After an extended illness, retired airline boss and air display pilot, PPRuNe Moderator, and organiser of many excellent PPRuNe Bashes throughout the years, Don Daines has sadly passed away.
Don brought a wealth of experience, organisation, and humour to the site and was particularly keen in helping wannabe pilots get their break in to the industry, be they young or old. He was a key founder and organiser of the PPRuNe Fund, which provided various forms of assistance ranging from ground school packages to full blown assistance with Astraeus cadetships. As the years went by, the Fund depleted and was finally wound up with various aviation based charities receiving benefit from it.
For those who met Don, you will all have your own memories of him and what he meant to you. A deep and warm friendship, a shared passion for aviation, a fatherly figure, someone to bounce ideas off - these are just some of my personal memories of how Don touched my life.
For his wife, Jan, the coming days are going to be very dark and difficult. She can however take comfort from the family and friends who surround her, including those in her 'PPRuNe family' be they real or virtual.
Once funeral arrangements are known, they will be posted on PPRuNe.
RIP Don, you old bugger
You will be sorely missed by many.
