| Royal Aero Club of New South Wales | |
| Abbreviation: | RACNSW |
| Formerly: | The Aero Club of New South Wales (1929-1935) Australian Aero Club NSW Section (1920-1929) |
| Nickname: | 'The Royal' |
| Headquarters: | Strawberry Hills, New South Wales |
| Leader Title: | Training base |
| Leader Name: | Camden Airport, New South Wales |
| Leader Title2: | AOC # |
| Leader Name2: | CASA.141 FTO.0433 |
| Leader Title3: | Fleet size |
| Leader Name3: | 5 |
| Key People: | Lachlan Hyde (President & Chairman) Martin Sauer (CEO) Danial Martin (Head of Training Operations) |
| Website: | https://royalaero.com.au/ |
The Royal Aero Club of New South Wales (RACNSW) is a legacy aviation organisation, aero club, and certified flight training operator.[1] Established in 1920 as NSW Section of the Australian Aero Club, it is one of Australia's oldest aviation organisations preceding both Qantas and the Royal Australian Air Force.
Today, RACNSW claims to be the Southern Hemisphere's largest volunteer-run and not-for-profit flying school.
Origins of the RACNSW trace back to October 1914 when young officers from the Australian Flying Corps assembled in Point Cook, Victoria. This meeting saw the establishment of the Australian Aero Club (AAC) which became affiliated with the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain.[2] World War I interrupted the AAC's development however following the war the idea of a dedicated New South Wales Section emerged.
On May 23, 1919, a key meeting was held at Royal Society House in Sydney’s CBD where the club's foundation was laid. Colonel Oswald Watt, a decorated figure celebrated for his bravery in the skies of France during World War 1 was elected inaugural president. Under Watt's leadership the NSW Section of the Australian Aero Club received its Certificate of Incorporation on November 10, 1920.In 1926, the Department of Aviation approached the RACNSW with a proposal to establish a flight training organisation. Under this arrangement, the club organised and maintained flight training operations and in return received three de Havilland DH.60 Cirrus Moths with the first aircraft arriving in July that same year at Mascot Aerodrome.[3]
During the late 1920s, the RACNSW bought land at Warwick Farm (a suburb near Liverpool in South Western Sydney) to create a 'Flying Country Club'. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that over 70 acres were cleared for the club, with well-prepared landing grounds and runways. This site was named Hargrave Park Aerodrome and officially opened in September 1930 with over 20,000 attendees including the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Phillip Game.[4]
By 1935, the RACNSW had established itself as a pioneering force in aviation and was honoured by King George V who granted the prefix 'Royal'. Consequently, the club adopted the title of the Royal Aero Club of New South Wales.
With the onset of World War II in 1939, the club like many other flight training organisations redirected its resources to support the war effort. It played a vital role in providing skilled instructors, aircraft, and maintenance facilities to train aspiring cadets for the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1944, Hargrave Park Aerodrome was also taken over by the British Navy as HMS Golden Hind.
Following the war and as the Jet Age emerged and Mascot evolved into Sydney's International Airport, the Department of Civil Aviation instructed the club to move to Bankstown Aerodrome. In 1949, the club relocated to the former Royal Australian Air Force hospital premises, with the official opening conducted by the Patron and Governor of New South Wales, Sir John Northcott.[5]
During this transition, the club's aircraft fleet evolved significantly shifting from de Havilland Tiger Moths to de Havilland Chipmunks and later adopting Piper Aircraft including Comanches and Tri-Pacers.
The late 1980s saw the RACNSW face significant challenges with financial difficulties arising which ultimately saw the club placed into receivership during the 1990s.[6]
In 2023, a group of individuals under the leadership of Lachlan Hyde united to revive and re-establish the Royal Aero Club.Early 2024, saw the Civil Aviation Safety Authority issue the club with their Part 141 Flight Training Approvals allowing the RACNSW to conduct training for Recreational, Private, and Commercial Pilot Licences, as well as operational ratings, and other training. January of that same year also saw the newly re-established club host a 'Flying Training Camp' with 34 young people from across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.[7]
The Royal Aero Club of New South Wales has had many well-known members over the years, including: