Sad to hear that Laurie passed away. Many hours flown in ECY back in the good old days. Remember hearing a funny story about Laurie doing a VMCA demo with a student in the 55 Baron he also once had and they somehow ended up upside down.

Anyone know if Alan Watson is still alive? Ex Ansett 727 skipper and excellent theory instructor.

Dear, oh, dear .. a few memories come back with the last few posts. Haven't seen Big Al for a few years, now, but I guess he is still with us. I'd hazard a guess that he would be around 80 ? Lovely bloke, he was a bit senior to me at AN and I flew with him a few times .. actually, we did our F27 endorsements together, as I recall, he as an initial command and me as an intake FO.

Alan certainly knew his stuff as a theory instructor, got me and many others through the CPL theory exams, some of whom I’m sure are also good commentators on this forum like myself.

I still remember some of Alan’s war stories, certainly a great era to fly in, albeit tough - very unlike these touchy feely and watch your language days.

very unlike these touchy feely and watch your language days.

Indeed, a top bloke was our Big Al. I had a lot of time for him. He took early retirement from AN with a golden handshake and then regretted it later but that's the way of life, I guess - you make your calls and wear the outcomes.

Thats pretty sad to hear Laurie passed, Laurie gave me my first job as an instructor there back in 1972,I took over from John Sunderland who moved on to new start up Air Niugini.
Laurie had a V12 E type Jag, lovely car,must have cost a packet to run though.

I spent a couple of years there,then went to Discover Flying,did my instrument rating with Wes Guy aviation,Doug Stott did my training, anyone know if Doug or Maurice is still with us ?

I do remember flying KXI one day on a training flt to Bacchus Marsh,took off to the north,climbed over the top of tulla airport,turned west into a howling westerly and promptly went nowhere !! I think my gs was about 10 kts,I had to give it away and go back to Essendon.
From memory he had a victa,a Fuji and later on KXI and the apache.
I think he was a keen Marlin fisherman,used to charter a boat out of Cairns.

I visited Moorabbin airport the other day,had a meal at the aero club,I see they have named the bar after John Lindsay,he was a gentleman,I well remember doing an instrument renewal with John down at Cowes I think doing the ndb app, I took along a playboy magazine to keep him entertained !

Laurie also had KUL, another 150 on line for many years. Great times, different world at YMEN now.

Don't know about Maurice, but Doug is retired on the Sunny Coast - had an Airtourer for a long time. Flew out of Darwin and Mildura on Shorts 330/360 and Dash8.

They were great times when you knew almost everyone on the airfield. Anyone recall what happened to Doug Williams or John South at Execs?

I haven't heard of Doug W for ages. I last saw Doug S at Watts Bridge pre-COVID - he sold his Airtourer to a Ppruner at Tyabb.

John South went on to fly the 690 VH-EXT and later the HS125 for Coles-Myer, Shell or ANZ (can’t remember which) Last heard of recently living down Mornington Peninsula way.

Dougy retired to Benalla a long while back. Legend.