MAAA Wingspan

18 19 WING SPAN FEBRUARY Member story: Celebrating John Corby’s aviation career ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2019, MAAA MEMBER AND ACTIVE FREE FLIGHT MODELLER, JOHN CORBY RECEIVED THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS On September 10, 2019, MAAA member and active Free Flight modeller, John Corby received the Order of Australia Medal at Government House for his achievements and advancements in Australian aviation. As the designer of the Corby Starlet, a popular ultra-light, John has spent fifty years in aviation. A career in aviation: John Corby joined Qantas immediately after leaving high school in December 1949, working as an apprentice aircraft maintenance engineer. Over the next five years, he completed a Qantas training school apprenticeship course and an Aeronautical Engineering Diploma course at Sydney Technical College. During the next 20 years, he was privileged to work with some top performance structural engineers, primarily in airframe, and engine areas covering modifications, equipment repairs and a range of non-destructive testing, materials and processes. During the mid-1950s, there was increasing interest and pressure to allow amateur building in Australia. The Ultralight Aircraft Association of Australia (ULAA), was formed in October 1955 and subsequently, John outlined a suitable project resulting in a small aircraft, single-seat, minimum size and number of parts, 40-45hp culminating in a Certificate of Type Approval 74-1, dated 30 June 1972. In September 1972, John commenced work as a consultant in the GA industry, undertaking a wide range of modifications and repair work ranging from two-seat conversion of a Mustang, to fatigue evaluation of a Lockheed 10 restoration, to finalising Lycoming installation in a Fawcett 120 prototype by Luigi Pellarini. Another non-aero project saw his involvement in the Southern Cross America’s Cup challenger in 1974. In 1978 John was approached to join Transfield to manage their aviation division Transavia at Seven Hills and to oversee design and development of the Transavia Airtruk including FAA type certification. During this time with Transavia, there was an initiative to bring together the various aviation production companies in Australia to form a consolidated group and more effectively, represent the Australian Industry to international markets. The organisation, Association of Australian Aerospace Industries (AAAI) was founded, headquartered in Canberra and John was privileged to be the inaugural Chairman. In 1988, John resigned from Transavia and recommenced activities as an authorised design signatory primarily in the GA industry. Projects were varied but included Certification of the Airborne Windsports Edge – the first Australian Design powered weight shift aircraft approved under CAO 95.32 and project coordinator for the certification program of Seabird Seeker. He became aware of CASA’s interest in a position for a specialist in the certification area at the head office in Canberra, resulting in a career transfer from industry to government administration in August 1995. John enjoyed his five-year tenure in Canberra, and they proved to be quite productive. A long backlog in applications for acceptance of new amateur build projects was steadily reduced, and CASA’s provisional type approval of the GA8- Gippsland Aeronautics eight seat Airvan was completed on March 10, 1999. On December 17, 1999, John retired from CASA, 50 years to the day from his first day with Qantas. He was very thankful for a long, exciting and satisfying career. After retirement and returning to Sydney, John remains actively involved in aviation. John was a member of the RAES for many years and was very pleased to have been awarded a Fellow of the Society. The Lawrence Hargrave Award John was the designer of the Corby Starlet light aircraft and the 2017 winner of the prestigious biennial Lawrence Hargrave Award of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Australian Division. The award is presented to an Australian who has made a significant contribution to Australian aviation. Thank you to the NSWFFS for the article on John.