Our first ‘Interview with a Pilot’ is with our very own John Goldsmith from the Revesco Aviation Advanced Flight Training at Jandakot Airport – we know he’s the perfect choice to get this series off the ground!
Q:
How did you become a pilot?
A:
Some people are born with a particular passion, while others are born passionate. I fall into the latter, having developed a deep passion for electronics at age 10. That passion took me to train with the old Post Master General (PMG) and then I went headlong into a life in the music industry – but that’s another story.
My late 20s saw me with a wife and two kids and I imagined my son, Paul would get a kick out of building and flying a model aircraft. So, during a business trip to the US with family in tow, I purchased a control line model aircraft. We couldn’t wait to get home so the building could commence… though I’m not sure Paul got much of a look in!
Obviously, standing in the centre of a field holding a control line is a bit limiting. Enter: “We need a radio-controlled model, Dad!” Over the years, building model aircraft became both fun and educational, offering new skills and lessons in aerodynamics.
One day, I received an invite to join some Aeromodellers at Serpentine Airfield for a fly-in. Serpentine is the home of many sports aircraft builders. That day was life-changing as I watched people fly the aircraft they had built. I was sold! I needed to get inside an aircraft and fly myself.
On the 6th of April, 1982, in a Cessna 152 (VH-TNO), accompanied by instructor Bill Van Grootel, I did a thirty-minute Trial Instructional Flight (TIF) and said “Sign me up, Bill!” Two days later, my training commenced.
After 9.9 hours, on May 5th that same year, I conducted my first solo flight — one circuit. You always remember your first flight so vividly!
During one of my first solo training flights, I had my first scare. I was on short final for Runway 06 (now 06L) when the tower instructed me to “Go around.” I pushed the throttle open and banked to the dead side of the runway, but I was startled when my seat slid back as far as it could go! I only just managed to reach forward and hold enough pressure on the controls to stop the pitch-up (normal when power is applied in that situation). Once at circuit height, I trimmed and adjusted the seat. Lesson learned. These days, I never fly without giving the seat a good shake to make sure it’s locked in place — even in the sim.
Training continued: first my Restricted Private Pilot License (RPPL) on 24th June then my Unrestricted Restricted Private Pilot License (URPPL) on 6th, October 1982. I found integrating practical flight training with study incredibly beneficial. You must pass Navigation and Meteorology before commencing your unrestricted training.
Well, with that I was off and away! Full marks to the brave souls who accompanied me on my first command flight. It’s quite an adrenaline rush when you’re first airborne and realise the responsibility — you must get these friends back on the ground safely.
