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Dick Smith

Dick Smith (born 18 March 1944) is an Australian businessman and aviator. In 1968, he founded electronics retailer Dick Smith Electronics. In 1982, he sold the business to Woolworths, although the business still retained his name in the business title and his image as the company logo. The company has more recently concentrated on mainstream electronics and entertainment products. It no longer deals in electronic components for serious enthusiasts, technicians and engineers, ceding its market share in this area to competitors such as Jaycar.

In 1983, he made the first solo helicopter flight around the world. During the trip he landed on container ships at sea to refuel. Also during the 1980s, he founded the magazine Australian Geographic a National Geographic-style magazine focussing on Australia. Smith founded Dick Smith Foods (DSF) in 1999. DSF only sells foods produced in Australia by Australian-owned companies.

Smith has also attempted a number of well-publicised practical jokes, the grandest of which was the "attempt" to tow an iceberg from Antarctica to Australia to obtain more water. He won the 1986 Australian of the Year.