Tetraplegic aircraft pioneer honoured with aviation award
Jul 28, 2021 22:57:20 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 28, 2021 22:57:20 GMT 12
Tetraplegic aircraft pioneer honoured with international aviation award
Paul Mitchell
18:35, Jul 28 2021
A love of remote-control model aeroplanes gave Rene Redmond a life-line after a diving accident left him paralysed and ended his career as an air force engineer, and led to him becoming an unmanned aerial vehicles pioneer.
A Kiwi pioneer of unmanned aerial vehicles and model aircraft engineer is likely the first tetraplegic to receive a prestigious international aviation award.
Rene Redmond was this month awarded the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Air Sports Medal for a lifetime of significant contributions to aviation.
Despite a diving accident that left his hands and legs paralysed in his 20s, Redmond has a long list of achievements that started with the restoration of a unique vintage biplane.
He founded two companies, is an active volunteer in the model aircraft community and has designed and built drones flown everywhere from the Antarctic ice shelves to the battlefields of Afghanistan.
Redmond was nominated for the award to The Switzerland-based Fédération, also known as the World Air Sports Aviation, by the Flying New Zealand council.
Less than 800 of the international awards have been given out over the last 30 years.
Redmond believed he was the first tetraplegic to receive the medal, and said he was proud of the message that recognition sent to the community.
“No matter what life throws at you, you can make good with passion and support. [And] I think this award recognises that.”
Rene Redmond's medal and certificate for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Air Sports Medal, which he recieved in July for a lifetime of significant contributions to aviation.
He couldn’t have achieved half of what he had without his business partner Lew Wood, son-in-law Tarquin Brooks, and fellow engineers and enthusiasts who worked on projects with him over the years, he said.
But Redmond has always had the passion covered.
He loved aviation since he first flew a kitset remote control plane as an 8-year-old boy.
In the early 1980s, he was living the dream as an Air Force engineer. He was part of a team working to restore a 1918 Avro 626 biplane.
When they finished in 1985, that biplane was the sole surviving Avro 626 in flying condition in the world.
It was part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Historic Flight, until an engine malfunction permanently grounded the Avro. It was now on display at the Wigram Air Force Museum in Christchurch.
Redmond said it was one of his proudest contributions to aviation history even though he only got to work on the restoration for a year, before he broke his neck in 1982.
While becoming a tetraplegic at 25 ended his air force career, Redmond was undaunted.
He used his engineering expertise to plot a new course that started with opening Galtech Models with Woods.
Rene Redmond, in 2008, with a 2EB UAV aircraft his company Skycam designed and built for the Defence Force.
The award citation described it as a “mecca” for hobbyists because of the depth and usefulness of its freely given advice.
Redmond said they had a great 24 years talking shop with people from all over New Zealand before Galtech closed.
They particularly enjoyed helping kindle the spark in young people keen to try flying model aircraft.
“Some of those people went on to become air traffic controllers, pilots and engineers themselves.”
Redmond and Woods helped pioneer the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for military, commercial and scientific purpose with their other company Skycam UAV, founded in 1992.
The 65-year-old has since sold Skycam and retired, but still volunteers in the model aircraft community and holds a few directorship positions in the aviation industry.
His volunteer work includes handling inspection and certification on large model aircraft, drones and rockets for the Civil Aviation Authority.
“Honestly, it feels like I’ve never been busier than after I retired,” Redmond said.
But that’s the way he liked it.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/300368006/tetraplegic-aircraft-pioneer-honoured-with-international-aviation-award
Paul Mitchell
18:35, Jul 28 2021
A love of remote-control model aeroplanes gave Rene Redmond a life-line after a diving accident left him paralysed and ended his career as an air force engineer, and led to him becoming an unmanned aerial vehicles pioneer.
A Kiwi pioneer of unmanned aerial vehicles and model aircraft engineer is likely the first tetraplegic to receive a prestigious international aviation award.
Rene Redmond was this month awarded the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Air Sports Medal for a lifetime of significant contributions to aviation.
Despite a diving accident that left his hands and legs paralysed in his 20s, Redmond has a long list of achievements that started with the restoration of a unique vintage biplane.
He founded two companies, is an active volunteer in the model aircraft community and has designed and built drones flown everywhere from the Antarctic ice shelves to the battlefields of Afghanistan.
Redmond was nominated for the award to The Switzerland-based Fédération, also known as the World Air Sports Aviation, by the Flying New Zealand council.
Less than 800 of the international awards have been given out over the last 30 years.
Redmond believed he was the first tetraplegic to receive the medal, and said he was proud of the message that recognition sent to the community.
“No matter what life throws at you, you can make good with passion and support. [And] I think this award recognises that.”
Rene Redmond's medal and certificate for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Air Sports Medal, which he recieved in July for a lifetime of significant contributions to aviation.
He couldn’t have achieved half of what he had without his business partner Lew Wood, son-in-law Tarquin Brooks, and fellow engineers and enthusiasts who worked on projects with him over the years, he said.
But Redmond has always had the passion covered.
He loved aviation since he first flew a kitset remote control plane as an 8-year-old boy.
In the early 1980s, he was living the dream as an Air Force engineer. He was part of a team working to restore a 1918 Avro 626 biplane.
When they finished in 1985, that biplane was the sole surviving Avro 626 in flying condition in the world.
It was part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Historic Flight, until an engine malfunction permanently grounded the Avro. It was now on display at the Wigram Air Force Museum in Christchurch.
Redmond said it was one of his proudest contributions to aviation history even though he only got to work on the restoration for a year, before he broke his neck in 1982.
While becoming a tetraplegic at 25 ended his air force career, Redmond was undaunted.
He used his engineering expertise to plot a new course that started with opening Galtech Models with Woods.
Rene Redmond, in 2008, with a 2EB UAV aircraft his company Skycam designed and built for the Defence Force.
The award citation described it as a “mecca” for hobbyists because of the depth and usefulness of its freely given advice.
Redmond said they had a great 24 years talking shop with people from all over New Zealand before Galtech closed.
They particularly enjoyed helping kindle the spark in young people keen to try flying model aircraft.
“Some of those people went on to become air traffic controllers, pilots and engineers themselves.”
Redmond and Woods helped pioneer the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for military, commercial and scientific purpose with their other company Skycam UAV, founded in 1992.
The 65-year-old has since sold Skycam and retired, but still volunteers in the model aircraft community and holds a few directorship positions in the aviation industry.
His volunteer work includes handling inspection and certification on large model aircraft, drones and rockets for the Civil Aviation Authority.
“Honestly, it feels like I’ve never been busier than after I retired,” Redmond said.
But that’s the way he liked it.
www.stuff.co.nz/national/300368006/tetraplegic-aircraft-pioneer-honoured-with-international-aviation-award