Saying goodbye...
 

Hi again,

Yes there will be but, the details are not sorted as yet. There is no flight/ops manual for your namesake being killed and we have so many things to sort out. When we get there we will advertise details of the memorial service on our website, the papers and here on prune.There will be some drinks at the RQAC bar around next Tues or Wed night for the local pilots and other industry people in the area. We will have a condolence book and a few pictures up of Barry etc that we can present to the family. I believe that Barry is to be cremated at a family do and there will be a memorial service for the public in a few weeks. I just wanted to organize something for the local crews etc that may feel that they would like to be there. You can all pm me for more information as you see fit. I will say however this is not the official event just something small and quiet for the locals.

Its been a hard road the last few days I am about to go flying with a student for the first time since Sunday gutted.......

Mike Lawrence
Chief Pilot
Hempels Aviation

funeral service
 

As above, Drinks will be at RQAC upstairs bar 5pm local on Wed 10th of this month. No need to book etc just rock up. Will have a few photos and a book to sign for Barry's family.


Further to above the funeral service will be on the 11th (thurs) at 353 station road sumner park funeral home.

Barry Hempel
 

My deepest condolences to Hempels school associations, Barry's family and to that of the passengers family.

Mike L has acted above his duty as CP to post information on the site. Thank-you Mike for the details that you have posted to the PPRUNE community.

Barry - Temora November 2004
 

Can we please just agree that this thread is not for slandering either the dead or those left behind?

The next moron who can't follow that one rule will get a fecking long holiday:mad:

and here we go
 

Just read this..ABC News

CASA investigating aviation company over fatal crash
Posted 20 minutes ago
Updated 18 minutes ago



The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says it is investigating a Queensland company involved in a fatal plane crash at the weekend.

Sixty-year-old Barry Hempel and his passenger, 35-year-old Ian Lovell, were killed when the Russian-built Yak-52 stunt plane plunged into the ocean off South Stradbroke Island.

Police divers retrieved the men's bodies late yesterday off the Jumpinpin Bar.

A CASA spokesman says Hempels Aviation - based at Archerfield in southern Brisbane - is being investigated for possible safety breaches.

A medical professional has also told the ABC Mr Hempel had a condition that caused him to suffer blackouts.

Hempels Aviation are refusing to comment.

A spokesman for the the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) says it is not investigating the accident because it is a police matter.

Mr Hempel was an experienced aerobatics pilot, with his company's website saying he had won many flying competitions, including the Queensland and Australian Aerobatic Championships in the advanced category.

The website said he had clocked up more than 28,000 hours of "flying everything from Lear jets to airliners".

A former employee of Mr Hempel, commercial pilot Andrew Elliot, said Mr Hempel had been flying for more than 40 years.

"I think Barry was an exceptional pilot," he said.

"He had a huge history of flying an a variety of aircraft and there was probably no pilot I have ever known in my flying career who could equal his ability as a pilot."

A medical professional has also told the ABC Mr Hempel had a condition that caused hi
 

200% disagree.......

Never happened to him while flying...NO chance

Facts,
 

IF he did at least he would have gone in peace, and doing what he loves!

however, you cant presume that he definatly did not, they would not speculate that much if there wasnt at least a .1% chance it was true..

Dont want to denegrate this, but if true, an innocent person, unknowing of foresaid condition, has paid the ultimate in trust, both in the regulator and the operator. I hope its not true. If it is, I doubt the peace.

To the crew at Hempels.My condolences for your loss.
I did my CPL training with Hempels back in 1995.
Barry conducted my flight test and its a privalage to have his name in my log book.
Im sure if he was born 30years earlier he would have been known now as a Aviation pioneer.Aviation Legend will have to do.

All that history owes the dead is the truth. It also owes the truth to the relatives of the innocent victim.

"...a medical professional ....... told the ABC...." NOT very Professional:= .... actually downright unethical. Got something to say - tell the investigators.

Barry sent me on my 1st solo.
Just can't believe that it's true. My thoughts are with the family and staff.

Barry, thanks for all that you taught me in just a few memorable flights. You are indeed a legend. :ok:

Cannot see what CASA have to do with this. The Yak is not on Hemples AOC and would/should be operated under the Australian Warbirds Association requirements.

True, 262AM says Limited aircraft can operate commercial without the AOC under the conditions listed and under Warbird's regulation.

