Arabic version: لين نيل يُبقي حلم الطيران الذي راوده في طفولته محلّقاً
According to ABC News, central Queensland pilot Len Neale has built an aircraft and restored a historic Queensland plane, continuing a passion that began in childhood. The 74-year-old Biloela resident, a former power-station tradesman, flies weekly and is among thousands of enthusiasts with home-built planes registered to fly in Australia.
Mr Neale said he pursued a dream once held by his father, who wanted to build a plane large enough to sit in and had bought Irish linen intended for wing coverings. Family life and limited money prevented the project, and the linen was instead made into bed sheets. After his father died in 1989, Mr Neale went on to build and restore two aircraft.
His amateur-built J6 Karatoo, named The Spirit of Smoky Creek, is based on a US design and uses an Australian Jabiru engine. Mr Neale spent about seven years building it and said it had been flying for more than 10 years, with more than 700 hours logged. A fitter and turner by trade, he had metalworking experience but said woodwork was difficult during the build. His friend and mentor Kev Wilson, who had Air Force experience during or just after World War II, advised him on the work.
Mr Neale also restored Miss Sandgate, an Australian-built plane first test-flown in 1936. It was built in Sandgate, Brisbane, by Vladimir Slyusarenko, who had fled Russia during the revolution. Mr Neale’s older brother and Mr Wilson found the aircraft in a Gympie shed and brought it to central Queensland in a cattle truck. About 30 years ago, Mr Neale and Mr Wilson completed its restoration.
He has flown Miss Sandgate as far as Narromine in central New South Wales, a journey he said took about eight hops because of its two-hour fuel range. During the restoration, he named his third child Cameron Heath, referring to the Heath “V” Parasol design used for the aircraft. Mr Neale has recently cancelled Miss Sandgate’s registration, preferring the more comfortable J6 Karatoo in later years.
