In 1928 Australian aviation pioneer, Charles Kingsford Smith, flew a Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor (Southern Cross) monoplane from mainland US to Australia, achieving the firstever transPacific flight covering a distance of about 11,670 kilometres (7,250 miles). Featured in this video is the replica of the original Southern Cross. This fullsized flying reproduction of the Southern Cross was built in South Australia between 1980 and 1987, and is the largest known reproduction aircraft in the world.

On 25 May 2002, the Southern Cross suffered a takeoff accident with major structure damage. The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) acquired the aircraft from the South Australia (SA) Government in 2010. After 12 years of meticulous reconstruction by HARS volunteers, the Southern Cross achieves airworthiness in 2023. On 8th December 2023, the first public flight demonstration was achieved with a great success. Veteran Qantas pilots Bruce Simpson and Mark Thurstan are at the helm.

00:00 Engine Electric Motor Check
00:37 Start Engine 3
01:45 Start Engine 2
02:36 Start Engine 1
02:53 Engine Runup
03:46 Outbound taxi
04:44 Takeoff
05:31 Low flyby
06:21 Landing
06:58 Inbound taxi
07:53 Engine Shutdown
08:28 Close inspection
09:51 Happy Pilots
10:33 Cockpit and Cabin
10:57 Towing

#southerncross #fokker #plane