Zoltan Beldi Passed

[megan]

Zoltan was a geophysicist who did a lot of aerial survey work sitting in the back operating the electronics. He and I were good mates in our teens, haunted the local airport and were the unofficial refuelers. Zoltan posted here on Pprune under a forgotten alias, instructed on gliders at Perth where he lived, owned an Auster, which reflected our hands on introduction to flying courtesy of a number of charter pilots employed by Broken Hill Air Taxi who used to take us on rides when they were able - Ross Tilly (Rossair), Bob Beattie, Geoff Wallace (killed New Guinea in a Piaggio), Warwick Goldsworthy . Zoltan formed his own geophysics company in Perth, employing some 25 people. Gained his instrument rating at Bankstown and I know he flew Chieftains. Passed away due stroke April 2022 as I just found out. Shame how we lose touch of folk.

Posted as I'm sure there will be many who knew Zoltan or worked with him.

Zoltan on the left as a youthful teenager with Associated Airlines F-27 on lease from TAA.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/640x480/zoltan_rick_95c4906f84715e64422530f66a125cc03aacbc87.jpg

[Mr Mossberg]

megan, he would have been in Sydney in the early 90's right? When did he move to Perth? Is that where he ended up?

[ausflyer]

Zoltans pseudonym was ZEEBEE (One of many, possibly) I interacted with him over the years here on Pprune.

Knowledgeable would be an understatement. He was brilliant!

Cheers.

Aus' :ok:

[megan]

Mr Mossberg, he did live in Sydney at one time, around Sutherland, don't know when he moved to Perth but he had been there many, many years. On leaving high school he worked as a storeman in a bearing supply company I think it was on Hindley Street, Adelaide, then worked in some unknown capacity at NASA's first deep-space tracking station outside the USA at Island Lagoon near Woomera

[Rotor Work]

Sad to hear Megan.
Bob Beattie is a name from the past was he an engineer with Rotorwork?

[megan]

Bob Beattie is a name from the past was he an engineer with Rotorwork?RW, When I knew Bob in 1959 he was a pilot with Silver City Air Taxis who then moved on to Robby's crop dusting out of Parafield, no subsequent knowledge I'm afraid. It was he who facilitated the construction of a control column for the right hand seat of the Auster so that Zoltan and I could get a little dual, we had a "special" 44 drum where all airport fuel drains were saved to fuel a little dual, saving the planet you understand, no drains thrown on the tarmac or grass, Zoltan and I were early pioneers. ;)

[poteroo]

I remember him as a very knowledgeable pilot. Did a BFR for him in Albany, October 2007. VH-KYH J5G Auster with Lycoming 0-320. If I recollect, it swung left on take-off, instead of right with the original Gypsy. RIP.

[skidsoff]

Thanks Megan, sad to hear of Zoltan's passing. We spent many hours flying together on geophysical surveys towing a bird with Zoltan in the back seat of a Jetranger or Squirrel running the geophysical equipment back in the 90's and early 2000's. He was great to work with and a good friend but, unfortunately, we lost touch over the years. When I worked with him back then he flew from survey to survey in his Islander which he used to carry the survey gear spares and as his workshop for electronic repairs. From memory I think the callsign of the Islander was VH-ISA.

[Obidiah]

Thanks for post about his belated passing.

An incredibly smart fellow a skilled pilot and a kind gentleman, to my thinking he epitomised that generation of early glider pilot in Australia that built the clubs and often the gliders all from sheer work ethic and talent. Zolton's was also globally recognised for his design in the computer base systems that supported the airborne geo survey sensing systems. He was instrumental in introducing the DA42's into airborne geo survey and had management of that company at the time listened more intently to what he was politely advising them they would have had an exceptionally competitive platform, sadly they didn't.

[Bolshie]

Hi folks, Zoltan's brother Steve here. Nice to see the positive comments about Zeeb. To update Megan's post, Z had a stroke around 13 years ago that prettymuch robbed him of language so that he could communicate but with difficulty, otherwise he was fully functional. This was a shame, because Zoltan's greatest asset was his ability to communicate. He embraced the need to remain healthy after the stroke and exercised regularly. His heart attack occurred on a walk and, despite his family's valiant efforts to resucitate him, he could not be saved. The photo above is one I've never seen! Zeeb was my mentor throughout most of my life but especially during my own Airborne work for GeoMetrics/GeoInstruments/Kevron where I worked directly for Z as my operations manager and for Daishsat and Thomson Aviatioin in later years, where Zoltan and Peter MCMullen designed and supported the systems those companies used for data acquisition. Working with Zoltan was always special. Apart from his quirky sense of humor, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of airborne geophysics and a very thin veneer (if I'm lucky) may have rubbed off, though my recent ADHD diagnosis probably explains why I never managed Zoltan's attention to details, an absolute must in data analysis.
I hope this fills in some gaps for those who had the good fortune to know my brother, a remarkable intellect and just "a really fun guy". Along with his wife, Jocelyn and his daughters, Lauren and Jennie, I miss him terribly but take comfort from the fact that I knew and worked with/for him.

[megan]

G'day Steve, I must confess I don't recall you but you may possibly remember me, Brian Abraham, as I used to spend a lot of time at your place watching TV when the family was living out along the Port Road, Adelaide, in 1961. I was going to Adelaide Boys High at the time and boarding in Mile End. If I recall your Dad had a pass time of brewing Hungarian wine. So sorry to hear of Zoltans travails in later life, my commiserations, we lived in each others pockets in our youth.

[Bolshie]

Hi Brian, I do remember you but not to look at. I was four years old when we moved form Whyalla to Adelaide because of Tom's bronchitis but you're the only one of Zeeb's mates from those days that I recall, probably because you guys were pretty much inseperable. Zoltan spoke fondly (for him) of you from time to time, and I think I have a photo somewhere of a somewhat modified Chipmunk that I believe you were responsible for. I remember Zeeb saying you were in the Fleet Air Arm and quick search of Trove finds you looking disreputable in Vietnam among other places. I heard you flew Buccaneers somwhere along the line as well. Colour me impressed!
I got my love of aviation from Zoltan very early in the piece. He built my first Airfix model for me, a Westland Whirlwind with a couple of Peregrines and no rotor. I just got worse from there. I served in the Army from 1975 to 81 and went to work for Zoltan with GeoMetrics when I got out. He punished me by making me sit in the back of an Islander (VH-FLD) but I soon felt the call of study and became a teacher of History and eventually IT. I worked for Zeeb on and off until about 2000 when I went into IT suppoert full time. Zoltan's move to Perth meant that I lost touch with him except for the occasional phone call and rare visit. His stroke basically meant that any communication with him had to go through his wife from than on.
I do miss him. He was a character and a mentor throughout my life. Thanks for putting the photo of the two of you up. I'd never seen it before and the resemblance to me at that age is uncanny. I trust that you're in reaonable health. Please stay safe. :)

[Bolshie]

Kind words indeed. On Z's behalf, many thanks. BTW I just need to hit the 3 post qualifying limit and I'll respond to your PM. :)