The pilot of an aerobatic aircraft was left nursing a damaged plane, and probably a bruised ego, after a near-miss with a much larger plane on Friday afternoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society president Bob De La Hunty told the Mercury six of his ground staff were outside the HARS hangar servicing one of their planes when a light aircraft approached the area about 3.30pm.
Despite radio warnings to avoid the immediate vicinity, and ground staff "madly waving" the light plane away, Mr De La Hunty said the aircraft only narrowly missed his HARS plane and staff, being left with a damaged wing and propeller after swerving last-minute to avoid a collision.
“The aircraft did not obey the normal radio calls. I heard people calling madly on the radio for the plane to taxi on a different runway, and our people were waving madly for the plane to stop,” Mr De La Hunty said.
“The plane landed up on one wing and damaged the propeller.”
The HARS plane escaped undamaged and HARS staff uninjured. The damaged plane, which Mr De La Hunty believed was an aerobatic plane flown by a female student pilot, was wheeled away to a hangar following the bumpy landing.
“We had advised people to be careful,” he said.
Mr De La Hunty said he had reported the incident to airport groundsmen, and would be reporting to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and insurers.