about us

Light Aircraft Pty Ltd, is a supplier to the Australian Department of Defence of Safety and Survival Equipment from overseas companies in a varied range of fields.

We supply Lifejackets from SECUMAR (Germany), CBRNE Clothing and Accessories for Special Forces and Aircrew from Blucher ( Germany), Wireless Interphones from Globalsys (France), CBRNE Stretcher Carrier Systems and Human Remains Bags from ISOVAC Products (USA), Military Intercom Systems from Elno (France), to list a few.

On the commercial side of business, we supply Wireless Interphones to Qantas, Air NZ and Hawaiian Airlines from Globalsys (France). Also, Powerline Detection Systems from Safeflight (USA) and Impact Protection Products from D3O (UK).

our history

THE BEGINNINGS OF PARACHUTE MANUFACTURE IN AUSTRALIA

 LIGHT AIRCRAFT PTY LTD.

In the 1930s George Mills, a Sydney dentist who had been in the Australian Flying Corps, approached Richard Williams of the RAAF, who had been his former commanding officer, and said he felt, as others did, that war was coming, and that he would like to make some contribution.

In his autobiography Williams recounts the background to this meeting…

In November 1937 we had another change of Minister, Mr H. V. C. Thorby replacing Sir Archdale Parkhill who had lost his seat at a recent election. My outstanding memory of Mr Thorby is that he was the most uncommunicative Minister I had had and that being a builder he paid particular attention to building plans to ensure that plumbing costs were kept to a minimum by having kitchens, bathrooms and toilets close to one another.

At about this time George Mills came to me and said that he felt, as many others did, that war was coming and whilst he could not serve in the Air Force he would like to make some contribution, and asked my advice as to what he might do. Mills had been an observer in my flight in Palestine in 1916-17, having come to us from the Light Horse, and had been shot through the right hand and invalided home. But he had been smitten by aviation, had learned to fly, and played a prominent part in the Aero Club in Sydney.

“When I visited the Irving parachute factory in the United States in 1924 I had noted that it occupied a comparatively small building and its equipment consisted of about 20 machines operated by women. I could see no reason why such a factory should not be established in Australia and suggested that Mills might do that. He did so and his parachutes saved many lives during the war, and more since.”

With Brigadier Denzil Macarthur Onslow, Mills secured local rights of manufacture from GQ and Irving, the principal British parachute makers. Just before the outbreak of the Second World War the new firm of Light Aircraft secured an RAAF contract for locally made parachutes. In 1939 it was employing 10 women; in 1944 it employed 366 women.

Chief assistant to Mills in his business was his former Light Horse batman, Wally Shiers, who was one of the famous team of four who had made the first England to Australia flight in a Vickers-Vimy in December 1919.

during second world war

During the Second World War Mills designed supply drop parachutes manufacturing them by the thousand.

He also produced special fur-lined equipment for medical officers to wear inside the testing chambers for high-altitude tests. He repaired and maintained parachutes for the RAAF. He produced air-to-air combat targets, shell-droppers, safety harness and other equipment.

Mills made his parachutes under licence from Gregory Quilter and Co. (GQ) and the Irving Chute Co. of England.

The British designs were modified to suit Australian conditions and the resulting product, which incorporated features of both the GQ and Irving designs was called the Dominion Chute. 

companies previously represented in australian marketplace

1937 – 1945. Manufacturer of Personal and Supply Parachutes for Australian Department of Defence. Light Aircraft held 90% of the market as sole manufacturer (under Licence) in Australia and also supplied Irvin (UK) and GQ (UK) during this period.

1947 – 1991. Martin Baker (UK) - Sole Australian Agent / Distributor Ejection Seats and spares support for Royal Australian Air Force, Mirage 111, Macchi MB326, F/A-18 Hornet and Pilatus PC-9 Aircraft.

1987-2003. Helmet Integrated Systems Ltd (UK), formerly Helmets Ltd , Light Aircraft obtained first export sales for Alpha Flight Helmet. Australian Air Force, Army and Navy flight helmet inventory approximately 65% British Alpha Helmet.

1990 - 2000. Remploy Ltd (UK), Sole supplier of Ground Forces NBC Suits to Department of Army (54,000 units). Coveralls-Flyers to Department of Navy.

Until 2015. Cam Lock (UK), Aircrew Oxygen Masks (Army, Navy, Air Force). NBC Aircrew Portable Ventilators, AR5 & CBRR Chemical, Biological, Radiological Respirators and CB40 Chemical & Biological Oxygen Masks for Land & Sea.