Macarthur 'Mac' Job
Another sad day, another legend lost. I had the pleasure of sitting across the isle with Mac in the good old Goony bird VH-SBL piloted by another legend Capt. Jack Curtis on our way to Launceston for the Air race back in the '90s.
I had the most enjoyable conversation with Mac on the way. What a knowledgable true gentleman he was.
I will be dusting off all the books written by him in my collection and read them all again for his memory.
Farewell Mac and thank you for your wisdom......
I had the most enjoyable conversation with Mac on the way. What a knowledgable true gentleman he was.
I will be dusting off all the books written by him in my collection and read them all again for his memory.
Farewell Mac and thank you for your wisdom......
In the 2003 Queen's Birthday honours, Mac was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "for services to the promotion of aviation safety".
NEVER WAS GONG MORE DESERVED
The only comparable contributor to Mac to the specific literature of the hands-on, practical side of civil aviation in Australia, as in lessons to be learned and the roots of the systems from which we today derive a large part of our safety consciousness, was the late highly esteemed, Don Charlwood. Mac and Don, (good friends), shared a rare facility as authors, both with a brilliant flare to capture the essence, the very nub of their concern for contributing to the priceless store of knowledge and experience in fields they devoted such a large part of their lives to.
Shortly before he passed on, Mac donated his research notes, photographs and aviation library to the Civil Aviation Historical Society,at Essendon Airport.
NEVER WAS GONG MORE DESERVED
The only comparable contributor to Mac to the specific literature of the hands-on, practical side of civil aviation in Australia, as in lessons to be learned and the roots of the systems from which we today derive a large part of our safety consciousness, was the late highly esteemed, Don Charlwood. Mac and Don, (good friends), shared a rare facility as authors, both with a brilliant flare to capture the essence, the very nub of their concern for contributing to the priceless store of knowledge and experience in fields they devoted such a large part of their lives to.
Shortly before he passed on, Mac donated his research notes, photographs and aviation library to the Civil Aviation Historical Society,at Essendon Airport.
Last edited by Fantome; 8th Aug 2014 at 08:16.
Never met him but I have grown up with his insight into the safe operation of aeroplanes. Mac Job had a no nonsense method of cutting through to the real issue. I and my cohort lived by the mantra.."never do anything that could end up in the pages of the crash comic." Indeed, we and I devoured everything Mac wrote and learnt on the error of others lest we committed the same act.
Mac Job is the giant...Australia's aviators orbited the shoulders of a great man.
...cleared to beyond, track direct to the light...safe journey, old man.
Mac Job is the giant...Australia's aviators orbited the shoulders of a great man.
...cleared to beyond, track direct to the light...safe journey, old man.
It seems like aviation has three types of people:
There are the big 'noises'. The egos who ladder-climb for the kudos. They are the countless CEO's, GM's and the like, more common these days, who merely use aviation as a conduit for their own ends and rarely have a passion for it.
Then there's probably what comprises the bulk of us..those who love aviation, try to earn an income from it, try to give a little back but are kinda just the silent majority.
Finally there are those whose input far exceeded what they have taken from Aviation. Mac Job was one of these.
I remember reading crash comics as a kid and this name Macarthur Job just kept cropping-up year after year. When I got into aviation he was still writing and just last month I downloaded the Flight Safety on my iPad and read "A Dragon's Last Flight" by Mac Job.
An outstanding proponent of common sense and level-headedness in the cockpit (needed now more than ever: what must he have made of the 777 at SFO?).
Good travels Mr Job.
There are the big 'noises'. The egos who ladder-climb for the kudos. They are the countless CEO's, GM's and the like, more common these days, who merely use aviation as a conduit for their own ends and rarely have a passion for it.
Then there's probably what comprises the bulk of us..those who love aviation, try to earn an income from it, try to give a little back but are kinda just the silent majority.
Finally there are those whose input far exceeded what they have taken from Aviation. Mac Job was one of these.
I remember reading crash comics as a kid and this name Macarthur Job just kept cropping-up year after year. When I got into aviation he was still writing and just last month I downloaded the Flight Safety on my iPad and read "A Dragon's Last Flight" by Mac Job.
An outstanding proponent of common sense and level-headedness in the cockpit (needed now more than ever: what must he have made of the 777 at SFO?).
Good travels Mr Job.
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Through his articles and books, he was able to impart so much knowledge, education and wisdom to so many throughout the industry.
Including myself, the amount of young inexperienced aviators and their passengers that have been saved from his 'crash comics'......I dare only think.
Blue skies & Tailwinds.........
Eternity.
Including myself, the amount of young inexperienced aviators and their passengers that have been saved from his 'crash comics'......I dare only think.
Blue skies & Tailwinds.........
Eternity.
I'm one ...
gerry 111 I'm one ..arkse still intact after all those early years devouring ASD and the sage advice of Mac. Read and digest the Digest...less the earth smite thee...wrongly.
What a great educator !
Has he been nominated for The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame? If not he should be.
