Keith Virtue
Encyclopedia
Keith Allison Virtue MBE
(23 June 1909 – 7 February 1980) was a pioneer Australia
n aviator. Sir Lawrence Wackett
, in the Foreword of Keith Virtue's biography, writes that he was an experienced airman himself but he marvelled at the ability and skill of Keith Virtue and counts him as one of the greatest of the Australians who devoted their life's work to the task of pioneering airlines in Australia.
, the son of an Irish
-born dairyfarmer. He was the youngest of 13 children of Robert and Jane Virtue (née Noble).
His obsession with flying started as a boy of 11 in 1920 when Edgar Percival
landed his Avro 504
K biplane on a paddock on the edge of Lismore and he watched his parents embark on a joyflight. At 15, he started a course through the International Correspondence School on motor car engineering, then switched to aircraft engineering. When he was 18, he was talking of trying to build his own plane with a four-cylinder Henderson Motorcycle
engine, when his father announced "Get up to Brisbane. Learn to Fly. And I'll buy you a plane". The next week he was taking lessons in a Cirrus Moth
under the instruction of Captain Lester Brain
at the Qantas Flying School at Eagle Farm.
At 19 he had his licence - signed in Melbourne by Coleman, the Secretary for Air, in November 1928. Soon he had his "A" licence and the Gipsy Moth
promised by his father was ready and waiting.
left off, renewing the Sydney-Brisbane link from 1930, and for a time in the Depression years providing the only airline service on Australia's east coast".
New England Airways was incorporated on 1 January 1931, with G.A. Robinson Managing Director and Keith Virtue a Director and Chief Pilot. One of the shareholders was Dr Banks, and various members of the Robinson family also invested.
They commenced a regular service between Lismore and Brisbane as well as charter and joyflights.
Keith Virtue and New England Airways colleague Tommy Young flew in formation with Charles Kingsford Smith
for the Sydney Harbour Bridge
opening on 19 March 1932. They were in Avro 618 Ten
s, the City of Sydney and City of Brisbane, with Charles Kingsford Smith
in the Southern Cross
.
In 1935, New England Airways figures showed a record of over a million miles flown and approximately 21500 passengers carried safely on their Sydney-Brisbane mail planes.
Australian National Airways gained a controlling interest in Airlines of Australia in April 1937, although the two airlines retained separate public identities until 1942.
. He enlisted 11 September 1939 and was discharged on 1 July 1947. During this time, Keith was involved in supplying equipment to Australian soldiers in New Guinea. The planes couldn't land, so equipment was pushed out of the low flying planes. This was referred to as "biscuit bombing".
Skymaster to become the first Australian to have spent 20000 hours in the air.
On 15 November 1954, one mistake in 23170 hours of flying, when he failed to lower the undercarriage of DC-4 Skymaster VH-ANF when landing in Brisbane, lead to his retirement from commercial flying in Australia.
Keith Virtue died on the golf course on 7 February 1980.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(23 June 1909 – 7 February 1980) was a pioneer Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n aviator. Sir Lawrence Wackett
Lawrence Wackett
Sir Lawrence James Wackett KBE, DFC, AFC is widely regarded as "father of the Australian aircraft industry". He has been described as "one of the towering figures in the history of Australian aviation covering, as he did, virtually all aspects of activities: pilot, designer of airframes and...
, in the Foreword of Keith Virtue's biography, writes that he was an experienced airman himself but he marvelled at the ability and skill of Keith Virtue and counts him as one of the greatest of the Australians who devoted their life's work to the task of pioneering airlines in Australia.
Early life
Keith Virtue was born in Lismore, New South WalesLismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
, the son of an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born dairyfarmer. He was the youngest of 13 children of Robert and Jane Virtue (née Noble).
His obsession with flying started as a boy of 11 in 1920 when Edgar Percival
Edgar Percival
Edgar Wikner Percival was a noted Australian aircraft designer and pilot whose aircraft were distinguished by speed and grace. Percival went on to set up the Percival Aircraft Company, a British aircraft company in his own name.-Early years:...
landed his Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
K biplane on a paddock on the edge of Lismore and he watched his parents embark on a joyflight. At 15, he started a course through the International Correspondence School on motor car engineering, then switched to aircraft engineering. When he was 18, he was talking of trying to build his own plane with a four-cylinder Henderson Motorcycle
Henderson Motorcycle
Henderson produced 4-cylinder motorcycles from 1912 until 1931. They were the largest and fastest motorcycles of their time, and appealed to sport riders and police departments. Police favored them for traffic patrol because they were faster than anything on the roads...
engine, when his father announced "Get up to Brisbane. Learn to Fly. And I'll buy you a plane". The next week he was taking lessons in a Cirrus Moth
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...
under the instruction of Captain Lester Brain
Lester Brain
Lester Joseph Brain, AO, AFC was a pioneer Australian aviator and airline executive. Born in New South Wales, he trained with the Royal Australian Air Force before joining Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services as a pilot in 1924...
at the Qantas Flying School at Eagle Farm.
