Vale Graham White

[Jex]

I am sure many of you have now heard of the tragic loss of Graham White in an aircraft accident just off the coast of Moruya on Sunday the 6th of July.

Graham helped an enormous number of young budding aviators in the early days of their career, so I am sure that his friends in this industry are spread far and wide across the globe.

I have started this thread with the hope that people use it to share some of their memories of Graham, or to express their condolences to his family, especially if they are unable to make his funeral (of which I have no details yet). I realise there is another thread on the accident, but I just wanted to start one specific to Graham.

I will compile and print out what is written here and pass it on to his family at his funeral.

Regards

Jex

[Jex]

A quick glance at my logbook tells me I was lucky enough to receive 21.8 hours of instruction from Graham in a variety of aeroplanes, and I am sure many many more hours of tuition and advice on the ground as well. He taught me the majority of my instructor rating, and I was then lucky enough to work under him as a grade 3 instructor at Bankstown in the late 90’s.

During this period I lost my medical for six months, and reverted to being the flying school’s paper-pusher. On the afternoon that I found out my medical was reinstated, Graham drove me out to Hoxton Park where he had access to a Beech Sundowner for mates rates. We flew 1.2 hours of stalls, steep turns and circuits well into the calm air of that spring evening. You can imagine how ecstatic I was. After putting the plane to bed Graham drove me back to Bankstown and steadfastly refused to accept any money from me towards the cost of the flight.

Graham was a wealth of knowledge on aeroplanes and instructing techniques. Throughout my career we kept in touch, and he was only ever a phone call away, always happy to talk aeroplanes and provide advice. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have known Graham, to have benefited from his advice and knowledge, and I will miss crossing paths with him at airshows and fly-ins in the years to come.

[Bunyan Wingnut]

Graham was a truly lovely bloke, a gentleman and most professional, talented instructor. A few years ago I had the great pleasure of doing my formation flying endorsement with him, in training camps based at Tumut. He was so precise, relaxed yet attentive, constructive and patient. His airmanship and skill was wonderful to watch. We had some intensely rewarding hours in the air, fabulous fun and great learning. I have met him on many other occasions, at Moruya, Temora and Canberra. I am richer for having known you Graham, deeply saddened to see your passing.

Slainte miath.

I offer my sincere condolences to all Graham's family, friends and aviating colleagues.

[Fantome]

Last March Graham was at Temora at the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia's annual fly-in. He came over to have a look at the recently restored Rapide, up from Moorabbin. Unable to fly his RV-4, he had driven up from Wagga especially. He had Rapide endorsement approval. His future services in this area were discussed.


Graham was a true aviation mine of information, steeped in the lore, always recounted modestly and quietly. And only if the other party showed any interest. He was in fact the antithesis of an aeroplane nerd, or anorak. In his early high school days he used to roam the old Bankstown hangars, especially that of Sid Marshall . (Marshall Airways .. . with DH84 Dragons and Douglas DC-2s.) . One day he was in Sid's hangar, attempting to tidy up some mess in a far corner, when Sid called from his tiny dog-box office. Sid said come over in here now please Graham, there's a man I'd like you to meet. It was Arther Butler, one of Sid's closest friends from the twenties and thirties; Arthur who had founded Butler Air Transport. Knowing the story of Arthur's flight from England to Australia in 1930 in the tiny single seat Comper Swift, to Graham, Arthur Butler was one of the greats of the pioneering era of flight and fliers.


Claude Graham White was a pioneer of British Aviation, particularly before the First World War. With a twinkle in his eye, our Graham would sometimes say, if his namesake happened to be mentioned in conversation, that while they were not related he thought a little of the spirit of the earlier White lived on in him, perhaps.

It would be a significant tribute to Graham's legacy if it included an increased knowledge and respect for our rich annals composed of those who came before, laying down a tradition, legends even, all of which go back along a long path that reversed, leads us right up to today.

