchased 318 acres (129 ha) of land at Parafield from a family owned farming company for £17,000. The area had been used for fattening sheep on lucerne and other fodder plants. The new airport was expanded in 1942, with the boundary extending west to the Gawler railway line.[10]
On 1 October 1927, H. C. "Horrie" Miller was the first to land on the Parafield site, ground preparation was completed on the 17th and flights began on 26 November by the Aero Club of South Australia. The site was officially opened as an airport in August 1929 by Governor-General of AustraliaAlexander Hore-Ruthven.[11] The control tower opened shortly prior to World War II. Prior to the war Guinea Airways was the main company flying out of the airport using:[12]
In 1983 a group of trees was planted by local high school students. When fully grown, from the air they clearly spelt out the word "PARAFIELD". As of 2007 the trees had been removed.[15]
On 17 March 2013, a Supermarine Aircraft Spitfire Mk26, an 80% scale home-build replica of the Supermarine Spitfire, crashed into a fence between two businesses in a commercial area on Frost Road in the nearby suburb of Salisbury, whilst completing a routine at the airshow, killing the pilot.[18][19]
Triumph in the Skies
Hong Kong TVB filmed flight training scenes for their series Triumph in the Skies at the Parafield Airport.
Noise pollution
The airport has been criticised by local residents for contributing to noise pollution, particularly after the opening of a flight school and the resulting increase in planes flying traffic patterns.[20][21]
Accidents and Incidents
In 2018, a Cessna 172 crashed into a paddock next to Parafield Airport. The plane took off but it started to have problems immediately and the pilot caused the plane to crash. There were no deaths or injuries.[22]
^Adelaide Airport a brief overview of its history, West Torrens Historical Society Inc. (A. Litten, G. Grainger 2021), p.2, p.3, (PDF).
^Marsden, Susan (1977): A history of Woodville. Corporation of the City of Woodville. P. 173. ISBN0 9599828 4 1
^Lewis, H. John (1980). Salisbury South Australia, a history of town and district. Hawthorndene, South Australia: Investigator Press. pp. 201–204. ISBN0-85864-049-X.
