4 Inductees and the winner of the Southern Cross Award for 2025 announced.

Since its inception in 2011, the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) has honoured 61

Australians who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of aviation and

aerospace in this nation. AAHOF has also recognised 12 organisations who have made

outstanding contributions to aviation and aerospace through our Southern Cross Award.

Four exceptional individual candidates have been identified for induction into the Australian

Aviation Hall of Fame in 2025, and one organisation has been recognised through the bestowal of the Southern Cross Award.

The AAHOF Inductees for 2025:

Bill Bristow AM

Bill Bristow AM is the founder of Angel Flight Australia, a charitable organization that provides free, non-emergency flights and ground transportation to assist rural and remote Australians in accessing specialist medical treatment. Established in April 2003, Angel Flight was born from Bill’s recognition of the challenges faced by people in country areas who needed to travel long distances for medical care.

A passionate aviator since 1970, Bill holds various flying qualifications, including glider, fixed-wing, helicopter, and multi-engine ratings. His extensive flying experience enabled him to establish a network that connects volunteer pilots and drivers with patients requiring medical appointments. By 2019, when Bill Bristow retired from his role at Angel Flight, the organisation had completed more than 47,000 flights and transported over 100,000 passengers. It had grown to include over 3,000 volunteer pilots and 4,000 ground volunteers.

In recognition of his significant contributions, Bill Bristow was awarded the Queensland Australian of the Year in 2005 and was appointed a Member of the Order of

Australia in 2009. When he retired from his role, he left behind a legacy of compassion and service to rural communities.

Greg Dunstone

Photo courtesy of Paul Sadler

Greg Dunstone is considered by many to be the “father of ADS-B in Australia”.

Greg is a highly experienced Australian aviation engineer who provided aerospace engineering expertise for more than 46 years to Airservices Australia. He played a pivotal role in transforming the nation's air traffic management systems through his leadership in radar and surveillance technologies.

Some of his career highlights include:

• Radar Engineering and System Development: He commenced his career as a radar engineer, contributing to the development of Australia's first digital air traffic control system, ATCARDS. He later led the technical aspects of deployment of mono-pulse secondary surveillance radar (RASPP) across Australia.

• The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System and Maestro Systems: In the 1990s, he led the

engineering aspects of ATC automation in TAAATS and the Maestro flow management system, which was implemented prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

• Automatic Dependence Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Leadership: Greg is globally recognized for his pioneering work in Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. He initiated Australia's first ADS-B trial in 2003, leading to the country's achievement as the first to implement nationwide ADS-B coverage. This advancement has significantly enhanced air traffic surveillance and aviation safety, in busy east coastal, remote and regional airspace.

• International Collaboration and Recognition: His efforts have extended beyond Australia, contributing to regional air traffic management improvements in the Asia-Pacific region. He chaired the Asia Pacific ICAO ADS-B Task force for 14 years & worked closely with FAA, NavCanada and Eurocontrol.

• In 2011, he was honoured with the Lawrence Hargrave Award by the Royal Aeronautical Society for his contributions to aviation.

• Space based ADS-B: After retirement from Airservices, Greg worked part time with Aireon LLC for 5 years, focusing on space-based ADS-B application across the Asia Pacific; mainly in Oceanic airspace, particularly for Singapore, New Guinea & India. His work has supported the integration of satellite-based surveillance systems, enhancing global air traffic management capabilities. Greg led the implementation of ADS-B which is now widely utilised throughout the world. It is used not only by air traffic management service provision organisations, but also for enhanced situational awareness in the cockpit, enabling pilots to gain a much better mental model of traffic that might be in close

proximity, thereby greatly enhancing aviation safety.

Greg’s career and extensive experience in the implementation of air traffic management and surveillance technologies, reflects a commitment to innovation and safety in aviation, with a legacy of leadership in transforming air traffic management systems both in Australia and internationally.

William ‘Billy’ Hart

William "Billy" Hart was a trail-blazer in Australian aviation, particularly known for his pioneering flights and contributions to promoting aviation in the country during its infancy.

Billy was the first Australian-born person to fly an aircraft solo in Australia, near Penrith, NSW in 1911 and gained Australia’s first pilot’s license, Aviator’s Certificate No. 1, issued by the Aero Club of NSW on 5 December 1911 (under the authority of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain). He had a dual career as a dentist!

He taught himself to fly, an impressive feat at a time when aviation was still in its experimental stages. His aircraft was a Box kite-style aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (later known as Bristol). Hart was instrumental in sparking public interest in aviation by performing demonstration flights across New South Wales. His flights were often publicised events that drew large crowds, helping to popularise the idea of flight in Australia.

Billy competed in early air races and exhibitions, including a notable flight from Penrith to Sydney. These events helped establish aviation as a serious and promising field in the eyes of the public and investors. While not a formal flight school operator, Hart’s visibility and skill helped inspire a generation of future aviators. He was among the first to advocate for aviation to be taken seriously in Australia, both as a mode of transport and as a field of innovation.

