Vale Billy Vincent
Thread Starter
Vale Billy Vincent
Sad to see Tasmanian legend Billy Vincent passed away on the 20th of April 2016.
Sympathy to Billy's family.
I will post funeral details when they become available.
May you find peace as you fly through eternity.
Regards R W.
Sympathy to Billy's family.
I will post funeral details when they become available.
May you find peace as you fly through eternity.
Regards R W.
i would consider Billy as being one of Australia's aviation icons, especially for his contributions to the Tasmanian aviation scene back in the 70s and 80s. I know there are some of Billy's ex-pilots now in pretty senior positions within the industry world wide.
Condolences to his family and friends.
How old was he when he passed away?
Condolences to his family and friends.
How old was he when he passed away?
Thanks RW for the post. So sad to hear about Billy going. I had the pleasure of flying with him several times. a gentleman and a great mentor.
I recall a trip to Trefoil Island where he was a passenger. I didn't really know him. A gale was blowing and it was misting with rain. I so wanted to make a good landing but blew the approach and finally decided to go around. Billy just looked at me and said "mate, another couple of seconds and I would have done that for you".
I recall a trip to Trefoil Island where he was a passenger. I didn't really know him. A gale was blowing and it was misting with rain. I so wanted to make a good landing but blew the approach and finally decided to go around. Billy just looked at me and said "mate, another couple of seconds and I would have done that for you".
I spent an afternoon with Bill a few years ago at his place in Launceston. He was in his early eighties and Bill remained cheerful, good natured, witty and spry. Since then, I'm told, Bill returned to Smithton where he passed away peacefully yesterday.
Bill was a loveable Old Rogue and there is a fair sized squadron of pilots around the world who got a leg into aviation courtesy of HGV and Cape Country Air Charters. Bill taught those fresh CPLs (self included) a lot about flying, and life, while bouncing around the beaches and islands of Tasmania's West Coast. What's more, he seemed to be genuinely concerned and interested with the life and careers of his former employees. Like a proud father, Bill knew what they were all up to and would rattle off the names of his pilots with the story of who was working where, and who was flying what.
Billy was a great bloke who helped a lot of people over the years and there will be many a tall tale and misty eye in Tasmania over the next few days.
pithblot
Bill was a loveable Old Rogue and there is a fair sized squadron of pilots around the world who got a leg into aviation courtesy of HGV and Cape Country Air Charters. Bill taught those fresh CPLs (self included) a lot about flying, and life, while bouncing around the beaches and islands of Tasmania's West Coast. What's more, he seemed to be genuinely concerned and interested with the life and careers of his former employees. Like a proud father, Bill knew what they were all up to and would rattle off the names of his pilots with the story of who was working where, and who was flying what.
Billy was a great bloke who helped a lot of people over the years and there will be many a tall tale and misty eye in Tasmania over the next few days.
pithblot
Last edited by pithblot; 25th Apr 2016 at 04:38.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Permanently lost
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gawd, fate tried to kill him often enough when he was flying and he always bounced back you would have thought him immortal. He was mentioned in hallowed terms when I was learning to fly and that is an awful long time ago now. That part of Tassie has turned up some very memorable pilots and he will be missed.
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Bendigo, Australia
Age: 76
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Amongst the rules that Billy broke - THE old bold pilot!
Seems fitting that he was in Smithton for his final flight.
It would be a tribute if a few photos could be uploaded here..........
(I used to operate into Smithton in the '80s)
Seems fitting that he was in Smithton for his final flight.
It would be a tribute if a few photos could be uploaded here..........
(I used to operate into Smithton in the '80s)
Last edited by DeRated; 22nd Apr 2016 at 21:28. Reason: Photos
Thread Starter
Billy was born in Burnie on the 3rd of October 1931, so he was in his 85th year.
I was lucky enough to have a couple of flights with him in C 206 VH-ERM,
I have found a link to his book, Bush Pilot on PPRUNE.
http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...ush-pilot.html
Regards R W
I was lucky enough to have a couple of flights with him in C 206 VH-ERM,
I have found a link to his book, Bush Pilot on PPRUNE.
http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...ush-pilot.html
Regards R W
Happy days...
Being uncertain which was the most appropriate, I posted an R.I.P. and snap on a couple of other forums here.
I flew quite a bit with Bill in the 70s when I was part of a small mining operation in a remote part of the west coast (now the "Tarkine Wilderness"). It's no exaggeration to say that dozens of people living and working in NW Tasmania and the islands were dependent on Billy's skills and generosity for their livelihoods. Not to mention the fact that the emergency services could often call on him for work that no-one else had the ability to do, like landing on the west coast beaches.
Here's a little story from my own experience.
