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Post by Darren Masters on Nov 12, 2011 16:21:09 GMT 12
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of a dear mate and NZ aviation legend Max Clear this morning. Max lost his long battle with cancer. For those of you that don't know of Max he was the inventor and manufacturer of the Bantam aircraft at Te Kowhai Airfield. The amount of help and encouragement that Max gave me with my little microlight will never ever be forgotten and I will miss him dearly. It just won't be the same without Max at Te Kowhai  Below is my tribute: Below: Max came up beside me one afternoon for some formation flying when I was up having a fly in my plane. A pic I snapped. I'll never forget it.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 12, 2011 18:29:23 GMT 12
That is very sad news, I have never met him nd had no idea that he was ill, but he is a local legend in the aviation scene and he will certainly be missed I'm sure.
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Post by Darren Masters on Nov 12, 2011 18:44:47 GMT 12
That is very sad news, I have never met him nd had no idea that he was ill, but he is a local legend in the aviation scene and he will certainly be missed I'm sure. Yes mate a massive loss here. Massive. I've had my cry just before. I'll miss him more than words can describe. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 12, 2011 20:12:04 GMT 12
Golly, Keith Morris and I were at Te Kowhai today and never knew.
No-one there mentioned it.
I met Max a couple of times at the factory, and he was always most welcoming.
Another legend passes.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 12, 2011 21:17:31 GMT 12
I remember many years ago the late Pat Monk came back from one of his many trips to Britain with an engine for a design that he and Max Clear were working on. The engine was so small it fitted into his suitcase and he took great pleasure at customs when asked if he had anything in his case to declare, he said "Yes, an aeroplane engine." I wonder if that design ever came to fruition.
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Post by Dave.K on Nov 13, 2011 7:20:09 GMT 12
Very sad indeed.
Max has been a legend for over 30 years at Te Kowhai. RIP
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Post by Bruce on Nov 13, 2011 17:04:18 GMT 12
I have received the details of the funeral from Max's good mate Mike Feeney:
Funeral is Wednesday afternoon at Te Kowhai airfield, 2pm. If flying in, please be on the ground by 1pm - no flying during service.
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Post by bobgod on Nov 13, 2011 18:36:29 GMT 12
Thanks Bruce.
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Post by Darren Masters on Nov 14, 2011 9:14:52 GMT 12
Spoke with Max' sister last night on the phone and Maxine the other day. Have organised something else for the airfield for those of you attending too. Something very special and something Max would have absolutely loved.
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Post by flyinkiwi on Nov 14, 2011 10:00:42 GMT 12
RIP Max.
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Post by bobgod on Nov 15, 2011 8:14:28 GMT 12
Received a message from mutual friend Neil Robertson in Invercargill who said --Quote:-" A good bloke , I have flown with Max,flown the Bantam, milked his cows,always welcomed.:-" Neil also sent this photo taken at Manderville on the First of November [just 2 weeks ago!] he suggested I post it here for anyone who did not actually know Max.and Maxine.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 15, 2011 10:17:04 GMT 12
Thanks for that Bob.
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Post by Ykato on Nov 15, 2011 17:38:25 GMT 12
Waikato loses passionate aviator: Max Clear AVIATION'S LOSS: Throughout a professional lifetime in aviation, Max Clear maintained a passion for a sector that, like himself, achieved far more than its public profile suggests. Waikato aviator and microlight exporter Max Clear has died, aged 71. "He has been an incredible inspiration to people, it is a devastating loss to the New Zealand aviation industry," said Waikato Aviation Cluster general manager Shaun Mitchell, who organised aviation trade show Flair 2011 last month at Mr Clear's Te Kowhai airfield. For 28 years on his Limmer Rd farm, Mr Clear's company, Micro Aviation NZ, has been designing, building and exporting sophisticated microlight aircraft, with 354 manufactured to date. Generous with his time, aviation knowledge and airfield – he told the Waikato Times last month: "If you can't share what you have in life, you're not worth anything". Mr Clear was passionate about flying since he was a teenager, and building small planes including an acrobatic Pitt Special. A video marking the aviation industry's presentation to him of a lifetime achievement award said it was "after terrorising the locals for many years with the Pitt Special" that Mr Clear in 1984 saw the opportunity for microlights. A fan of open cockpit flight and "fresh air going through your gills", he invented the Bantam microlight, which has since been exported around the world. Mr Mitchell said Mr Clear was one of the first New Zealanders to attend the big United States aviation show OshKosh and was held in high regard by the founders of the US Experimental Aircraft Association, who had visited his Te Kowhai operation. Mr Clear had been ill for some time but, Mr Mitchell said, he was determined to see the realisation of Flair, his dream for an aviation showcase event in the Waikato. A service for Mr Clear will be held at his Te Kowhai airfield tomorrow at 2pm. www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/5966699/Waikato-loses-passionate-aviator-Max-Clear |
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Post by hardyakka on Nov 16, 2011 17:30:00 GMT 12
Just got back from the memorial service for Max at Te Kowhai airfield. The day started out foggy and drizzly, but a stiff westerly rose mid-morning and blew the clouds away to leave a fine and sunny afternoon. There was a good crowd that I would estimate at around 500 - 600 people. Quite a few aircraft were present as well.
There were a few good stories told about Max's exploits. One involving Max's homebuilt Turbulent and the Horotiu bridge... and another involving the Kingston Flyer and Max's Pitts Special. If only camera-phones and Youtube existed back then! On second thoughts, it's probably a good thing that no evidence was gathered.
It was a great send off for a passionate aviator and local icon.
There were a couple of brief flyovers from Harvard 078 (Cheers, Andrew) and the Warbirds Beaver.
Special thanks to Max's whanau in allowing us all to share in the celebration of his life.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 16, 2011 21:41:18 GMT 12
Which was his Pitts Special? I have a photo of me aged 9 or 10 in front of a red Pitts at a fly-in at Te Kowhai in 1980, and I wonder if it was his?
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Post by Bruce on Nov 16, 2011 21:47:55 GMT 12
Max built S1 ZK-EES back in the 1970s, so it probably was the one at Te Kowhai in 1980.
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Post by rbwannabe on Nov 17, 2011 8:46:18 GMT 12
I was a fitting tribute to Max, he will be missed.
As far as the Pitts goes, we bought it off Max in 1983 (for $18K!) and I first flew it on the 29th of April, an event I fondly remember as my headset fell off on takeoff and by time I had it sorted I was over Papakura at about 4000'. My last flight in it was at the Masterton Airshow 2009, having by then sold it to Darryl Brown in New Plymouth. All in all I was a owner of EES for about 23 Years.
Max built it right all those years ago.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 17, 2011 11:06:42 GMT 12
No the aircraft was not ZK-EES. I looked out the photos. Me in the way....  And the rego revealed...  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 17, 2011 11:20:11 GMT 12
ZK-EEU was the S-1 built by Keth Trillo.
Now in the hands of the Southern Pitts Syndicate, Gore - a bit of DragonflyDH90 in there, I understand.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 17, 2011 13:00:39 GMT 12
Ah right, thanks for that. Hopefully Ryan will like these shots then.
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