One barely knows how to start a message like this, but I’ve just received news that Pete Boreham, one of the world’s most enthusiastic light vintage aviators and Shane Winter, President of Queensland Vintage Aeroplane Group, died an accident at Watts Bridge in Queensland, Australia, on Monday 1st September. They were both well-known to a lot of fellow enthusiasts in both hemispheres.
Pete, a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Air Force, was attending the annual Watts Bridge fly-in at the controls of a Scheibe SF-25C Falke motor glider. Typically, his flight from Melbourne in Victoria had won him the award for the longest distance flown.
I’m sure Pete would want us to remember him by his adventures with Luton Minor VH-LUT and with his vintage sailplanes (whose performance would frequently embarrass owners of more modern machinery). Likewise Shane will equally be remembered for his infectious passion for vintage aircraft. Both were always keen to share their deep knowledge with others.
All our thoughts are with their families and friends.
Blue Skies Gentlemen.
By: Roddy - 8th September 2008 at 23:53
Family Thanks
Pete Boreham’s family would like to thank all those from the historic aviation movement for their good wishes and support at this time. This tragedy has been tough to comprehend for all of us, and our family would particularly like to pass on our deepest sympathy to Shane’s family also. As Pete’s little brother, I have always been proud of his achievements in life, not the least his flying exploits. We only hope, as Pete & Shane would want, that this terrible event will not taint the wonderful image of vintage and general aviation. Thank you all again for your tributes.
“High Flight”
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things
you have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
high in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
my eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
where never lark, or ever eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
By: Proctor VH-AHY - 5th September 2008 at 07:19
Shane was a loyal friend and a great mate – I once had him as a co-pilot in my Tiger Moth for a re-enactment flight for Qantas of the first mail run from Charlieville to Concurry (Queensland Australia) a distance of about 500 miles. We did it in formation with 4 other Tiger Moths over a number of days, one of the pilots of another Tiger Moth in the formation was Barry Hempel who was killed in an aviation accident the day before Shane’s death.
2 friends lost in 2 days – very hard to comprehend and very upsetting!
Shane’s love of Tiger Moths is something I will always remember – it was the aeroplane type he loved!
By: Propstrike - 4th September 2008 at 23:48
Terrible news, probably all the more unexpected as the Falke would be widely seen as such a benign machine.
What can you say.:(:( R.I.P.
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September 4, 2008 at 3:11 pm