One day I arrived at Smithton strip after a visit to Hobart, needing a flight back into our mine. When Bill turned up he told me that he probably couldn't take me as he had some freight to deliver for another (Wolfram) prospecting site at the Interview River - an even more remote location than ours. The guys working there, one of whom, Merv, I'd met, had already destroyed some vehicles crossing the estuaries on the coast and were pretty much reliant on Bill for resupply. Never having been to this wild region I was anxious to see it and suggested that I hop in (no baggage) and have him drop me off on the return leg given that there didn't seem to be much of a payload.
He turned to me and said "The problem is that's the stuff I'm taking...". It was about two dozen cases of AN60 gelignite plus the associated detonators and fuse. He also said "I've never taken anyone for a joyride in there anyway, it's too dangerous, there 's no strip." All of which (aged about 30) made the trip even more interesting, so I made up various compelling reasons why it might be a good idea - which worked.
We loaded the plane (snap attached) with the explosives plus a bewildered looking small dog, a cat (in a sack in the pod), a few loaves of bread and a case of beer. At the last minute Billy took the box of detonators out, saying, "next trip." Never let it be said that he was reckless.
Even though I'd been living in the West Coast bush for a while, the flight down the coastal plain of the Western Tiers was impressively bleak and forbidding with few viable emergency landing places even on the beaches.
A few minutes out from the Interview River, Bill pointed out the approximate location of the prospecting site. I couldn't see anything except the river itself, winding through a button-grass plain, plus a yellow dot which presumably was their dozer. A bit lower and closer I could just about identify a small shack but still nothing resembling a strip. Then I spotted the wind-sock - which was a fertiliser sack attached to a bush pole standing alongside a slightly different coloured green area running NE/SW. They'd run the dozer up and down on the button-grass a few times to make something vaguely resembling a landing strip.
The landing was how I imagine a carrier landing feels - assuming the carrier had a deck turfed with barely flattened button-grass. When we'd come to a halt - very, very, rapidly - there was no-one about at all. We piled up the cases of gelignite and placed the sack containing the cat, plus the provisions, such as they were, on top, and tied the quivering dog's lead to the wind-sock pole. Getting the aircraft moving again for take-off required full throttle as the wheels heaved from hole to hole. It was the only time when flying with Bill that I seriously doubted that we'd get off, lightly loaded though we were at that point (and I never saw the fuel gauge in his planes very far past the "E" mark). But we did, as ever, and he dropped me off at our rough but hard gravel airstrip.
I imagine those of us who knew and flew with Bill regularly could fill a book with stories although some would probably best be left unwritten! I think most, probably all of us, will remember him very fondly as someone who was always ready to help in any way he and his sometimes battle-damaged aircraft could. It's no exaggeration to say that we will not see his like again.
If anyone's interested I can put up a couple more snaps and some other reminiscences.
Roy
I flew quite a bit with Bill in the 70s when I was part of a small mining operation in a remote part of the west coast (now the "Tarkine Wilderness"). It's no exaggeration to say that dozens of people living and working in NW Tasmania and the islands were dependent on Billy's skills and generosity for their livelihoods. Not to mention the fact that the emergency services could often call on him for work that no-one else had the ability to do, like landing on the west coast beaches.
Here's a little story from my own experience.
One day I arrived at Smithton strip after a visit to Hobart, needing a flight back into our mine. When Bill turned up he told me that he probably couldn't take me as he had some freight to deliver for another (Wolfram) prospecting site at the Interview River - an even more remote location than ours. The guys working there, one of whom, Merv, I'd met, had already destroyed some vehicles crossing the estuaries on the coast and were pretty much reliant on Bill for resupply. Never having been to this wild region I was anxious to see it and suggested that I hop in (no baggage) and have him drop me off on the return leg given that there didn't seem to be much of a payload.
He turned to me and said "The problem is that's the stuff I'm taking...". It was about two dozen cases of AN60 gelignite plus the associated detonators and fuse. He also said "I've never taken anyone for a joyride in there anyway, it's too dangerous, there 's no strip." All of which (aged about 30) made the trip even more interesting, so I made up various compelling reasons why it might be a good idea - which worked.
We loaded the plane (snap attached) with the explosives plus a bewildered looking small dog, a cat (in a sack in the pod), a few loaves of bread and a case of beer. At the last minute Billy took the box of detonators out, saying, "next trip." Never let it be said that he was reckless.
Even though I'd been living in the West Coast bush for a while, the flight down the coastal plain of the Western Tiers was impressively bleak and forbidding with few viable emergency landing places even on the beaches.
