Bert Hinkler – Australian Lone Eagle | Pioneer Aviator 1892–1933
Pioneer · Inventor · Record Breaker · Australian Hero

8 December 1892 — 7 January 1933

Herbert John Louis
“Bert” Hinkler

The Australian Lone Eagle — first to fly solo from England to Australia and first to cross the South Atlantic alone.

Portrait of Flight-Lieutenant Bert Hinkler in 1921
Flight-Lieutenant Bert Hinkler, 1921 · State Library of Queensland

“Hustling Hinkler, up in the sky…”

— Popular song written after the 1928 record flight

Signature Achievements

First Solo England → Australia

7–22 February 1928 · 15½ days in an Avro Avian — almost halved the previous record.

First Solo South Atlantic

1931 · Crossed the South Atlantic alone in a de Havilland Puss Moth.

Inventor & Designer

Created practical aviation devices used into WWII and designed the Hinkler Ibis amphibian.

Decorated Airman

DSM (WWI) · Air Force Cross · Britannia Trophy · FAI Gold Medal.

Prime Minister Stanley Bruce presents a cheque and cigarette case to Bert Hinkler in 1928
Prime Minister Stanley Bruce presents a cheque and cigarette case to Bert Hinkler, 1928

Walk in the footsteps of a pioneer

Visit the Hinkler Hall of Aviation and the relocated Hinkler House in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Explore the 1928 Flight

Want a deeper dive? Read R.D. Mackenzie’s biography Solo - The Bert Hinkler Story — available on Amazon.

Bert Hinkler Memorial Website · Historical images Public Domain
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