Forrest Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorFayburn Pty Ltd.
LocationForrest, Western Australia
Elevation AMSL511 ft / 156 m
Coordinates30°50′19″S 128°06′46″E / 30.83861°S 128.11278°E / -30.83861; 128.11278
Websitehttp://www.forrestairport.com.au
Map
YFRT is located in Western Australia
YFRT
YFRT
Location in Western Australia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
18/36 1,519 4,984 Asphalt
09/27 1,349 4,426 Asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

Forrest Airport (IATA: FOS, ICAO: YFRT) is an airport located in the hamlet of Forrest, Western Australia. The airport is clearly visible from the Indian Pacific train, which services the Trans-Australian Railway.

History

The airport was built by the Department of Civil Aviation in 1929 as a fuel stop for West Australian Airways which had won a government contract to carry mail between Adelaide and Perth using the de Havilland Hercules.[2] In the 1930s the Douglas airliner Bungana, also known as the mail plane, was a regular visitor on interstate flights.[3][4]

During World War II it was operated by the Royal Australian Air Force as a transit and fuel stop, and a communications base.[5] and has been the site of various military visits to the location over time.[6]

Current usage

It remains in use as an important stopping place for refuelling short range planes, for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Defence Force.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ YFRT – Forrest (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 2023-11-30, Aeronautical Chart
  2. ^ Forrest Airport and Hostel, 1930, retrieved 11 March 2023
  3. ^ "AIRWAY SERVICES". The West Australian. Vol. 53, no. 15, 998. Western Australia. 6 October 1937. p. 17. Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "BUNGANA PASSENGERS". The Daily News. Vol. LV, no. 19, 403. Western Australia. 1 June 1937. p. 2 (CITY FINAL). Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Aircraft stays at Forrest". The West Australian. Vol. 68, no. 20, 460. Western Australia. 15 February 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "NAVY AIDS THE "LONE STAR" STATE". Royal Australian Navy News. Vol. 18, no. 21. Australia, Australia. 28 November 1975. p. 9. Retrieved 11 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "AIRWAY SERVICES". The West Australian. Perth. 4 May 1937. p. 17. Retrieved 14 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Home". forrestairport.com.au.

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