RVAC 1966

[triadic]

Originally Posted by lucille

When did Urm Wright start? I vaguely recall him as being the CFI around 1972.

If I recall correctly, Urm was involved in ground training in the later '60's then moved into the CFI role a bit later - early '70's??

[hei yu]

I trained at RVAC between late 1963 and mid 1967 for my PPL, CPL and instructor's rating.
PPL instructor Graeme Lowe, CPL instructor Neil O'Connor and instr. rating instructor Mark Van Es.
Roy Goon, instructor par excellence, was one of my instructors 1966/1967 but was not CFI when I left mid 1967.
A long time ago, but I think Graeme went to AAC at Moorabbin, Neil O'Connor set up Victorian Helicopters with Blue Margetts before moving to PNG to fly helicopters (See Balus Vol ll page 147 for photo).
I bumped into Mark Van Es early 70's . He had stopped flying and was working for Repco .. reckons the fun went out of it with the demise of the tail draggers.
Finally the sim shot ... The Sim instructor is Clem Atkins and I think the student in the sim (10:02:09:10) is Hugh Drummond. Hugh completed his PPL and CPL training with Royal Vic before joining the RAN as a pilot.

[5th officer]

Originally Posted by lucille

When did Urm Wright start? I vaguely recall him as being the CFI around 1972.

Would have been mid to late 60's he was a friend of Roy Goon and Urms told they were both in the Pakistan AF in the 1950's?

[yarrayarra]

Originally Posted by 5th officer

Have to check my logbook for dates, Bruce McInnes did my initial training, Roy Goon sent me off on first solo and I am sure Urms Wright was there later in my training?

my father Roy Goon was CFI/ Manager around that time. Columbo Plan students were also government sponsored at the time. There is an interesting feature article in the Aviation Safety Digest where dad was training Bruce McInnes for an instructor rating and , while conducting spins in a DHC1, the rudder cable snapped during recovery. Initial entry to spin at 4500ft but dad recovered at 1500ft to return to YMMB. Btw my first solo in RVS then CPL training conducted by Stan Tayler- was checked for CPL by Rick Tate ( whose brother Frank flew B747s) . Proudest moment of my life when he said to me “you fly just like your old man”

[triadic]

yarrayarra - thanks for your contribution. I have fond memories flying with Roy doing formation traininng.
The ASD article to which you refer for the benefit of other readers is ASD 54 Jan 1968 page 14 to 17.
cheers

[rjtjrt]

yarrayarra
Not only was your father the best of instructors, he was a gentleman.

[e2_c]

Originally Posted by triadic

Yes, that is correct. Stan worked with Doug Williams at Execs during the 70's, instructing, charter & Air Ambulance in the Shrikes. I did my instructor rating and IR with them in the early 70's.
Stan sadly passed away in the late 70's. Doug Williams was with the RAAF reserve and did a bit of work at PCK I recall.

Are you sure it was the late 70's that Stan passed? I worked with him when Execs became HC Sleigh flying the Shrikes and Nomads on the Coastwatch contract.

[triadic]

Originally Posted by e2_c

Are you sure it was the late 70's that Stan passed? I worked with him when Execs became HC Sleigh flying the Shrikes and Nomads on the Coastwatch contract.

Back to the diary..... yes, my error, Stan passed away on 12 sep 2000. I went to the funeral in Burwood and had to travel to get there. I just had the wrong home in mind as I thought it was prior to going north, not after. I did my Instrument rating with Stan in at Execs in 73 and a few renewals with Stan after that. Lots of good flying in the Shrikes, Searchmaster and the good old Cat.

[Stationair8]

The Cherokee RVV, I believe was one of the few GA aircraft fitted with an ADF when it was online at RVAC.

[triadic]

At that time the RVAC had a PA28, RVK which was set up for IFR training. It had a removable internal screen which was tinted and fitted inside the windscreen. When IF training the student would wear a pair of glassess which were tinted with a colour that when viewed with the fitted screen made the "view" opaque (to simulate in cloud). The instructor was able to keep full visibility. If I recall RVK had a ADF and VOR which was something new at time replacing the old VAR. The club also had two new B33 Debonairs, RVC and RVD which had an ADF fitted. RVC, D, V & K are all still on the register.
As in a previous post, Schutt's had a C172 (VH-DMW) that was IFR certified and the only single at MB that was at that time.

