AFTER two years of postponements, the Serpentine Air Race will finally celebrate one-hundred years with a special event on Sunday, 20 March.<\/p>\n
Tiger Moth biplanes will compete in the sky, and visitors and enthusiasts will be able to check out historical displays and an aerobatic show.<\/p>\n
The event commemorates Australia\u2019s first official aerial derby, held in 1920 as part of the Second Peace Loan raising money for the repatriation and care of World War I soldiers and nurses.<\/p>\n
East Loddon Historical Society historian Mary Davidson said the committee is very excited to finally hold the event, and the canola farm turned airfield in Serpentine is ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the pilots are off competing in the air race, there\u2019ll be other planes in the sky doing all their daredevil aerobatics,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll be aeroplanes flying all afternoon, the Royal Air Force Roulettes are going to be doing a fly through and they\u2019ll have a couple of exhibition planes on display.\u201d<\/p>\n
The race itself will see pilots fly over 110 kilometres from Serpentine to Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the contestants in the air race is a plane from the RAF 100 squadron, their historic aeroplane squadron,\u201d Ms Davidson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll have one competing, and we\u2019ve also got an aeroplane competing that was in the August 1995 event that recognised the 75th anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visitors can witness historic vehicles including a Grumman Avenger, a CAC Wirraway and a T-28 Trojan in the air show.<\/p>\n
Ms Davidson said all profits will be shared with Bendigo Legacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re carrying on what started 100 years ago,\u201d she said. \u201cThese days we\u2019ve still got soldiers suffering from the trauma of war in any capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event will run from 9am until 5pm, depending on weather, with food trucks and marquees available.<\/p>\n