shareholders was Dr Banks, and various members of the Robinson family also invested. They commenced a regular service between Lismore and Brisbane as well as charter and joyflights. Keith Virtue and New England Airways colleague Tommy Young flew in formation with Charles Kingsford Smith for the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening on 19 March 1932. They were in Avro 618 Tens, the City of Sydney and City of Brisbane, with Charles Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross. In 1935, New England Airways figures showed a record of over a million miles flown and approximately 21500 passengers carried safely on their Sydney–Brisbane mail planes. Airlines of Australia (1936–1942) In October 1935 a new company was floated to replace and incorporate New England Airways, backed by the British Pacific Trust, and named Airlines of Australia Ltd. It also acquired the Larkin Aircraft Supply Company in Melbourne. G.A. Robinson remained managing director and Lord Sempill and H.C. Armstrong were among the Directors. The purpose was to extend aerial services from Cairns–Townsville–Brisbane–Sydney–Melbourne and beyond. Keith Virtue was appointed Flying Superintendent. Australian National Airways gained a controlling interest in Airlines of Australia in April 1937, although the two airlines retained separate public identities until 1942. Royal Australian Air Force (1939–1947) Keith Virtue served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. He enlisted 11 September 1939 and was discharged on 1 July 1947. During this time, Keith was involved in supplying equipment to Australian soldiers in New Guinea. The planes couldn't land, so equipment was pushed out of the low flying planes. This was referred to as "biscuit bombing". Australian National Airways (1942–1954) As a 42-year-old veteran in 1951, Keith Virtue took off from Sydney in his ANA Skymaster to become the first Australian to have spent 20000 hours in the air. On 15 November 1954, one mistake in 23170 hours of flying, when he failed to lower the undercarriage of DC-4 Skymaster VH-ANF when landing in Brisbane, led to his retirement from commercial flying in Australia. Marriage and family Keith Virtue married Nita Monica Robinson, daughter of co-founder of New England Airways, G.A. Robinson, at Lismore in 1934. They had two sons, Michael and Peter and a daughter, Jan. Both Michael and Peter followed in their father's footsteps as Australian commercial airline pilots. Retirement After Keith Virtue retired he spent a good part of his time on the golf