Colin Defries

Colin Defries (1884–1963) was an English racing driver and pilot who made his first powered aeroplane flight over Australia on 9 December 1909.

- The RAC's Gorell Committee instead recognised Frenchman J. T. C Moore-Brabazon, as being the first to demonstrate powered controlled flight for "flying a circular mile on an all- English-mode machine in 1909".

Defries left Australia soon after and apparently made no subsequent personal claims or memoirs about the December 1909 flight.

The owner of the aircraft, Lawrence Adamson, "dumped it at sea" in order to avoid paying customs duties.

The engine now belongs to Museum Victoria, where it is regarded by the handler, David Crotty, as "one of the most significant aeronautical artefacts" in the collection.

Colin Defries in the pilot's seat of his Wright machine.