Royal Victorian Aero Club - Identities

Identities

The Foundation Members of the Royal Victorian Aero Club were:

• Group Captain Sir Thomas White (original member of the Aero Club at Point Cook in 1914 then President of the Australian Aero Club Victorian Section in 1926).
• Wing Commander HG Rigby.
• Major HT Shaw.
• Brigadier GM Moore.

Some of those who played a vital role in Club flying operations and who have trained thousands of Australian aviators include:

Laurie McPherson, Instructor 1950–1951. CFI 1952–1960, 1969–1970 and Manager 1961–1968 and 1978–1985. Pilot who conducted tests on behalf of the Australian Department of Civil Aviation to closely examine the spinning characteristics of the DHC Chipmunk.

John Lindsay, Honorary Life Member, one-time CFI and manager and pre-eminent club member from 1945 to 2007.

H Owen Jones, an employee for 42 years.

Roy F Goon, first flew with RVAC in 1933, flew CAC Boomerang aircraft during Second World War in Darwin and Gove (Sqdn. Ldr. 83 Sqdn). Commanding Officer of l l l MFCU at Labuan. He held this position from 14 Feb 1943 to 7 Sep 1945 and was a test pilot with the RAAF, Commonwealth Aircraft Factory and Royal Flying Doctor Service. Held Commercial Pilot Licence No 511 and was an Instructor at the RVAC for 40 years and Chief Flying Instructor in 1977. Goon was a member of the well-known Chinese-Australian family from Ballarat, Victoria.

George Campbell referred to by pioneer avaitrix Nancy Bird-Walton as "a man who became a great trainer of pilots in the last war years."