Joining and supporting, as Graham did, the Aviation Historical Society of Australia, will always be a good start. Their journal 'AVIATION HERITAGE' has
evolved into a fine publication, covering the whole gamut, technical, biographic and anecdotal.

[Transition Layer]

Graham was the quintessential stick and rudder man. If it had wings...he'd probably have a crack at flying it.

I had the privilege of flying with GW quite a bit, including an instructor rating under his tutelage. I learnt an incredible amount in that month or so and it held me in good stead to enter the industry as a professional pilot.

A lovely bloke, a great pilot and he will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace.

[Aviatress]

Graham was a fantastic man who gave me my Commercial License and pushed me in the right direction at the beginning of my flying career. He will be greatly missed.

[Jex]

Graham's family have advised that his funeral will be held on Friday 18th July in the Bulli/Wollongong area. There will be a formation fly-over and Graham's son-in-law will be flying Graham’s RV4.

I'll post more details as they become available.

Jex.

[Humbly Reserved]

Very sad to hear how he departed this world. Especially considering his background, I'll always think twice now before climbing into a kit such as this.

What a legend

[bushpig]

A very decent and humble bloke. I didn't have the pleasure of flying with him but had several long conversations over a coffee or two, which I always tried to do when back down on the coast. A few visits to the Aero club at Moruya and saying "G'Day" to Graham always being part of the pleasure of heading back there for a while.

[redsnail]

A lovely bloke, a great pilot and he will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace.
Agreed. He and Rene gave me my first job as a part time instructor.

RIP.

[Jex]

Here are the details of the arrangements for Graham's funeral:

Date: 18 July 2014
Time: 11am
Place: Sandon Point SLSC, Point St, Sandon Point.

All are welcome to attend.

Jex

[Terry the chippy]

Back in 1964 Graham and I started an apprenticeship on the NSWGR as it was known then, as Carriage Builders, we used to travel together to Everliegh Carriage Works near Redfern, when we didn't catch the train Graham would pick me up in his Veedub and drive us to work! Wow even back then he was doing 'low flying' even if it meant mounting the foot path to get through the traffic. No wonder I'm bald. At times my little brother Barry would come for the ride as he was doing an apprenticeship as an Upholster with Railway then and he used to love the ' White knuckle ride' that Graham gave us on the way, Graham was a legend then.
At times I would accompany Graham to Hoxton Park Airport and join him when he was getting his ' hours up' doing circuits around and around doing landings and take offs ( not sure of the technical terms as I'm a chippy) at least it helped him meet the cost a bit. Graham seemed to be always studying stuff to do with flying, he thrived on it, he was very dedicated to what ever he put his mind to.
We kept in touch for many years and I met his wife when they were living in Springwood then we lost touch for many years but I always was thinking of him and his family. Graham's Mum and Dad used to stay directly across the road from my brother Barry in East Blaxland on Rickard Road, they were lovely folk.
May Graham rest in peace, gone but not forgotten.

[Jex]

Graham's family have announced updated times for Graham's funeral:

10:00am: Memorial service
10:30am: Fly past
Funeral service to be held once fly past pilots return.

Jex

[Citwit]

Graham taught me to fly at Hoxton Park in the late 70s early 80s. During one lesson Graham told me that he had just got his 1000 hours up. Graham always showed an interest far beyond that of me being a just paying customer. When he an Rene started Liverpool Flying School you always felt welcome to drop in for a chat. Even though I haven't seen him for some time, on hearing the news of his accident, I feel that I have lost a good friend.

[Terry the chippy]

I really want to attend Grahams service but am confused as to the exact location, my GPS is confused as I am, please try and help me, is it near Bulli Beach. Many thanks Terry

[Scion]

“I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things. ”

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I flew with Graham in our Rapide only on rare occasions but what consumate pilot he was!
Thank you for knowing you and your conversations about the early aviators you knew such as Arthur Butler and others.