Vale Sir Dennis Buchanan
 

Sir Dennis Buchanan finally lost his battle with cancer and passed away last night after 10 days in hospital in Brisbane.
Will advise funeral details when known.

Mipela nogat lusimtingting long yupela tru.

Farewell Sir Dennis.
Your passing leaves me with sadness but at the same time, I reminisce the good times that I enjoyed working for you in 1966 thru to 1970. I can laugh about when you sacked Dick Broomhead, Peter Arnold and myself four times one night at the old Hagen Hotel, got cranky , stormed out of the pub and fell down a bloody great barat! I can laugh about when you gave me a payrise the night Arnold got married and many other times when cameraderie was the go. Talair was a great company and I enjoyed working for you and having the odd beer or two whenever we met in the years since.
Farewell Sir Dennis, I salute you and rest peacefully knowing fullwell that you join the greats of aviation who also have gone to the great hangar in the sky.
To Della and your family, my sincerest condolences during your time of grief.

Peter Sharpe.

Farewell Dennis.

I too remember the great and not so great times in the Pacific, Asia and Australia.

You were a legend in aviation. I'm disappointed Sharpie was sacked more times than I was......

My condolences to your family.

Bob Fulton

Goodbye Junior.
I only managed to get the boot once and that was for belting "Boots" Metzle when he needed belting.
But you saw the error in your ways old mate and gave me another chance.
Thanks for the opportunity to experience a place and time that can never ever be recreated.
Condolences to Della and family. :(

Dennis sacked Windy a number of times, too. Had many good times back in the Talair days. Rest in peace.

Sir Dennis the man has folded his tent,Condolences to his family. Sir Dennis the legend lives on as does his proud and colourful history.
Long live the legend.

Dennis's funeral will be held at St John's Cathedral Anne St Brisbane at 11.30 am Friday August 31.

St John's was also the location of Bikkies last departure. I'm sure it will be some re-union...... Just like old times!

Never worked for Sir Dennis but like all pilots who've flown in PNG since the demise of Talair, my work there was inextricably linked to his legacy.

My most sincere condolences to the Buchanan family.

Dennis never sacked me,I feel deprived!. He shut Talair down instead. :D
The day I joined in Jan '88 Steggles told me that the mood Dennis and Helly were in would mean instant dismissal if I so much as scratched one of the aircraft,4 odd years later when I ripped the nosewheel out of an Islander he said "Stupid C**t, make 'im fly Islanders for two more weeks". It was kinda fun but I was glad to get back to the Otters and Bandits 14 days later.
RIP Sir Shags, wherever you end up I hope there's cold beer and willing LBFMs :D

Chuckles.

I shudder at the thought of Junior and Bikkies back together and back to the same old arguements. And Helli, Blackjack and many of the old PNG hands. :D

There must be hundreds of pilots(and thousands of others) who owe their careers to the vision,innovation and pioneering character of this truly amazing man. A leader who was gladly followed by those who could see the real man for what he was. A fascinating character just as happy with his 'bois' and 'pirates' as rubbing shoulders with the powerbrokers. A personal heart felt thanks from me and a promise that i will never forget the happiest times of my life under your unmbrella...

FAREWELL SIR DENNIS: ALTHOUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP ENDED ON A BAD NOTE, I OFTEN THINK OF THE GOOD TIMES WE HAD. I'M SURE THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ERA LIKE THAT OF TALAIR. WE'LL ALL MISS YOUR FAMILIAR GREETING "WHAT'S UP CHAPS?" RIP

TRADER BOOTH

Here here Blunderbus. Seems like only a week or two ago we were reliving, over lunch and beers, the best years of our lives!.

OHH hang on......it was a week or two ago :D

Chuckles.

And there could only be one TRADER BOOTH. :D

I did not know Sir Dennis beyond a business relationship, the quality of which was simply outstanding.
A pleasure to work with and a true and honest gentleman of the old style.
I always felt somewhat deprived by not having had the opportunity to get to know him on a more personal basis.
A sad loss to Australian and PNG aviation, they don't make em like that any more.

edited to add 'don't'

[ 31 August 2001: Message edited by: gaunty ]

Goodbye Sir Dennis. You were a great person to work for and I have never worked for a better person since. My PNG days will never be forgotten especially the comaradie and your always happy cheerful face. It was very rare to see a scow from you. RIP friend. To Del and family my sincere condolences.

Gaunty: "...a true and honest gentleman of the old style..."

Am I at the right thread??? I would have thought "...one of nature's finest rogues..." a far more appropriate phrase! :D :D

It must have been some send off for Junior, from the late night phone calls I received from the Brekkie Creek Hotel. Dennis would have liked that. So sad the short noticed precluded me from being there.

Boothie - good to see you in there. I'm in need of a new watch if you care to contact me. One of those $5 Rolex would be fine.

Farewell Junior,

It was great to work with you. You gave me my first break in aviation. RIP.

The end of an era in aviation.

It was my privelege to have met and socialised with you back in the early 60's, when things were rough and ready, but it was lots of fun!

I particularly remember the Goroka cricket team tieing you to a tree in front of the Goroka Club, and gagging you, during a cricket match in '62. You had plenty to say then, and didn't hold back in business either. You were indeed a legend in your own time. RIP.

Ralph Burnett
PNG 1961-70

Torres old mate
"True and honest gentlemen of the old style" were also by definition "natures finest rogues".
Never met a real one that wasn't both.