Bird in a Biplane
Joined: Mar 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 6,562
Likes: 952
From: Aus
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.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 755
Likes: 400
From: not where I want to be
I'd been waiting for megan to respond, but my guess is that it's probably a piece of bread on its edge?
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.
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 November 2022 at 20:15. Reason: shouldn't be typing and talking on the 'ph at the same time
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 132
From: Here and there.
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.
Joined: Mar 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 6,562
Likes: 952
From: Aus
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. 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 205
From: Location: Location!
Flight of Fancy of the Phoenix?
Joined: Mar 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 6,562
Likes: 952
From: Aus
The big lie continues, she personally promoted the solo claim, now it's all the sponsors fault.
After the crash, she was shocked to find herself dismissed as a fraud. Press releases put out by her sponsors had falsely claimed that she had undertaken all her flights solo, even though the 'Bird in a Biplane' had always been clear that she was sometimes flying with another pilot.Like her heroines, Curtis-Taylor wasn't given the respect she deserved by the aviation community, which she argues is misogynistic and treats women as 'soft targets'.
'Yet I feel my flights were transformational,' she concludes. 'If I felt terrible disappointment at the injustice of some things that happened . . . I never lost sight of the real journey.
'Yet I feel my flights were transformational,' she concludes. 'If I felt terrible disappointment at the injustice of some things that happened . . . I never lost sight of the real journey.
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
"Tracy was on Womens' Hour today. I only heard a couple of minutes while driving back from walking the dog. She certainly didn't correct the presenter when she referred to "solo flights" around the world."
I found the programme on here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001m4z5
From approx 40 minutes in.
As sick-making as ever and still pushing at open doors.
I found the programme on here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001m4z5
From approx 40 minutes in.
As sick-making as ever and still pushing at open doors.
