When you step out and share your passion with the world, one question inevitably crops up: "What got you into this?"
For me, as an aviation enthusiast and photographer, that question sends me back in time - to a time even before I was born. It starts, as so many good stories do, with my grandfather.
The WWII Spark and the Southern Cross
Like countless young men and women of his era, my grandfather served in World War II. He was a Wireless Operator and Gunner aboard a formidable B-24 Liberator Bomber with the Royal Australian Air Force. The war put him in the air, but it was what followed that truly ignited his lifelong passion.
After the conflict, he had the chance to witness Charles Lindbergh and the iconic 'Southern Cross' aircraft. This singular experience propelled him to pursue his own wings, becoming a private pilot flying single-engine light aircraft. The seed was sown.
Look Up: The Orchard and the Cessna
Fast-forward several years to my childhood. I vividly remember being young and gazing up at the vast blue sky. Suddenly, a familiar sound—my grandfather, flying directly over the family orchard. The sight always astounded me. It was an absolute marvel. But it wasn't just the spectacle. He would talk to me for hours about the mechanics of flight, explaining how an aircraft was the perfect, delicate balance of power, wind, and aerodynamics that kept that metal bird aloft. He demystified the magic and made it science.
Then came the day he took me up with him. My first flight was in a Cessna 182, and for a young boy, I was in heaven. Before we even left the ground, he had me helping with the pre-flight checks: inspecting the fuel for contamination, ensuring the control surfaces were free. I watched him speak on the radio, taxi to the runway, and then we were airborne. I never wanted it to end.
The Flying Club and the Lesson of the Checklist
For years, we flew together. Whether it was just a few circuits over the orchard, or taking part in the local flying club games, most summer holidays I was his co-pilot. All the while, he was my instructor, teaching me the nuances of how planes operated.
His passion wasn't confined to local flights. He participated in several flying safaris, taking him across Australia and even to America. Flying wasn't just his hobby; it was his passion, and he was exceptionally good at it.
As he got older, his time as Pilot in Command drew to a close, but his passion never faltered. He was still occasionally in the air, even if only as a passenger, soaking up the atmosphere.
The Tarmac Legacy
My grandfather is no longer with us, but his legacy flies on. For me, there is something that will never leave: that moment on the tarmac—being shown how to pre-flight a Cessna 182, understanding why checklists exist for a reason, learning how to use the yoke and the rudder to execute a perfect turn, and watching the gauges with focused intent.
So, when people ask me what ignited my interest in aviation, the answer is simple: My Grandfather.
And when they ask why I chose aviation photography?
The answer remains: My Grandfather.
His passion for flight became my passion for flight. My love for photography—for capturing that perfect, fleeting moment—stems directly from those incredible days on the tarmac.
Following the Dream
The image I chose for this post features two phenomenal Australian aerobatic pilots, Matt Hall and Emma McDonald. It perfectly symbolises this journey: two planes, climbing in tandem into the sky. I like to think of it as my grandfather in the lead, showing me the way, and telling me to follow the dream.