Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Dick Smith

Dick Smith photo by Eva Rinaldi-Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Dick Smith

Richard Harold Smith is an Australian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and aviator.

However, he holds a number of aviation world records and he is the founder of Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods, and Australian Geographic.

Moreover, he was selected as 1986 Australian of the year and in 2010 he founded the media production company Smith&Nasht with the intention of producing films about global issues.

Furthermore, in 2015 he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia and he is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Here are the top 10 fascinating facts about Dick Smith.

1. Dick Smith holds many World Aviation Records

Dick Smith Photo by Eva Rinaldi-Wikimedia Commons.

Smith holds many world aviation records made in rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and beneath balloons.

Which include: First solo trans-Atlantic flight by helicopter in 1982, the First solo circumnavigation by helicopter in 1983, the First helicopter to the North Pole in 1987, the First circumnavigation landing at both poles in 1989,

First non-stop balloon crossing of the Australian continent in 1993, the First east-west circumnavigation by helicopter in 1995, first Trans-Tasman balloon fight in 2001.

2. At the Age of 34, Dick Smith purchased his first Helicopter

Dick Smith Photo by Jeff Rowley-Wikimedia Commons.

At the age of 34, he purchased his first helicopter a Bell Jetranger II and on 23^rd February 1979, he obtained his license to fly it.

However, in January 1980 with Rick Howell co-piloting the Jetranger he made a record-setting flight from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and returned.

Moreover, the helicopter opened new opportunities for exploring places otherwise inaccessible.

In addition, in the years 1982-83, Smith successfully completed the first solo helicopter flight around the world and his flight began in Fort Worth Texas on 5^th August 1982 in a newly purchased Bell Jetranger 206B.

3. Dick Smith founded Dick Smith Car radios

Dick Smith photo by Gronk Oz-Wikimedia Commons.

In 1968 with approximately $610 investment by Dick Smith and his then-fiancée Pip Smith founded Dick Smith car radios a small taxi radio repair business in the Sydney suburb of Neutral Bay New South Wales which later expanded into the car radio business at Gore Hill.

However, the business later became electronics retailer Dick Smith Electronics which grew rapidly in the late 1970s, particularly through sales of Citizens Band radios and then personal computers with annual sales of about A17 million dollars by 1978.

Furthermore, in 1980 he sold the business to Woolworths for 25 million dollars.

Moreover, though Smith retained no share nor role in the company after 1982 the business continued to trade with his name prominently displayed in every aspect of its operations.

In addition, sales reached 1.4 billion dollars in 2014 before a sharp decline and closure of its then hundreds of stores in Australia and New Zealand by May 2016.

4. He founded Australian Geographic Pty Ltd

Dick Smith photo by Richard Harold-Wikimedia Commons.

In 1986 Smith founded Australian Geographic Pty Ltd which published the Australian Geographic magazine a National Geographic-style magazine focusing on Australia.

However, Smith did not want to greatly expand Australian Geographic but his friend and CEO Ike Bain persuaded him to change his mind and soon it was a successful business.

In addition, he sold the business to Fairfax Media in 1995 for 41 million dollars.

5. Dick Smith co-produced the Documentary First Contact

Smith co-produced the documentary First Contact in 1983 recounting the discovery in 1930 of a flourishing native population in the interior highlands of New Guinea.

However, the film went on to win Best Feature Documentary at the 1983 Australian Film Institute Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

6. He founded Dick Smith Foods

Smith founded Dick Smith Foods in 1999 a crusade against foreign ownership of Australian food producers, particularly Arnott’s Biscuits which in the year 1997 became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company.

However, Dick Smith Foods only sold foods produced in Australia by Australian-owned companies and all profits went to charity.

Moreover, in 2018 he announced the closure of the business in 2019 having distributed over 10 million in profits to charity.

7. Dick Smith was the chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority

Smith has been a vocal advocate for the civil aviation industry in Australia having been appointed by Prime Minister Bob Hawke as chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority from February 1990 to February 1992.

However, he also served as deputy chairman and chairman of the Board of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority from 1997 until his resignation in 1999.

Moreover, during his tenure, a comprehensive reform plan was devised to improve safety, streamline bureaucracy and reduce costs but facing opposition from the incumbent commercial operators particularly Qantas and Ansett it was never implemented.

8. He offered a 25,000-dollar reward for the discovery of the elusive Australian night parrot

In the year 1989 Smith offered a 25,000-dollar reward for the discovery dead or alive of the elusive Australian night parrot.

However, a dead specimen was found the next year by three ornithologists associated with the Australian Museum who claimed the prize, and efforts to find living specimens were sparked.

Moreover, eventually, in 2013 the first confirmed sighting in over a century was confirmed.

9. Dick Smith donated approximately 60,000 dollars towards a campaign for the then-Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks

Smith donated approximately 60,000 dollars in February 2007 towards a campaign to secure a fair trial for then Australian Terrorism suspect David Hicks who had been held in a U.S military prison in Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay detention camp for five years.

Moreover, Smith said he wanted David to get “a fair trial a fair go”. Fresh charges including attempted murder had been filed against David earlier that month.

David pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in March 2007 as part of a plea bargain and he was released from custody in December 2007.

10. He advocated for the Renaming of 26^th January as “First Fleet Day”

As chairman of the National Centenary of Federation Council from 1996-2000, an appointment was made by then Prime Minister John Howard. However, Smith advocated renaming 26^th January Australian Day which commemorates the arrival of the first fleet of British settlers in 1788 as “First Fleet Day”. In recognition of the fact, it was not a day for celebration by all Australians.