After 14 years, Garry King, has retired from the position of Chief Pilot of the Albatross Aero Club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr King started in the club in 2000, and took over as Chief Pilot in 2005, and has been piloting light aircraft for 52 years.
"I'm the only one of seven siblings who was ever game enough to get in a light aircraft in those days," Mr King said.
"It's just gone through there, through various forms of aviation, and on to where I ended up.
"I loved the teaching side of aviation, and that was my chosen role, to become an instructor, and I've instructed for more years than I care to count."
See also:
Mr King's passion for teaching has preceded the success of the aero club's former students.
He said many of them went on to become airline pilots, and well-respected aero engineers, which is considered the top of the tree in the aviation game.
Garry King's son, Hayden, even placed third in his division during the 2018 National Air Races in Reno, Nevada, USA, alongside Matt Coughlin, another student of the Albatross Aero Club.
Mr King said it was an astounding achievement, and the success of a student all goes back to the mentoring the club provides.
"It comes from the initial grounding," Mr King said.
"Which anyone receives from aviation, whether it's from an engineering point of view, or whether it's from the flying side.
"We'd say it's our responsibility, that we pass our experience onto the young people.
"It's not just about me, it's the members and committee of the aero club that makes things great."
Mr King said while he is still teaching aviation and is involved with the aero club, he has withdrawn from the position of Chief Pilot to inject fresh blood and start his own flight school in Temora.