There and Back dedicated to Aviation, Airmanship and the Craft of Flying - by Owen Zupp & Robert Brus

Today marked 100 years since Harry Houdini took to the skies under power at Digger’s Rest in Victoria. That flight , in a Voisin biplane, set Australia on a very distinguished course as the young nation went onto become a pioneer in aviation with names like Hinkler, Kingsford Smith, Bonney and the Smith brothers all [...]

In 1909, Houdini became fascinated with aviation, bought a French Voisin biplane for $5000 and hired a full-time mechanic, Antonio Brassac. The Voisin had been built especially for Houdini in 1909. It weighed 1,350 pounds, “..with Mr. Houdini mounted.” The 8 foot propeller was behind the pilot. The Voisin aircraft resembled an enlarged powered version [...]