Max Hazelton’s Segment on 7.30 Report Tonight

[Dick Smith]

Last night, the ABC 7.30 Report showed a preliminary piece on a segment they state they will run tonight (Wednesday 7th) covering the crash of Max Hazelton in the Blue Mountains in the 1950s.

I took Max up to the vicinity of the site to see if we could find out where the actual crash occurred. We were not successful this time, but Max and others are continuing to search to see if they can find the exact site.

Tonight’s program could be interesting to those who, like me, admire Max Hazelton.

[Super Cecil]

Max is one of life's gentlemen.

[Squawk7700]

Dick Smith - the Max Hazelton crash site | Newcastle Herald (http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2641852/dick-smith-unable-to-find-max-hazelton-crash-site/?cs=2452)

[onetrack]

Good God, if an aviator doesn't know exactly where he crashed, how did he find his way to airstrips and back? :p

That's an amazing story of survival. However, I note it doesn't relate the ground navigation style that Max used. Did he just follow creek lines downstream?

Was the Auster recovered? If so, how was that done in such rugged and remote terrain?
If it's still there, surely some magnetic-anomaly equipment would pick up its location?

[Dick Smith]

Yes, the Auster was actually recovered – towed out on a trailer behind a bulldozer if I remember correctly. I actually flew Jim Hazelton over the area in July 2013 and he pointed out where he believed the crash occurred. However, when I took Max back to almost the same location, he wasn’t at all sure that was the location of the crash site. I know Max has been up there since and we are trying to locate the exact site – perhaps fragments of perspex were left behind when they recovered the aircraft. It would be great to find the location and perhaps leave a little plaque there.

It should be noted that not far away is an actual aircraft fuselage of another plane which crashed many years later – that aircraft has been left there and many bushwalkers walk to that site.

[5th officer]

Hi Dick,
thanks for advice, will watch with interest.
Best wishes
Geoff

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Good story!

Max did the world a favour - one less Auster! :ok:

Dr :8

[kaz3g]

Good story!

Max did the world a favour - one less Auster!

Dr

That's cruel!

Were you bitten by one, Dr?

Kaz

[Squawk7700]

He had a bad experience with an Auster as a young child ...

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

He flew in one?:}

[Stanwell]

A cynical old person once described them as like being like a cross between a Dalmatian and a Corgi...
Not very bright - but won't hesitate to bite you.
.

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

He flew in one?:}

Yup!

Did my initial tailwheel endorsement and used to tow gliders with a J5B (VH-CDS) - hated the @#$%ing thing! :E

[5th officer]

You could me a cynical old Pilot but I found my old J5F a very docile and forgiving lady, excellent and predictable aerobatics, would stay in the air at 28kts and only a poor pilot would get themselves into trouble. Sounds like some of the responses are from experts who have never flown one??

[kaz3g]

Mine is another lady, of course, but has never been described as either docile or forgiving.

A lady should never be taken for granted, neither should she be underestimated, but treat her like one and she will respond accordingly.

Tasmania and WA are the only places she hasn't taken me to thus far and they are on my bucket list to do before it's too late...we were both built in 1944 and I expect she will still be flying after I've hung up my headset.

Good on Max for all his achievements and thanks Dick for letting us know.

Kaz

[Stanwell]

5th,
That's interesting. I've no experience with them myself.
That comment came from an old pilot (no longer with us) with time on many differing types.
It was over Christmas drinks one year, so he could have been having a lend of us - or perhaps he'd just encountered a 'mongrel'.

[onetrack]

Max made the news in a big way when the event occurred, too. :)

Seems like he couldn't find the Auster straight after he left the wreckage, either??

The wreckage being positioned on a precipitious slope isn't going to assist in locating the spot again.
Vegetation, particularly trees, and particularly in that moisture-laden environment, grows an enormous amount over a period of more 60 years.

Missing aviator safe after crash into hillside (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2909794)

Mothers tears of joy as pilot son comes back (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12647560)

Grazier spots his crashed plane - hopes of salvage (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18452355)

Auster salvagers may have found long-lost plane (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/27503781)

[LeadSled]

Folks,
As the wonderful old gentleman who checked me out in Austers, on the conclusion of the checkout, remarked: (to be said in a terribly terribly puka RAF accent
"My dear boy, you do realise that the Auster will never replace the aeroplane".
Tootle pip!!