In space, no one can hear your boomerang return

One of the earliest sections appearing in Airborne Australia is devoted to the boomerang, the uniquely Australian device whose surface resembles that of modern-day aircraft wings, which allows it to fly through the air - and, in the case of specially-designed boomerangs, return to the person who threw it!

Now, one of the most intriguing aeronautical experiments ever to be conducted was successfully completed on Tuesday 18 March 2008, by Japanese astronaut Takao Doi (pictured) who, while serving aboard the International Space Station, threw a boomerang out into space - and saw it return, just as it would have on Earth!

He carried out this offbeat mission (conducted during his free time, so he wasn't goofing off, alright?) at the request of Yasuhiro Togai, a resident of Osaka, Japan, who won an international boomerang-throwing competition in 2006.

While it might be some time before you, too, can enjoy the thrills of deep-space boomerang throwing, you can visit the Boomerang Association of Australia to learn more about this unique sport. No space suit required - just a good, strong throwing arm.

You've read the book - now, download the study guide!

Well, it's official - as of today, copies of Airborne Australia are being parachuted into bookstores across the country. (Well, okay, they were probably wheeled into bookshops on a trolley by a courier, but "parachuted" sounds a lot more exciting, right?)

Anyhow...um, where were we? Oh yes, that's right, the book. Well, it's out now in bookshops everywhere. But, if you're a teacher or librarian who's got a copy proudly displayed on your shelf, you might be interested to know that Random House Australia has prepared a study guide to accompany Airborne Australia, which you can use as the basis for lesson plans or group activities.

Just visit Kids @ Random Reading Guides, then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the 'download' link next to Airborne Australia. It's that simple!

Take-off with Airborne Australia!

Okay, we'll be the first to admit that things have, well, been a little quiet here at Amazing Australia headquarters for the last month or so. But we have a very good excuse - and, no, it wasn't because we spent the whole summer sipping cold drinks by the pool.

Instead, we've been hunched over our keyboard (or, in Doug's case, his drawing board), busily putting the finishing touches to the next book in the Amazing Australia series - Airborne Australia!

In case you haven't guessed by now, Airborne Australia is all about the history of aviation in Australia, from the pioneering days of hot-air balloons and box kites, to the modern era of supersonic fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Like its predecessor, Prehistoric Australia, this new book is packed to the rafters with puzzles, activities, thrilling stories and true tales of aerial daring. And there's an action-packed, full colour comic strip, documenting the devastating Japanese bombing raid on Darwin in 1942!

Airborne Australia will be published by Random House Australia on 1 April 2008 and will be available at all good bookstores across the country.

And remember - keep watching the skies!