Page 59 - TPI Victoria Inc. CHINup Winter 2018 Edition-FINAL_Neat

TPI VICTORIA INC. • CHINup WINTER 2018 • WWW.TPIVIC.COM 57

Old Aeroplane

Company

TPI Victoria Inc. – Thanks Judy Pay from the Old Aeroplane Company, Tyabb
and Pilots - Nick Caudwell & Bernie Heuser in Harvard’s and Jim Wickham
and Jack Vevers in Yak 52’s for their Flypast at the Official Launch of ‘The
Victoria Cross, Australia Remembers’

Judy Pay began flying in 1980, having grown up a couple of miles from the little airport at Tyabb in Victoria. After
overcoming initial bouts of airsickness, she learned to fly in a Cessna 150, becoming completely engrossed in
aviation. She went on to complete her night rating and command instrument rating the next year. A friend who
had a Tiger Moth piqued Judy’s interest in vintage aeroplanes. She bought a share in that aircraft and now owns
it outright.

After learning to fly a Harvard, Judy bought a T-28 in the USA and had it shipped to Australia. There was only one
engineer who had any experience on this type, but he was thinking of closing down, so she bought into the
business just to keep it going. When the engineer eventually did retire, Judy ended up with The Old Aeroplane
Company, which has now grown to be one of the premier warbird restoration and maintenance organisations
in Australia.

Aircraft in Judy’s fleet include the Mustang, the Kittyhawk, the T-28 Trojan, 2 Harvard’s, a Vampire jet, and of
course, the Tiger Moth and all are lovingly cared-for and flown regularly.

Judy is currently involved in restoration of both the last CAC Boomerang built and a rare German FI-156 Fiesler
Storch and to-date, Judy has flown over 50 aircraft types, including both fixed-wing and helicopters.

Pictured above: Judy with Old Aeroplane Company Volunteer, Stan Bailey.