During the First World War, Hart served with the Australian Flying Corps, further contributing to the development of aviation skills and standards in a military context.

Though not as widely remembered as some other aviation pioneers, Billy Hart’s early flights and dedication to flying played a significant role in laying the groundwork for Australia's aviation industry. His efforts helped demonstrate the viability of flight in Australia and inspired the public and policymakers alike.

Sir Ivan Holyman KBE MC MiD

Sir Ivan Nello Holyman (1896–1957) was a pioneering Tasmanian businessman and aviation leader, best known for founding Australian National Airways (ANA), which became a cornerstone of Australia's domestic and international air travel.

Born on 9 July 1896 in Devonport, Tasmania, Ivan was the youngest of thirteen children in the Holyman family, known for their shipping business, William Holyman & Sons. Educated at Launceston Grammar School, he began working in the family firm in 1911. In 1914, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and served with distinction during the First World War. He was wounded four times, mentioned in dispatches, and awarded the Military Cross for gallantry near Jeancourt, France, in

September 1918.

After the war, Holyman returned to the family business. In 1932, he and his brother Victor founded Holyman Airways, operating a de Havilland DH83 Fox Moth between Launceston and Flinders Island. Following Victor's tragic disappearance in a 1934 accident, Ivan expanded the airline, merging it with Adelaide Airways in 1936 to form Australian National Airways (ANA). As Managing Director of ANA, Holyman transformed the airline into a major domestic carrier, known for its modern fleet and extensive network. He was instrumental in lifting the Australian government's ban on importing U.S.-built commercial aircraft, allowing ANA to acquire advanced models like the Douglas DC-2. He is credited with the introduction in Australia of air hostesses (a term used early last century, contemporarily known today as flight attendants), free in-flight meals and the automatic insurance of

passengers!

Holyman's leadership extended beyond aviation; he was involved in various business ventures and was a prominent figure in Tasmania's economic development. He passed away on 18 January 1957 in Honolulu, Hawaii. His legacy endures in the aviation industry and in the Holyman family's contributions to Tasmania's maritime and aviation heritage.

THE AAHOF SOUTHERN CROSS AWARD winner for 2025 is:

The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1980 to represent and advocate for the interests of regional aviation across Australia. Originally known as the Regional Airlines Association of Australia, it broadened its scope in 2001 to include aerial work operators and related support businesses.

RAAA has approximately 120 members, including airlines, airports, engineering and flight training organisations, finance and insurance firms, and government entities. These members operate across all Australian states and territories.

RAAA members directly employ over 10,000 people, many in regional areas. Collectively, they generate more than $1.5 billion in annual turnover, transport over 2 million passengers, and move more than 23 million kilograms of freight each year. The RAAA’s mission is to promote a safe and viable regional aviation industry by working with governments, regulatory authorities, and the community. This includes lobbying for policy development, advocating for infrastructure investment, and addressing industry challenges such as pilot shortages and regulatory reform.

The RAAA actively participates in policy discussions and advisory forums, representing regional aviation interests to federal and state governments. It is a member of the Australian Aviation Associations Forum and collaborates with entities like Airservices Australia, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The association highlights issues such as the high cost of operating regional services, reliance on government subsidies, and the need for sustainable aviation policies. In 2024, RAAA released a policy paper urging decisive action to ensure the future viability of regional aviation services.

Formal Induction Dinner

We are excited to announce that the next Gala Induction Dinner (usually hosted each October) will be deferred slightly to align with the Airshows Downunder Shellharbour event to be held at Albion Park from 13 - 15 March 2026.

The dinner is scheduled for Saturday evening 14 March 2026 at the home of

AAHOF on the mezzanine floor above the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).

Attendees at Airshows Downunder Shellharbour will experience the thrill of the flying displays, get up close and personal with historic, military, modern and aerobatic aircraft on the ground and have a great family day out with free carnival rides, market stalls and dining options.

The AAHOF Board considers that aligning our Gala Induction Dinner with Airshows Downunder Shellharbour will maximise the opportunity for AAHOF members, sponsors, and stakeholders to attend the airshow and the dinner.

Details of how to book tickets for the AAHOF Gala Induction Dinner scheduled for Saturday 14 March 2026 can be found on our website (www.aahof.com.au). The dinner will induct the four 2025 inductees and celebrate the recipient of the Southern Cross Award.

The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF)

The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame honours those individuals and organisations whose contributions have advanced aviation and aerospace in this nation.

AAHOF is a not for profit, public company limited by guarantee located upstairs at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Museum, more commonly known as HARs at Albion Park Rail NSW.

The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame is grateful for the support of our sponsors – Viva Energy

Australia, the AMDA Foundation Limited, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Maygars Hill Winery, Dick Smith AC, and Norton White Lawyers.

Since its initial launch, AAHOF has been committed to preserving the history of aviation in Australia and inspiring it's future.

Greg Hood AO

Chair

Australian Aviation Hall of Fame