Go safely into the wild blue BIG Mac..!
What a great educator !
Has he been nominated for The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame? If not he should be.
Go safely into the wild blue BIG Mac..!
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Mac Job, one of life's gentlemen
I first met Mac in 2010. 12 months before I started flight training. As it was Mac’s style he was more interested in what I was doing. He didn’t mention anything about being involved in aviation. I must admit at the time I didn’t know anything about Mac’s status in the Australian Aviation Industry. It was only a heads up from a mutual friend and a bit of research led me to realising what his contribution was. I felt a bit silly especially as I’d brought a couple of Mac’s books 14 years before I’d even met Mac.
Whilst waiting to begin flight training Mac invited me to a couple of Aviation Historical Society of Australia meetings in Hawthorn East. I remember one night coming back so late that I got into a bit of trouble at home. My wife didn’t comprehend that I’d be out until after 1 am, being driven around Melbourne by an 86 yr old!
It was a privilege to spend time with Mac and his lovely wife Esma. Those 2 were a treasure. I can still remember after talking aviation with Mac that Esma would sigh and say, “Aviation is a disease that they never get over.” I recall fondly Mac’s special way that he was able to utilise the English language, a true master of the spoken and written word.
I last saw Mac in the middle of 2012 before we went back inter-state. It was sad leaving. I do know that Mac had a strong faith and he was content in knowing where he was going after he departed this life.
I considered Mac a mentor, not so much in my aviation training but in the important stuff like how to relate to the people around you and how to get the most out of life. We caught up a couple of times on the phone since we left. I remember one of the last times a while ago now where he told me that he’d just come back from the gym!
Sadly I’m unable to attend Mac’s funeral tomorrow at St Matthews. I expect that it can only be a celebration of a life well lived.
Farewell Mac, you were a friend, mentor and a true gentleman. We will miss you and I will try to ensure that what you taught me will be carried out and passed onto the next generation.
Onwards and upwards
Mish A
Whilst waiting to begin flight training Mac invited me to a couple of Aviation Historical Society of Australia meetings in Hawthorn East. I remember one night coming back so late that I got into a bit of trouble at home. My wife didn’t comprehend that I’d be out until after 1 am, being driven around Melbourne by an 86 yr old!
It was a privilege to spend time with Mac and his lovely wife Esma. Those 2 were a treasure. I can still remember after talking aviation with Mac that Esma would sigh and say, “Aviation is a disease that they never get over.” I recall fondly Mac’s special way that he was able to utilise the English language, a true master of the spoken and written word.
I last saw Mac in the middle of 2012 before we went back inter-state. It was sad leaving. I do know that Mac had a strong faith and he was content in knowing where he was going after he departed this life.
I considered Mac a mentor, not so much in my aviation training but in the important stuff like how to relate to the people around you and how to get the most out of life. We caught up a couple of times on the phone since we left. I remember one of the last times a while ago now where he told me that he’d just come back from the gym!
Sadly I’m unable to attend Mac’s funeral tomorrow at St Matthews. I expect that it can only be a celebration of a life well lived.
Farewell Mac, you were a friend, mentor and a true gentleman. We will miss you and I will try to ensure that what you taught me will be carried out and passed onto the next generation.
Onwards and upwards
Mish A
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Mac's passing
Yes, Mac Job was a true gentleman and realist.
Mac trained me on the DH84 Dragon at Point Cook in 1976 and then 20 years later at the same location checked me out on the Miles M.3A Falcon.
His vast flying time on the Dragon gave him a special insight into the bird, which had a poor safety record due to its very low power and subsequent nil single engine performance. Properly managed, a safe return to land on one was still possible as Mac had achieved on occasions.
Rest in peace Mac.
Mac trained me on the DH84 Dragon at Point Cook in 1976 and then 20 years later at the same location checked me out on the Miles M.3A Falcon.
His vast flying time on the Dragon gave him a special insight into the bird, which had a poor safety record due to its very low power and subsequent nil single engine performance. Properly managed, a safe return to land on one was still possible as Mac had achieved on occasions.
Rest in peace Mac.
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RIP MAC
RIP Mac. A true gentleman. I came across his amazing books as a youngster who was interested in aviation at the local newsagents. 'Air crash' and 'Air disaster' are such good reads. I used to save up all my paper round dollars to buy those as a little tacker. Later I used to ride my bike to the local airport for a looksee and whilst pestering the flight instructors with questions and waiting around ogling at cessnas and pipers, I ran into the excellent 'crash comics'. I used to scour the various flying schools and aero clubs for them so I could stuff them down my jumper and cheese it out of there. Later again during flight training, I came across an old ragged copy of 'the old and the bold' at an old secondhand book store. What a great collection of war stories what was! And later still after my training was complete I managed to have a chat with him down at the local airport.. a week before I packed up to head north for my first gig. He had some wonderful sage advice for me. To this day i'll thumb through his wonderful books and find something new in there. The man was a treasure.
