Sydney TAFE in the 1990s
 

Hi all

I'm trying to remember the name of one of the teachers at the Ultimo campus in the mid 90s. He was an ex RAAF Mirage pilot and a lovely bloke. I think his first name was Bill. Would like to know what he is up to if he is still with us. Happy to have answers by PM.
Cheers
CRN

I remember the big fella, ex Qantas 747 captain. Used to talk about all of his electrical appliances failing but only when he was away on trips. And the fella with the handlebar moustache, he was the best teacher there. Still got most of my notes from there. Was awesome theory.

Were his initials D McL?

I think that would be Bill Richardson. That whole teaching team were exceptional, very experienced and knew how to teach.

Does Sydney TAFE still offer aviation theory?

If you were looking for Don McLean he unfortunately was killed in car car accident at Orange some 12 months ago

Don't forget Greg Madden and Brett Leyshun. Two of the nicest easy going blokes I've ever met.
Sticky
👍

Barry Anderson, there was also an ex Pakistani Air Force guy and Vince from Sydney Harbour seaplanes. Sorry to hear about Don. TAFE was excellent, all theory up to ATPL, including IR for less than $300!!!!!

Ahhh, yes, Don McLean rings a bell, so does Brett Leyshun! I don't think there was a dud amongst them. Exceptional teachers.

Len Sales and Bram Vince ring a bell.

Down to the video game parlor underneath at lunch time :)

Len Sales ex QF navigator I think. Knew his stuff. :D

Sad to hear about big Donnie. He was ex-RAN FAA I believe.
I think 'Bill' would have been Bill Richardson. He told the story about getting into a RAAF Sabre squadron that had the last of the P51 Mustangs online until the day before he was posted in - so he missed out on the P51 by one day. Very good instructor and I think he got up to Air Commodore in the RAAF.

Another Bill,

Bill Cooper if I remember correctly. All great chaps, tons of real world experience. Made learning a pleasure.

I remember those days well, Broadway TAFE aka SYdney Institute of Technology , my ATPL class of 4 barely employed CPLs on leave from our bug smashing duties and a dozen under 20s diploma students. Peter Neuman for nav and law ? Big booming Don Mclean for systems , Bill Richardson for B727 flightplanning and Frank Gomez for met and flightplanning and anything else.......Don had just been made department head and was reveling in the glory of being top dog again...Bill was a walking 727 flight manual and if i remember correctly he was also a proud wearer of a martin baker tie.....Frank was formerly a pakistan airforce or army C130 driver....but Don was the man for war stories in between his daily 50 cups of coffee, sub hunting one day then heavy SPs out of Delhi the next, the whole class sat mesmerised when he digressed (often) during some detailed explanation or discussion.

Good times.......and I do sometimes wonder where they all are now, as I am sure they themselves wonder of the whereabouts and welfare of their past students....

We must have been one of the last to pay $50 for all 7 of the ATPL exams.

I went to Ultimo in the mid 90s. I studied mechanical engineering and I didn't know there was such a group of aviation connected people.

I remember the name Don McLean. I think he interviewed me for the course. I don't remember other names, but I remember a few stories.

My memory is bad, but there was another teacher there who was an immigrant from (Eastern?) Europe I think. He was very interested in wing root connections and would always photocopy the cutaway drawings from my Air International magazines.

I found this regarding Don McLean. An unfortunate event.

DONALD JOHN McLEAN O1832 LIEUTENANT
DOB: 24 MAY 1938
ENTRY TO RAN: 05 SEPTEMBER 1957
CATEGORY: PILOT
PROMOTION: PROBATIONERY NAVAL AIRMAN (PILOT) 07 JULY 1958
SUB LIEUTENANT (P) 18 JUNE 1959
LIEUTENANT (P) 18 MAY 1961
DISCHARGE DATE: 18 MARCH 1966
POSTING HISTORY:
Don McLean completed initial training at HMAS Cerberus and HMAS Albatross prior to undergoing Pilot training with the RAAF at Uranquinty NSW and Pearce WA.
He served with 724 and 805 Squadrons at HMAS Albatross, and onboard HMAS Melbourne with 805 Squadron flying the de Havilland ‘Sea Venom’ jet fighter. Having later converted to helicopters he served with 725 and 817 Squadrons flying the Westland ‘Wessex’. His final posting was with 723 Squadron flying the Bell ‘Iroquois’ at HMAS Albatross.
Having obtained a Senior Commercial Pilot’s Licence he was employed by Qantas Airways after leaving the RAN in 1966.
Donald McLean was accidentally killed in a motor vehicle accident near Orange NSW while on his way to the 2016 ANZAC Day Dawn Service.


McLEAN, Donald John O1832 | Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia