Video: Valentich Part.1 of 2 - Rare Footage - Archival

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DSJ didn't get a lot of use at the Flying School, and I sat in it a lot to practice my checks and procedures, so this one brings back a few memories.

 

Aircraft radio wasn't all that old at that time and most aircraft had sets and microphones which were different in design.

 

DSJ had a little round microphone about 15 mm diameter and about 75 mm long, tapering down to the cable end which you operated delicately with thumb and forefinger, speaking into the end of it. (you'd press a button with your thumb to talk).

 

When you'd finished using it you just dropped it into a tapered receptacle with a slot for the cable, and it just sat there held down by gravity.

 

I can recall the day after Fred's disappearance, the CFI adamantly ruling out the popular theory that Fred was disorientated and flying upside down looking at the reflaction of his own lights, because the mike would have fallen out of its socket and been swinging backwards and forwards in front of his face.