Pilotless Auster over Sydney in 1955
 

In 1955 a pilot was handstarting an Auster at Bankstown and it got airborne without him, heading over Sydney. The RAAF attempted on two occasions to shoot the Auster down, first with a Wirraway and then a Meteor. But no luck! So, the Navy was called in from Nowra and two Sea Furies did the job that the RAAF couldn't do. Funnily enough, both pilots were on loan from the Royal Navy, but one Peter McNay tranferred to the RAN shortly after.

For your enjoyment!

[YOUTUBE]

The whole story and nothing but the truth!

Runaway - told by Tom Ware, NSW

I was a young boy at the time and this story is one of many of the incident. In the 'Australian Story' you quote an accurate appraisal of the incident is given with some licence in the use of names e.g. 'roger ramjet' etc. Peter McNay stayed in the RAN for sometime before retiring to Canberra and becoming Preseident of the Naval Association (Canberra Sub-Branch)

Includes very rare period footage of the prototype "variable fuselage" Meteor.