RIP Pip.

From his "extended family" i.e. Us lot;

We all hope that your Family be given, the space needed where and when it is required.

That your Family and many close Friends, Grieve well.

And:
Here's to Pip: What a Champion of a bloke, and a great Aussie.

RIP mate.

Thanks for all your help and guidance over the years. We will miss you.

Time Bomb Ted

I just turned over the March page of my Australian Aviation calendar... there's Pip in the Samson in all it's glory...:(

I did not know Pip but had spoken to him and admired his flying displays at many airshows over the years. He came accross as a great bloke and an gifted pilot.
It seems almost unbelievable that so many highly skilled and professional pilots have been taken from us over the last couple of years. My condolences to his friends and family. RIP:(

Whilst I never met Pip, I had the distinct pleasure of watching one of his flying displays.

A a great pilot, and by what I have read here, a great bloke.

RIP Pip.

Had the pleasure of meeting Pip just a few weeks ago when he was in town performing for Skandia week. I had just got back from a nav late in the afternoon and was surprised to see him parked near the bowser.I popped over for a chat and he intruduced himself and was more than happy to answer all of my stupid questions about his aircraft, he seemed to have just as many questions about me and how i was going with my flying as i did about him.

What an absolute gentleman, and what a take off when he departed for his routine over the bay - absolutely awesome.

Another cool memory was at Avalon a few years back, There were some bogan petrol heads right up on the fence next to me making burnout gestures to all of the aircraft taxiing in after their performances (Not sure what they were expecting???) and no-one was giving them any notice until Pip saw them as he was taxiing in and he pulled right up close to the fence, stomped on the left rudder and gave it the fat - probably as close to donuts in an aeroplane as you will see.

Always a crowd pleaser and a showman. RIP.

Rip Pip.
I will miss your displays. :(
Now you can fly higher than any of us....:ok:

Met Pip a couple of times at various airshows. Absolute champion of a fella and very nice to chat to.

He even requested a bit of my photography work for himself from one of the airshows he so wonderfully performed. I got a copy signed for myself which is still yet to find a place on my wall.

RIP Pip, you will be missed.

Will check papers, but anyone know date/time/place of funeral?

Having trained with both Tom and Pip, it saddens me greatly in the knowledge that they no longer dazzle us in the skies above. To lose both in such a short time is devastating to all involved with aviation in Australia. They were the showcase of many airshows around the country. They both will be sadly missed.

I too will watch the papers for the funeral, but if anyone has details please PM me or post for all to see. Will be a large turn-out, considering he was a true master of his craft in the air, and a gentleman on the ground.

RIP Pip..

PS2A

Crap...

I don't think I've been to an airshow without Pip being there. 'Twill not be the same. Amongst other things I'm really losing interest in going to YMAV.

"Great show Pip, cheers."

(He will not now get the opportunity to figger out the difference between Philthy and I on the radio...)

I'm just flabbergasted!!

Unbelievable and so sad for his wonderful family.

RIP Pip

G'day :(

Pip's funeral is likely to be in SHT next Thursday or Friday at this stage .(Victorian Coroner is still under pressure with bushfire victims)
Will advise when exact details known.

For those interested, Here's a video of Pip playing in his Sampson.

R.I.P Pip.
OK, seems the new button is broken. here's the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkS-ZQUT7kA

Wiz, thought you were only 2 hours behind over there, not 2 days behind, which is coincidentally when I posted that same Youtube link!

Whilst the lost airman formation idea would be a great one for Avalon and a terriffic send-off, unfortunately the Edge is in pieces in the engine shop at the moment.

D'oh....... I didn't realize it had been posted already. :bored:

Was it the sampson that went in? AAP (and we all know how accurate their reporting is.....NARF) said it was an ultralight????

Yes it was the Samson, the Edge is in for repairs and the Samson was in practice for it's public Debut at Avalon.

Is there any info on what the cause was?.

To the moderators.

With respect, there have been some other threads started on this subject and then closed by the Mods. However considering that we are discussing a friend who has been an Ozzie Icon for many years, I suggest that the title might be better reflected by using other words. This is not about a "crash" but about a person - the title would be better if it reflecting that.

Plane crash/ death of pilot.
 

Not an Aerobatic pilot, just an old aggie, with lots of time on radial engines. Those engines will run all day at 75% pwr, but you cannot horse them around. Set power, work, then land. Anyone that has driven a 985 or 1340 will tell you that abrupt increases in power setting will flame out the engine,(yeah, I know, its a piston engine), but it will happen. So, perhaps it happened right at the time that Pip needed the power. It should be remembered that this was a relatively new airframe with limited pilot experience on type. I take absolutely nothing away from Pip, having met him several times, but we all need to remember that we work in the second most challenging environment known to man, and that you can never under-estimate the laws of gravity and combustion. I trust that no-one will find this post offensive, but there needs to be some balance to help all of us to learn from this tragedy..... Vale Pip, you touched my soul with your rhetoric when I most needed it, and for that I am eternally thankful. The most challenging is the sea or your mother/father-in-law:}

Wiz, it has been reported widely by many witnesses that some kind of engine spluttering and or stoppage happened during a vertical maneouvre from which there was no chance of recovery even for someone as skilled as Pip. Personally I'm leaving it at and put it down to a very unlucky event. PS some very interesting maneouvres in the video if you look closely. Thanks to the author for posting.

......the most challenging environment for man? The one you currently find youself in that is life threatening, that could be out of the bloody roads!

Pip has only left us in the physical sense, for a long time to come his memory & his experience will haunt those left behind in ways that we are not thinking of at this point in time.

perhaps a trophy in his honour in his field of expertise.


Wmk2

Used to stand out the front of Gawne's and watch Pip (normally while I was meant to be studying). An amazing pilot and person.

Lets hope this doesn't re-ignite the 'SHT airport needs to be moved' debate.

His antics will be sorely missed. RIP Pip.:ok:

Yet another reminder to us all that no matter how good we are as pilots, something can always happen at a critical point. And yet our love for flying far out weighs that. RIP Pip, another fallen legend that wouldnt have changed a thing:ok:

Funeral details for Pip
 

** yet to be confirmed - check Wed funeral notices **


1030
St Brendan's
Shepparton

Funeral details
 

That's confirmed as being on Friday, 10.30am at St Brennan's Catholic Church.

UTR