Vale Max Clear Bantam Pioneer

[Guest Darren Masters]

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of a dear mate and NZ aviation legend Max Clear this morning. Max lost his long battle with cancer. For those of you that don't know of Max he was the inventor and manufacturer of the Bantam aircraft at Te Kowhai Airfield. The amount of help and encouragement that Max gave me with my little microlight will never ever be forgotten and I will miss him dearly. It just won't be the same without Max at Te Kowhai :(

 

Below is my tribute:

 

R.I.P. my dear mate Max Clear. Fellow aviators, Max passed away this morning. NZ has lost a true gentleman that would do anything for anyone who was involved in any form of aviation. Max, your help to me with my microlight and your generosity is something I will never ever forget.

Below: Max came up beside me one afternoon for some formation flying when I was up having a fly in my plane. A pic I snapped. I'll never forget it.

 

 

 

[Guest Michael Coates]

Awww... that's sad. I knew he was sick and slowing down but his passing is a real loss to the Microlight scene in NZ.

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Awww... that's sad. I knew he was sick and slowing down but his passing is a real loss to the Microlight scene in NZ.

Yes mate a massive loss here. Massive. I've had my cry just before. I'll miss him more than words can describe.

 

 

[Guest David C]

That's very sad news Darren ... I didn't know Max , but that doesn't make his passing any less tragic . I know Max held a special place in your heart and may I say how sorry I am to hear the news .

 

Dave C

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

That's very sad news Darren ... I didn't know Max , but that doesn't make his passing any less tragic . I know Max held a special place in your heart and may I say how sorry I am to hear the news .Dave C

Thank you Dave. He did indeed. Remember "If you can't fly a Bantam you should not walk". So so true. The Bantam really introduced me to 'real' flying and I was hooked ever since. Meeting the man himself when I first moved here was an honour. I never ever imagined that I would have my plane on his airfield in his hangar and have him help me on a weekly basis. He knew everything about rag and tube machines. Whatever 'issues' I had with my plane Max sorted them for me. You know, last time I saw him (about a week and a half ago) he was very sick. I said "Max, get a chair and come sit in the sun with me". He did. I made him a coffee. He just loved it. I almost knew it would be the last time. He was very sick also a mth before that and he was sitting out on his deck (I did not know at the time) and I was flying my plane around on a perfectly calm morning and he said "Young aviator, watching you fly around this morning has made my day. You will never know how beautiful that was and how nice it's made me feel". I'll always remember those words as if it was just now...

 

 

[dazza 38]

That is very sad news.My condolences to Max's Family and friends.

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Guys, your well wishes from here (and a NZ aviation forum) were all passed on to Maxs' family.

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Sadly, as I could not make it to the funeral as I was in Hawaii my Mrs went down there for me with another flying buddy. Luckily enough she got into the hangar with all those other people there. Here are some of her pics with her tiny camera.

 

Andrew doing a flyby in the Harvard:

 

 

Maxs' Bantam being flown:

 

 

Look how popular Max was and that was nowhere near the amount of cars that were there:

 

 

Still missing him :(

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Newspaper article here:

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/5966699/Waikato-loses-passionate-aviator-Max-Clear

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Never knew of him. But it does sadden me to learn of the passing of anyone who has contributed so positively to our benifit.

 

Blue Skies.

 

Ozzie