A famous Percival Gull 4 is featured in this attractive period-painting of one of Charles Kingsford Smith’s record-breaking flights. The sporty monoplane, designed by ex-patriate Australian, Edgar Percival, is shown banking steeply over Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1933, its huge, extra fuel tank clearly visible–occupying most of the cabin behind the pilot’s seat.

While Smithy enjoyed the personal success he drew from making these record breaking flights, the main reason for them was to create confidence among the public and business leaders for the still-infant aviation industry. An atmosphere in which his own airline interests, shared with Charles Ulm, could flourish.