Benalla’s newest art installation, Taking Flight, honours Benalla-born Arthur Baird's engineering and aviation achievements. It is based on a de Havilland DH-50 aircraft and is more than five metres high.
The work, constructed entirely of satin-finish marine grade stainless steel, is deliberately incomplete, suggestive of half-built models, parts and prototypes, referencing Baird’s engineering background.
The sculpture is designed to suggest a wind tunnel prototype and to work effectively as an airfield windsock, carefully balanced to move freely in the wind.
This location was selected so the sculpture could be seen almost ‘flying’ among the gum trees, visible to traffic passing down Benalla’s Nunn St.
In 1921, Mr Baird assisted Dr Archibald Michod, the first flying doctor in Queensland, by modifying an aircraft to allow patients to be flown to and from Longreach for treatment.
This was the start of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
He was also integral in setting up Qantas.
The sculpture was created by Victorian artist Alex Sanson.