[SaintWestall]

Does anyone recall the UFO incident in April 1966 a few kms north-east of Moorabbin Airport at Westall, during which three unidentified objects were seen over the schools at Westall, with at least one landing in the nearby Grange reserve. After one of the objects lifted off they were seen flying away at great speed, leaving several nearby light aircraft in their wake. Would any pilots, instructors or tower staff at Moorabbin from that time remember this incident?

[SIUYA]

When did Urm Wright start?

It would have been in 1966, because he sent me solo in late December '66 and hadn't been at RVAC all that long at the time.

Stan Taylor.......I think Stan left RVAC and joined the JetAir DC3 operation as a co-pilot.....if my memory serves me correctly, that would have been in the late 60's/early 70's (??).

From there he went to Execs.

Triadic....I also did a heap of target towing at West Head and also at Nowra (Malfunction Junction). A lot of air Ambulance work too, and also spent a plenty of time out on National Mapping in one of the 680FL's.

Execs was a great outfit to work for. ​​​​​​​

[Old aeroplane geek]

PA-28-140, VH-RVK was the IFR Cherokee at RVAC.
ADF, ILS, Marker Beacons, I guess in reality it was the old Limited IFR having just one VHF comm.

[megan]

Stan Taylor, along with Daryl Mayfield, worked for Esso flying the company Merlin on the daily Sydney - Sale - Essendon run late 70's, both lost their jobs when the company rid itself of the Merlin for a Citation.

[SIUYA]

Megan,

Before Esso, Darryl flew the Merlin VH-BCL for Bougainville Copper........used to do Cairns direct Kieta.

Pat O'Donohue also flew the Merlin for Esso.

[megan]

G'day SIUYA, knew Darryl and wife well, meals etc, afraid I never came across Pat O'Donohue, or the name. All flights I made in the aircraft as a pax were with Darryl. Stans brother was in the Esso fold as well, helo engineer, unfortunately passed at a young age from testicular cancer, a battle he fought bravely and kept working to the very end, painful to see him working and doubling up in pain from time to time.

[Old aeroplane geek]

I was taught to fly at RVAC in 1970, DHC-1 Chipmunk with Bruce Northeast as instructor. One of the Chipmunk, RVW had an enlarged rudder, something to do with banner towing I recall. Wings test with Urms Wright who was CFI. I remember passing through Karachi some years later and the flight was delayed for some reason. Passengers were taken to a lounge for refreshments whilst the Viscount was worked on. The engineer working on the RR engine knew Urms from years gone by when he was CFI at the Karachi Aero Club. Urns apparently walked away from two forced landings in Spitfires after engine failure.
Did my twin engine conversion at RVAC in twin Comanche ASL with Urms. Pressure from family I gave the flying away. Regretfully.

[Ramjet55]

I instructed at RVAC and was hired by Roy Goon after it went thru one of its financial difficulties.
Spent a lot of time in those beat up Cherokees often hitting maximum hours.

The fun was getting into the citabria or flying the Pitts when funds allowed.

[Dora-9]

RVW had an enlarged rudder,

Going through my photos, at some stage of their later careers VH-RVV, -RVW, -RVY and -RVZ all sported broad-chord rudders, immediately identifiable by the distinct kink at the lower trailing edge. I doubt this was specifically fitted for glider towing, the stated purpose was to improve rudder authority during crosswind take-offs & landings and aerobatics (despite what some pundits claim, this had nothing to do with improving spin recovery).

To put this in historical context, although the broad-chord rudder was trialled and approved in 1951, all of the RAF's Chipmunks were delivered by 1953 with the narrow chord rudder - the bigger rudder was then supplied as a retrofit item. However, by this stage a large proportion of the RAF Chipmunk fleet were already ear-marked for disposal; these aircraft never received the retrofit rudder. Hence, the entire RVAC Chipmunk fleet, all ex RAF aircraft, had the narrow rudder with just the handful listed above eventually getting the broad-chord version.

[SaintWestall]

Does anyone recall the UFO incident in April 1966 a few kms north-east of Moorabbin Airport at Westall, during which three unidentified objects were seen over the schools at Westall, with at least one landing in the nearby Grange reserve. After one of the objects lifted off they were seen flying away at great speed, leaving several nearby light aircraft in their wake. Would any pilots, instructors or tower staff at Moorabbin from that time remember this incident?