After being involved with his Minimum (light) Aircraft since 1977-78 Ron West has said GOODBYE to his latest and last Plane. On Tuesday 21st October our Jabiru 230 left Cessnock and headed to Gawler with a stopover at Hay due to the weather.
Ron has enjoyed more than 40 years of flying and repairing his Ultra-Light Aircrafts more so when his father was alive. He enjoyed flying the Scout with Eric, dad. They had a strip on the family property at Medowie where the Scout 1st took off from!! The early days of Ultra-Light meant fly, if you got off the ground it would probably mean a heavy landing and naturally some minor damage!!! Load planes on the trailers and once home repair for next outing. Early days there were about 10-12 enthusiasts who owned Scouts, Stoleros, Condors, Avenger, Cricket, and a few homemade planes. Most were Rag and Pipe but they progressed to paddle pop sticks and fabric.
A few of the original Windsock Flying Club members would load their planes on their trailers plus the family and head off to a friendly spot for a few days of flying and friendship. This group flew in spots that are now totally FORBIDDEN. “Smithys” at Hexham and the Drop Zone at Salt Ash also Ringwood Airstrip. The favorite outing was Gloucester Aero Club.
Ron built aircraft No: 3 which was a Koala 202. It took him few years as he was working as well as maintaining the business that I was in partnership plus we had 2 teenage daughters to look after. When he spoke of building No:4 our daughters said ” Dad, look at the colour of your hair! Just go and spend our inheritance.” So, the LSA55 was purchased and enjoyed for 14 years then the 230 came on the scene and his health stopped him from enjoying this one as much as all his other aircraft.
Joan West