A few minutes out from the Interview River, Bill pointed out the approximate location of the prospecting site. I couldn't see anything except the river itself, winding through a button-grass plain, plus a yellow dot which presumably was their dozer. A bit lower and closer I could just about identify a small shack but still nothing resembling a strip. Then I spotted the wind-sock - which was a fertiliser sack attached to a bush pole standing alongside a slightly different coloured green area running NE/SW. They'd run the dozer up and down on the button-grass a few times to make something vaguely resembling a landing strip.
The landing was how I imagine a carrier landing feels - assuming the carrier had a deck turfed with barely flattened button-grass. When we'd come to a halt - very, very, rapidly - there was no-one about at all. We piled up the cases of gelignite and placed the sack containing the cat, plus the provisions, such as they were, on top, and tied the quivering dog's lead to the wind-sock pole. Getting the aircraft moving again for take-off required full throttle as the wheels heaved from hole to hole. It was the only time when flying with Bill that I seriously doubted that we'd get off, lightly loaded though we were at that point (and I never saw the fuel gauge in his planes very far past the "E" mark). But we did, as ever, and he dropped me off at our rough but hard gravel airstrip.
I imagine those of us who knew and flew with Bill regularly could fill a book with stories although some would probably best be left unwritten! I think most, probably all of us, will remember him very fondly as someone who was always ready to help in any way he and his sometimes battle-damaged aircraft could. It's no exaggeration to say that we will not see his like again.
If anyone's interested I can put up a couple more snaps and some other reminiscences.
Roy
Skridlov, pm sent
Yes, still flying in his 70's in a Drifter ultralight (If memory serves me) complete with 2 stroke engine, over tiger country and onto the NW Tas islands in weather most ultralight pilots would shun.
Amongst the rules that Billy broke - THE old bold pilot!
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey guys, I'm Bills grandson.
Bill passed peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by his family who had flown from all over to be with him, aged 84.
A service is being planned for Friday the 29th at 2PM at the Smithton Christian Fellowship.
If you need any more info, or have any photos or stories you would like to share with the family feel free to PM me
Bill passed peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by his family who had flown from all over to be with him, aged 84.
A service is being planned for Friday the 29th at 2PM at the Smithton Christian Fellowship.
If you need any more info, or have any photos or stories you would like to share with the family feel free to PM me
I met Billy 52 years at YSMI after diverting due to wx on a PPL cross country. His tips and assistance were of immense value. Saw Billy again not long after at a CPL exam venue. About 3 years later saw Billy again at YSMI when I was an AN F27 F/O. Years later saw Billy again at SMI when I was a F27 Captain. He remembered me right back to my YSMI diversion.
Another 15 years or so were to pass before I saw Billy again. This time I was on a family holiday and we called into a seafood cafe at Stanley (Tas) for lunch. Billy appeared from nowhere and we had a good chat. I think Billy was doing the 'books' for the cafe as the Accountant.
RIP Billy
Another 15 years or so were to pass before I saw Billy again. This time I was on a family holiday and we called into a seafood cafe at Stanley (Tas) for lunch. Billy appeared from nowhere and we had a good chat. I think Billy was doing the 'books' for the cafe as the Accountant.
RIP Billy
Thread Starter
Noticed a copy of Billy's book, Bush Pilot on Gum Tree,
Second hand, it's very hard to get a new copy as it is no longer in print.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/rosetta/nonfiction-books/billy-vincent-bush-pilot-scarce-tasmanian-book-/1110013253
Edit it's been SOLD
Regards RW
Second hand, it's very hard to get a new copy as it is no longer in print.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/rosetta/nonfiction-books/billy-vincent-bush-pilot-scarce-tasmanian-book-/1110013253
Edit it's been SOLD
Regards RW
Last edited by Rotor Work; 28th Apr 2016 at 00:29.
Showed this thread to another pilot courtesy of the company I-pad, and the good chap blurted out something about f*****g smelly oily mutton birds , shorts strips, overloaded aeroplanes and he felt a nasty headache coming on!
Is Heather Innes still flying out of Smithton?
Is Heather Innes still flying out of Smithton?
Showed this thread to another pilot courtesy of the company I-pad, and the good chap blurted out something about f*****g smelly oily mutton birds , shorts strips, overloaded aeroplanes and he felt a nasty headache coming on!
Is Heather Innes still flying out of Smithton?
Is Heather Innes still flying out of Smithton?
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Smithton Tas
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello guys,great to read your memories of Bill Vincent,he was a great friend to all and a real gentleman.I attended his memorial service in Smithton last Friday,over 450 people there.It concluded with a low Cessna flypast along Nelson st on a rainy afternoon in Smithton. Great to hear that aircraft engine sound overhead.
Thread Starter
Memorial Service
Welcome to the forum Supercharger
From the Advocate
A legend of local skies | The Advocate
A true bush pilot who could land just about anywhere was remembered fondly at a memorial service in Smithton last week.
