Nev, I first flew in a Tiger Moth way back in 1946, a family friend and neighbour Wally James purchased two of these machines from disposals and began operating joy flights from Albion Park aerodrome, now known as Illawarra Regional Airport and at the weekends operating off the sand flats at Windang, the entrance to Lake Illawarra.
I at that time as a teenager used to earn pocket money by mowing the lawns and tending the gardens for Mr James widowed mother and so much of my pocket money was spent on joy flights in the Moths, I went on to take some basic flying lessons with one of the pilots a Mr Green, I think from memory his first name was Richard.
Whilst I never at that stage went on to gain my licence I did so somewhat later with Southbank Aviation flying mostly Cessna aircraft. After gaining my licence I went on to work for Southbank mainly in the role of promoting and selling the services and products of the company, We were a franchised Cessna dealership and in addition to selling and servicing aircraft we conducted an Aerial survey and aerial photography operation as well as a flying school, aircraft charter and aircraft hire business.
In 1966 together with a fellow member of the staff I delivered a new Cessna 172 to the Tumut Aero Club where I met up with the legendary Brian (Blackjack) Walker who was there with his Tiger Moth to take part in the organised field day to mark the arrival of the club's new aircraft, Brian invited me to accompany him in his Tiger Moth to go up and do some steamer cutting to entertain the gathering which I readily accepted. In 2009 I decided to create a bucket list and on top of the list was a promise to once again before I die fly in a Tiger Moth so hence the photo of me beside VH-ASB after just landing at Pimpama Airfield. Regards Barry
