Historic flight plan

1963: Airlines of South Australia, the South Australian loop

A Michel Lagneau historic route presented as a clear cockpit briefing, ready to help you prepare the simulator, follow each stopover and enjoy the journey.

Period1963AuthorMichel LagneauReading3 min

16Waypoints~ 2 828 kmDistance3Segments

Interactive route, leg by leg, with animated playback.

Real route map

Approximate track based on the article waypoints and available aeronautical coordinates.

01Broken Hill to the south02Coast and Eyre Peninsula03Interior and Adelaide

Pre-flight briefing

Airlines of South Australia, the South Australian loop

Understand the mission

Start with the historic context: it sets the atmosphere, aircraft choice and overall logic of the journey.

Prepare the simulator

Check scenery, recommended aircraft, fuel and weather before launching the first leg.

Follow the legs

Use the airport codes, flying times and route notes to build your navigation leg by leg.

Enjoy the journey

Let the route shape the experience: adjust lighting, document waypoints and take time to rediscover the story.

Historic flight plan

Michel Lagneau route notebook

Settle into the cockpit, prepare your aircraft and follow the journey as a proper historic crossing.

A regional tour through South Australia

This flight plan follows a large regional loop inspired by Airlines of South Australia's early-1960s network. The route links many isolated communities, with short and medium legs that feel like a proper scheduled regional operation.

It starts at Broken Hill, heads toward Mildura, Renmark and the south-east farming districts, then continues to Kangaroo Island, the Eyre Peninsula, Ceduna, Woomera and finally Adelaide. It is an ideal route for slower flying, landscape watching and understanding how important small inland services could be.

Period1963

RegionSouth Australia

AircraftDouglas DC-3

Moodregional airline, remote country

The scenario

The route brings together stops that tell the story of practical aviation: connecting distant towns, carrying passengers, mail and light freight, then departing again without losing the schedule. The individual distances are manageable, but the full chain is long enough to require careful planning.

The journey alternates semi-arid country, agricultural plains, coastline, ports and more isolated bases. The final section toward Woomera and Adelaide creates a strong contrast between the Australian interior and the arrival in a major city.

Suggested route

Broken Hill southbound

Open the campaign with the first regional services, keeping a steady rhythm and a clear reading of the territory.

YBHI → YMIA → YREN → YNRC → YMCT

Coast and Eyre Peninsula

The route becomes more maritime and regional, ideal for varying approaches and scenery.

YMCT → YKSC → YPLC → YPIR → YWHA → YCWL → YCEE → YIMB → YMPA → YCDU

Australian interior and Adelaide return

The final chapter heads inland before returning to the major city, with Woomera as a strong landmark.

YCDU → YPWR → YPAD

Recommended aircraft

The Douglas DC-3 is the natural choice for this route: robust enough for regional fields, slow enough to enjoy the scenery, and perfectly suited to a 1960s scheduled-service atmosphere.

GPS is recommended alongside VOR/DME and ADF/NDB navigation. For a more realistic experience, prepare fuel, weather and runway information for each stop, then keep the turnarounds short like a real regional run.

Flying advice

This plan works very well across several sessions. Fly Broken Hill to Millicent on the first day, continue toward Port Lincoln and Whyalla on the second, then make the long run through Ceduna and Woomera to Adelaide.