Harold Gordon ‘Bill’ Vincent OAM died on April 20 at Smithton aged 84 years.
Flying legend: Harold Gordon 'Billy' Vincent was a legend of the air and recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for his services to search and rescue. Picture: Supplied
Mr Vincent was born in Burnie on October 2, 1931, just before midnight, and the delay in paperwork saw his birth registered as October 3.
His niece Sharalyn Walters presented the eulogy at his memorial service and said that as was tradition in the family he was assigned the nickname Billy by his grandfather Burgess, and was known by it ever since.
From his early years he had a passion for flying, and would gaze skyward at anything from a tiny Tiger Moth to a Lockheed Hudson bomber which landed at Redpa in 1941.
“A defining moment in his life – young Bill was hooked. He realised his dream to fly in 1949, gaining his private pilot’s licence in September 1952,” Mrs Walters said.
“Bill’s yearning to fly coincided with meeting Brenda Edwards who also showed a keen interest in flying – and Bill Vincent. They were married in 1953 and their honeymoon was a circumnavigation flight of Tasmania. Who did that sort of thing in 1953?”
He quickly established himself as a talented pilot. It was often said that he could land a plane on a ‘postage stamp’ or drop a parcel on a spot the size of a ‘dime’.”
Mr Vincent’s extensive local knowledge led directly to his involvement in search and rescue operations from as early as the late 1950’s. Over the years he devoted long hours in the air to assist in searches for missing fishermen around the islands and in Bass Strait.
Over the years he serviced the island families of Bass Strait, and with his brothers “Doggy” and “Toddy” built a mutton birding business.
In the early 1970s he married his second wife Susan, and with her and their three children moved to Queensland for a time in the late 1980s.
In 1980 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recognising his contribution to search and rescue in Tasmania and services to the Circular Head community.
It was while in Toowoomba he found ultra-light aircraft, and continued to fly until 2003 logging almost 20,000 hours in the air.
From the Advocate
A legend of local skies | The Advocate
A true bush pilot who could land just about anywhere was remembered fondly at a memorial service in Smithton last week.
Harold Gordon ‘Bill’ Vincent OAM died on April 20 at Smithton aged 84 years.
Flying legend: Harold Gordon 'Billy' Vincent was a legend of the air and recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for his services to search and rescue. Picture: Supplied
Mr Vincent was born in Burnie on October 2, 1931, just before midnight, and the delay in paperwork saw his birth registered as October 3.
His niece Sharalyn Walters presented the eulogy at his memorial service and said that as was tradition in the family he was assigned the nickname Billy by his grandfather Burgess, and was known by it ever since.
From his early years he had a passion for flying, and would gaze skyward at anything from a tiny Tiger Moth to a Lockheed Hudson bomber which landed at Redpa in 1941.
“A defining moment in his life – young Bill was hooked. He realised his dream to fly in 1949, gaining his private pilot’s licence in September 1952,” Mrs Walters said.
“Bill’s yearning to fly coincided with meeting Brenda Edwards who also showed a keen interest in flying – and Bill Vincent. They were married in 1953 and their honeymoon was a circumnavigation flight of Tasmania. Who did that sort of thing in 1953?”
He quickly established himself as a talented pilot. It was often said that he could land a plane on a ‘postage stamp’ or drop a parcel on a spot the size of a ‘dime’.”
Mr Vincent’s extensive local knowledge led directly to his involvement in search and rescue operations from as early as the late 1950’s. Over the years he devoted long hours in the air to assist in searches for missing fishermen around the islands and in Bass Strait.
Over the years he serviced the island families of Bass Strait, and with his brothers “Doggy” and “Toddy” built a mutton birding business.
In the early 1970s he married his second wife Susan, and with her and their three children moved to Queensland for a time in the late 1980s.
In 1980 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recognising his contribution to search and rescue in Tasmania and services to the Circular Head community.
It was while in Toowoomba he found ultra-light aircraft, and continued to fly until 2003 logging almost 20,000 hours in the air.
Only met the man when I delivered an Auster EDF to Ted ? Jago in Smithton 1974??
who also shipped mutton birds from the NW islands
Interesting to read about his flying experiences and legendary status. RIP Billy V
Any one here have some history on the Jago operations.? I know it wasnt long before the Auster ended up in the water, having run off an island strip.
Jago at one time had a Proctor which was condemned by DCA, then stripped and burnt, alas.
who also shipped mutton birds from the NW islands
Interesting to read about his flying experiences and legendary status. RIP Billy V
Any one here have some history on the Jago operations.? I know it wasnt long before the Auster ended up in the water, having run off an island strip.
Jago at one time had a Proctor which was condemned by DCA, then stripped and burnt, alas.