gyro mag

[bones]

Been looking through the latest mag, what a good read, the one thing that keep going back to read over and over is the bit about Mr Ken Wallis,, now there is a man that god willing i would love to be able to do much the same thing at some rediculis age like what he did, can you imagine 90 years young and going for a fly...My hat's of to your Sir...

But one down side of the mag is there obviously must have been a bit of a shortage of photos, cause my ugly mug is in it twice, shit they were hard up :pistoles:

[russ]

Bones, yes Wallis was a remarkable chap.................in Britain

We got one also, rite here in oz.................Bob Higgins, this guy was "The Godfather" to gyros here in oz. He was never inducted by ASRA to lifetime status, only token gestures of recognition were acclaimed to him.

This guy.............singularly, 40 plus yrs back, got gyros accepted by the powers that be [ casa ], what he had to do, endure, the fights, the red tape, etc etc. His lifetime of gyro hurdles, was truly memorable. Would make one hell of a read.

Thankyou sir, for your unsung achievements for gyros Australia.

PS..........this chap passed away several yrs back [R.I.P ]

[rotor]

Heard a little about Bob Higgins ... would love to get some info on him for a story ...

If any one can supply me with some info ... it would be greatly appreciated. A photo or two would be more than "greatly appreciated"


rotor

[Sky Gazer]

Hey guys.

What is the mag you are referring to -and where can I get it?

peter

[rotor]

Pete, the mag is the ASRA Magazine. It comes out quarterly and is posted out to ASRA members. You can buy it directly from ASRA or subscibe to recieve the magazine without paying to be a member (I'm pretty sure). You can also buy back issues.

Email Llewella (secretary@asra.org.au), she'll be able to help.

rotor

[BeefBear]

What is stopping us from pushing for official recognition for the efforts of Bob? Just because he has passed away doesn't mean that he should be forgotten for his efforts?


What about it Rusty? Write up a storm regarding Bob's achievements so we can afford him the respect he is due.

[Brian]

"What about Rusty"

Only ever talked to him on the phone and I was impressed just listening to him !!
You would have to write a book on the man, he's done it all in some of the roughest conditions you could imagine.
I would second any attempt to have Rusty recognized for his achievments. I'm sorry, I do not know anything of Bob Higgins.

[rotor]

Brian, Ted's referring to Russ when he say's rusty (I think)

Bob Higgins was the President of the Victorian Rotorcraft Association before the days of ASRA. In those days I believe if you wanted to fly gyro's you had to be a member of that association. Bob did a lot of work in the early days fighting for the rights that we now enjoy - flying gyro's. I'm not right up on it but if Russ could elaborate a little more here it'd be greatly appreciated.

I am currently looking for information etc on Bob and his mates from the pre ASRA era. It's a part of the history of gyro's in Australia, and should be documented before it is lost.

Geoff

[Aussie_Paul]

Geoff, I knew Bob Higgins very well. He issued me with my first gyro certificate in 1982. He was friends with my Dad and held flyins at the farm. I have some great vidio somewhere of my Dad sort of interviewing Bob after a great long weekend in June flyin in 1982. I will see if there are any pics etc or news paper articles that may have been saved by Dad.

Aussie Paul. :mrhappy

[rotor]

Great Paul,

If it's not something that you are going to keep private Paul, a copy of the video would be brilliant - it could be placed on the site as a video and made available to view. And photo's, news articles, personal stories and articles - everything to do with that era would be more than welcome and greatly appreciated!!

rotor

[marko66]

Hi Guys

I think we should do both things, Bob Higgins sounds like a great bloke who did so much for the sport of gyro flying in Australia. Rusty Ferguson is who I believe Brian is referring to is another interesting bloke who I believe we should be trying to talk to as well. I have some Photo's here of Rusty in 1990 and written on the back is the fact he had Fifteen THOUSAND hours up then and I believe he is still flying now and has about thirty thousand hours up although I maybe wrong here. As a mustering pilot and gyronaut I believe he must be doing something right to still be with us. Maybe we should ask him what it is, I hope that he would share some of his experience and maybe even guidelines on do's and don'ts.

I'm not saying that there aren't any other people out there who don't deserve to be listened to or recorded but I would have thought that those hours would sort of make him unique. I just wish I knew the man myself

:cheers:
Mark

[bones]

Well then 66 if you had of made it to the nats this year you could have at least met him as i did, not sure if he would be the type of guy too open to talking about himself too much, typical bushy, a very quiet guy i gathered, might be wrong though(hopefully).

[rotor]

I'll try and be a little clearer here.

We have a lot of people flying gyro's that can pass on a lot of info through their experiences first hand. I'm not sure whether Bob Higgins was a brilliant pilot, but brilliant pilot or not, that is not what I want to record through the information I am seeking.

The reason I want this information is that we don't have a record of our gyrocopter history in Australia other than what we already know about ASRA. Bob Higgins was, I don't like to put it this way but I will, the founding father of gyrocopter flight in Australia. He pushed to change the laws so that he along with others could fly gyrocopters legally at the time. He was the one along with others obviously, that took the plunge and did the hard yards so that we are where we are today. We have benefited directly from the action of him and others like him and he (they) deserve at least a little recognition for their efforts. Even if it's just in articles, photo's - memorabilia, it is more than any one has done to date to recognise these people.

I'd like to put an area aside on this site to recognise the past and the people who made the past happen. Anyone that can contribute is more than welcome to submit material because if it's history then it belongs to all of us to share.

rotor

[russ]

Bloody brilliant stuff................bewdy

stand by...........bein an 'oldie', i go back a yr or 2, where's me 27 yr plus old diary........has that got sum info, phew

Hey cave dweller...............told you diaries were handy tings :moon:

[BeefBear]

Far out ol' fella, will we need a translator to rectify the scratchings?

[rotor]

Hieroglyphics is what your after there Ted .... I'm sure there'll be pleny of pictures, we'll understand it mate

[Aussie_Paul]

Geoff, a cousin of mine was going through some old pics and sent me this one.

Aussie Paul. :shiver:

[rotor]

Thanks Paul,

Notice the second one is only very small .... you obviously resized it to get it in the post ... can you email me both at their right size mate ..


Geoff

[Aussie_Paul]

Geoff., the small one id taken from the right lower part of the main pic.

I will be seeing Mum tomorrow and will ask her waht she has kept in the way of Dads flying pics etc.

Aussie Paul. :shiver: