Warbird Information Exchange

Sad news coming from Australia i hear is that famous and big collector Colin Pay and owner of many rare Australian warbirds, has been killed flying a fire bomber plane today.. yet to be confirmed but all sources say he has died. My mate sent me a email so its happened this morning it seems.

If so, RIP please....

Lynn

That is sad to hear.

Eric

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The air resounds from the Rolls-Royce roar!
To an enemy the warning is dire: here only eagles soar,
and the last thing he'll see is a mirrored Spitfire!

A black day indeed. My thoughts and prayers go to his family....

A gentleman and a legend.

Blue Skies Mr Pay.

Mark

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Is it big, round, loud and belch flame?

Shattering news.

The accident occured mid-morning at a lake here in the Hunter Valley and as of early afternoon they were still trying to access the cockpit of the submerged Airtractor.

Watching Col display an aircraft was always a joy. A paramount profesional airman and a true pioneer of the Australian warbird movement.

He will be very sorely missed, but I will always treasure the memory of watching him wring-out a Tiger Moth one afternoon in an incredible display of flying prowess.

Blue skys mate.

Just read the news and thought I'd pop in via Warbirdz.net:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22 ... 77,00.html

Can't believe it.

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http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

A very sad day, there would be few warbird fans in Aus who havn't seen his displays. His Spitfire displays were ALWAYS a show highlight.
Thank you Mr Pay

He has flown stunning displays in P40, P51 and O-1 birdog. I was present at a show once where he flung a o-1 birdog around and i thought he is going to buy the farm if he does that any more but nope he knew the flight envelopes superbly.

a good friend for 30+ years, a great supporter of all things aviation, a passionate warbird collector/restorer/flyer, great husband and father...

Col, may you have tailwinds forever......

RIP

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..defeat is never an option!

Very sad news, thoughts and prayers to the family at this time

At this time I'm gutted.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Col twice in my life. Once quite a few years ago at his Scone workshop when we dropped in as we passed through. We had a look around the workshop (I seem to remember a P40 fuselage in a jig), dropped some cash in the visitors box and was about to leave when he told us to hang around a bit. Once some scheduled visitors arrived Col gave us an impromptu display in his Mustang which rocked the socks of my wife who wouldn't know anything remotely aviation related.

The second time at Temora a couple of weeks ago as part of the ramp talk after the Flying Day was over.

Always a nice guy in my eyes.



Blue Skies Col

Wardie

Our P-40 and a37b dragonfly came from Col and crew, he has done alot for the warbird movement. Condolences to his family.
The crew at Crystal Lakes

My condolences to family members, friends, and the entire Antipodal warbird movement.

Never met the man, but his influence on the warbird community was large.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I too send my condolence to Colin's friends & family. I am very sorry for your loss. I never met him, & I envy those of you who knew him. Godspeed.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

Shocked and saddened to read this news. I never met Mr Pay (have yet to make it to the Antipodes at all), but courtesy the series of Aussie aircraft documentaries, have seen him in conversation, and it comes through clearly what a gentleman and a down-to-earth personality he was. (And it impressed me to no end that he chose, despite all the famous RAAF paint schemes, to paint his ex-RCAF P-40 in its Canadian markings because that's what that one had worn.)

Echoing the condolences expressed to Mr Pay's family and friends. If I feel a sense of loss based on "knowing" him only through film and magazine interviews, I can only imagine how keen their sense of loss is.

Godspeed Mr Pay and thank you.