On Friday, March 18, 1910, following more than a month of delays due to inclement weather conditions,For photographs taken of Houdini's preparation at Diggers Rest before his first flight see: Houdini's Experiment with his Voisin Bi-Plane at Diggers' Rest, The Australasian, (Saturday, 19 March 1910), p. 35.Learning to Fly: Experiments in Victoria, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 17 March 1910), p. 6. Houdini completed one of the first powered aeroplane flights ever made in Australia. He made three flights in his French Voisin biplane, at the Old Plumpton Paddock, at Diggers Rest, Victoria, ranging from 1 minute to 3½ minutesreaching an altitude of 100ft in one of his flights, and travelling more than two miles in another.First Air Flight in AustraliaHoudini at Diggers' Rest, The Leader, (Saturday, 26 March 1910), p. 25.The Airship in Victoria: Houdini’s Flights at Digger’s Rest, The Weekly Times’, (Saturday, 2 April 1910), p. 28. Nine of the 30 spectators present on that day signed a certificate verifying Houdini's achievement.Houdini Flies: Trials at Digger’s Rest: Three Successful Flights: Height of 100 ft. Reached, The Argus, (Saturday, 19 March 1910), p. 18.Only one of those who signed the 18 March 1910 certificate, Robert Howie, a local farmer, was unconnected with either Houdini or Ralph Coningsby Banks (1883–1955), a Melbourne-based aviator, whose Wright Flyer was also stationed on the same paddock, right next to Houdini's base.