At 19 he had his licence - signed in Melbourne by Coleman, the Secretary for Air, in November 1928. Soon he had his "A" licence and the Gipsy Moth
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...
promised by his father was ready and waiting.
Virtue's Air Travel
Keith Virtue and his brother, Ralph Virtue, went into business as "Virtue's Air Travel", painting the caption in large black letters on the Gypsy Moth. They placed advertisements in Lismore and soon had passengers for joy flights, pupils for flying instruction and passengers for longer flights.New England Airways (1931-1936)
Aged 19, Keith Virtue and his future father-in-law, G.A. Robinson, established New England Airways (later Airlines of Australia). In her biography of Keith Virtue, "Virtue in Flying", Joan Priest writes "New England Airways took over where Smithy and UlmAustralian National Airways (1930)
Australian National Airways was a short-lived Australian airline, founded in 1929 by Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm.The airline began operations in January 1930 with five Avro 618 Tens, similar aircraft to Kingsford Smith's famous Southern Cross...
left off, renewing the Sydney-Brisbane link from 1930, and for a time in the Depression years providing the only airline service on Australia's east coast".
New England Airways was incorporated on 1 January 1931, with G.A. Robinson Managing Director and Keith Virtue a Director and Chief Pilot. One of the shareholders was Dr Banks, and various members of the Robinson family also invested.
They commenced a regular service between Lismore and Brisbane as well as charter and joyflights.
Keith Virtue and New England Airways colleague Tommy Young flew in formation with Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
for the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
opening on 19 March 1932. They were in Avro 618 Ten
Avro 618 Ten
-See also:-References:* Priest, Joan Virtue in Flying. 1975 Angus & Robertson ISBN 0207132305-External links:* —Image collection of Ed Coates...
s, the City of Sydney and City of Brisbane, with Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
in the Southern Cross
Southern Cross (aircraft)
Southern Cross is the name of the Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor monoplane which in 1928 was flown by Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew in the first ever trans-Pacific flight, from the mainland United States to Australia, about ....
.
In 1935, New England Airways figures showed a record of over a million miles flown and approximately 21500 passengers carried safely on their Sydney-Brisbane mail planes.
Airlines of Australia (1936-1942)
In October 1935 a new company was floated to replace and incorporate New England Airways, backed by the British Pacific Trust, and named Airlines of Australia Ltd. It also acquired the Larkin Aircraft Supply Company in Melbourne. G.A. Robinson remained Managing Director and Lord Sempill and H.C. Armstrong were among the Directors. The purpose was to extend aerial services from Cairns-Townsville-Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne and beyond. Keith Virtue was appointed Flying Superintendent.Australian National Airways gained a controlling interest in Airlines of Australia in April 1937, although the two airlines retained separate public identities until 1942.
Royal Australian Air Force (1939-1947)
Keith Virtue served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He enlisted 11 September 1939 and was discharged on 1 July 1947. During this time, Keith was involved in supplying equipment to Australian soldiers in New Guinea. The planes couldn't land, so equipment was pushed out of the low flying planes. This was referred to as "biscuit bombing".
Australian National Airways (1942-1954)
As a 42 year old veteran in 1951, Keith Virtue took off from Sydney in his A.N.A.Australian National Airways
Australian National Airways was Australia's predominant carrier from the mid-1930s to the early 1950s.-The Holyman Airways Period:On 19 March 1932 Flinders Island Airways began a regular aerial service using the Desoutter Mk.II VH-UEE Miss Launceston between Launceston, Tasmania and Flinders...
Skymaster to become the first Australian to have spent 20000 hours in the air.
On 15 November 1954, one mistake in 23170 hours of flying, when he failed to lower the undercarriage of DC-4 Skymaster VH-ANF when landing in Brisbane, lead to his retirement from commercial flying in Australia.
Marriage and family
Keith Virtue married Nita Monica Robinson, daughter of co-founder of New England Airways, G.A. Robinson, at Lismore in 1934. They had two sons, Michael and Peter and a daughter, Jan. Both Michael and Peter followed in their father's footsteps as Australian commercial airline pilots.Retirement
After Keith Virtue retired he spent a good part of his time on the golf course. He was a life member of the Brisbane Golf Club.Keith Virtue died on the golf course on 7 February 1980.
External links
- http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/0365.html
- http://www.vh-anr.adastron.com/h1k-virtue.htm Australian National Airways Captain Keith Virtue posing with DC-3 VH-ANR "Oana".
- http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozcrashes/qld70.htm
- http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nea.htm New England Airways brochure
- http://www.gabr.net.au/biogs/ABE0730b.htm Guide to Australian Business Records - New England Airways
- http://www.gabr.net.au/objects/BAOJ00068.htm New England Airways logo
- http://image.sl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/ebindshow.pl?doc=pxe789_6/a169;seq=87 State Library of NSW Hood Collection - Keith Virtue and passengers
- http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran_certificate.asp?VeteranID=1066481 World War II Service