Bird in a Biplane
Yes FP, is our Trevor. A sad event, he used his aircraft (Beech 36, Baron, and about to purchase a DC-3) for charter, on the flight in question he was doing a newspaper run with a young pilot he was doing a check flight on with a view to employing the young lad. On departure from one of their stops at about 0100 local he pulled an engine on the lad and flew into the side of a hill, prop slash marks could be seen in the grass where they were in the process of restarting the shut down engine. A passenger on board was killed, the young lad injured, Trevor didn't have the sash safety belt across his shoulder and face planted the instrument panel causing head injuries. A main highway ran along the base of the low range of hills and a chap driving to work at 0600 noticed a red flashing light up the hill (the nav beacon), being a local he wondered what in the world is that so stopped to investigate and found the crash, Trevor had seemingly just passed away as his body was still warm. The young lad gave up flying and became a school teacher, returned to the cockpit in PPl capacity quite a number of years later.
You will note that my explanation differs in detail from the official accident report below, my explanation is as told to me by Bob Dickenson who visited the crash site immediately after.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24610/197404546.pdf
Trevor, flying as our jump pilot, crouched down facing camera while I have parachute check from instructor
Bob Dickenson far left serving the BBQ at aero club get together, youthful self between the two Ladies.
You will note that my explanation differs in detail from the official accident report below, my explanation is as told to me by Bob Dickenson who visited the crash site immediately after.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24610/197404546.pdf
Trevor, flying as our jump pilot, crouched down facing camera while I have parachute check from instructor
Bob Dickenson far left serving the BBQ at aero club get together, youthful self between the two Ladies.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Originally Posted by Russell Gulch
Was your nose broken?
Russ
Russ
Wonderful picture either way, can't help but be amused at how closely the fellow in the second row is fixating on the steak :-)
Megan, appreciate the followup and explanation (and photos), which makes it all the more poignant. I have often wondered how survivors get on after such traumatic events; such a brief moment in time can affect someone the rest of their lives. Good to hear the young man eventually made it back to flying, albeit perhaps not as he'd envisaged previously.
FP.
Last edited by First_Principal; 8th Nov 2022 at 21:15. Reason: shouldn't be typing and talking on the 'ph at the same time
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megan I just love old and historic pictures that have value and really mean something to someone; they do need to be preserved.
I hope you don't mind but I tried a little bit of my work on them.
I hope you don't mind but I tried a little bit of my work on them.
Love it SATCO, particularly how you managed to get the colours mostly correct, especially on the Victa aircraft. Only colours to alter would be the parachutes (khaki - chutes were standard US military as used in F-86) and the earth in the fore ground - brown, the Old Fella had built the airstrip for us in saltbush country on a friends sheep station. Photos below will give an idea of colours. Many thanks, they are keepers, admire your skill. 