But here's an interesting thing.
Aircraft descriptions on Air Operator Certificates

Normally I'd agree with 601 no worries, but could this statement mean that as Hemples have an AOC, and the Yak is VH registered < 5700 Kg SE, that there is a case for it being investigated by CASA?

O, and at the end of the day CASA are still the governing body with Warbirds being the delegate so it's still their business and if they want to get involved no one can stop them.

Flying ace in fatal crash had no passenger licence | The Australian

Flying ace in fatal crash had no passenger licence

Michael McKenna | September 04, 2008

ONE of Australia's flying legends, veteran aerobatic champion Barry Hempel, was not licensed to carry commercial passengers when his stunt plane plunged into the ocean off southeast Queensland on Sunday, killing him and a paying joyrider.
Police and safety officials are investigating the cause of the crash of the converted Russian Yak-52 stunt plane, and the operation of Hempels Aviation, a Brisbane-based charter business and flight school with a fleet of 25 aircraft that was headed by the 60-year-old flying ace.
Sources close to the investigation told The Australian yesterday Mr Hempel had only a private pilot's licence and was not certified to take paying passengers on flights.
The girlfriend of Mr Hempel's passenger, Ian Lovell, 35, bought a $492 aerobatic flight ticket for him as a gift.
Investigators have receipts and witnesses to the transaction ahead of the ill-fated flight, which took off from Archerfield Airport, on the western outskirts of Brisbane, and crashed into the sea off South Stradbroke Island about 12.30pm on Sunday.
"The thinking is this was not the first time Hempel took up paying customers either," a source said.
Witnesses reported seeing the red plane perform a series of dives and loops before going into a steep dive and then plummeting into the sea.
The bodies of the two men were retrieved on Tuesday after Queensland Police using sonar equipment found the downed aircraft in 20m of water. Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said last night, in response to questions about Mr Hempel's pilot's licence, that he could not comment on the investigation because of privacy laws.
Mr Gibson said CASA was inquiring into the operations of Hempels Aviation. "We are investigating because there may be issues which go to the ongoing safety of the company," he said.
"We are also assisting the coroner with the investigation."
Hempels Aviation chief pilot Michael Lawrence last night declined to answer questions about the status of Mr Hempel's licence or whether he was certified to take Mr Lovell on the flight.
"I cannot comment - speak to CASA," he said. Mr Lawrence said Mr Hempel had been instructing trainee pilots until some years ago.
It is understood Mr Hempel had a medical condition, and his licence had conditions attached.
The investigation into the crash will be handled by police and CASA and overseen by the coroner, with the initial report expected next week.
On his website, Mr Hempel boasts that he qualified at 23 for the highest licence rating, that of Airline Transport Pilot.
He won the Queensland and Australian Aerobatic Championships in the advanced category.
"I feel as though I have done just about as much as I can in other fields of aviation," he said on the Hempels Aviation website. "Aerobatics is the ultimate test for a pilot."
The website says of Mr Hempel: "After more than 28,000 hours of flying everything from Lear jets to airliners, Barry now runs his own flying school and charter operations ... and spends the majority of his time passing on his skills to others."
The Brisbane-based Mr Lovell emigrated to Australia in the past few years and became an Australian citizen this year.
He was a lead animator in a computer game company, and his family is planning memorial services in England and Australia.
A private funeral for Mr Hempel is expected to be held within the next few days, with a public memorial being organised for later this month.




:(

I was shocked on the weekend when I got the news.... I have known Barry for most of my life and worked for him for over 5 years and like many he gave me my start in this industry. He was probably one of the best pilots I have ever known and his natural ability to step in and out of different aircraft was nothing but amazing. I actually got a call from Barry that weekend to say g'day. R.I.P Barry you were a great friend and teacher and you will be missed.

indeed a sad loss to alot of people, including me :(
RIP Hempel...

chain of responsibility
 

Geez....As we are all trying to come to grips with the loss of Barry and his passenger, out comes "The Australian" article regarding licencing etc...we knew Barry had a brief incounter with a hangar door which put him in hospital back in 2001...because Barry was knocked out he automatically lost his medical pending clearance tests, I was under the impression that he eventually got his Class 1 back after all this time, so it should not be any further issue. If it is correct that he indeed still had issues and had a class 2 with conditions and Hempel Aviation took payment for the adventure flight, then the chief Pilot being the one ultimately and legally responsible is facing a very serious dilema. I only hope that this is not the case and this tragic loss was just a bl**dy bad accident..