It is sad to report that Bill Ison, legendary Chief Flying Instructor of the Cambridge Flying Group for almost six decades, has died. He had celebrated his 90th Birthday on 4 January 2011.
Bill had his first flying experience in a DH60 Gipsy Moth with Sir Arthur Marshall at Cambridge in 1934 and after serving as an ground engineer and a bomber pilot, became an instructor on Tiger Moths with the RAF Reserve at Cambridge in 1947.
When the Cambridge Flying Group was formed in 1953, Bill was appointed as Chief Flying Instructor. The Group remains one of the few places in the world where pilots can train from scratch to full qualification in the legendary Tiger Moth.
Bill eventually retired from the full time post of Chief Flying Instructor in early 2009. He used to joke that he flew more hours each year as he grew older, largely because it became increasingly difficult to climb back out of the Tiger Moth’s front cockpit! He remained CFI Emeritus and mentor to the Group’s pilots until his death on 9th February 2011.
Over the years Bill, in his inimitable style has instructed, berated and advised many HAA members on the mastery of the Tiger Moth’s quirks. Both it and Bill were equally of the ‘old school’.
One hopes that the angels will fully flare for a three-point landing every time, otherwise they’ll get a “Bill Blast” in their ears!
BLUE SKIES BILL