Tom Moon died on Tuesday crashing his Extra 300 at Temora aerodrome. Aerobatic champion and heavily involved in the Temora Museum he was practising for an upcoming Museum flying event.
Tom Moon - Tribute - The Aussie Aviator.Net
champion pilot killed in crash - Local News - News - General - The Daily Advertiser
Straight flying was not enough for Moon, who started training at Sydney Aerobatic School, Bankstown, in 1986 and entered his first aerobatic competition in 1987.
He rose to become overall Australian champion four times, runner-up five times and won the Australian freestyle championships seven times. He represented Australia at the World Aerobatic Championships in Hungary in 1994, the US in 1996 and in Slovakia in 1998.
Moon was president of the Australian Aerobatic Club for 12 years and, with Roxarne, a driving force in competition aerobatics, helping to organise and judge contests.
He taught and became a role model to many less experienced competitors.
He did his best to promote safety, but told the Herald last year: "Every aerobatic pilot has had a near-death experience.
It's good to know what it feels like." And he warned: "There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots."
Moon became a close friend of a fellow aerobatic competitor, the Sydney businessman David Lowy. He helped Lowy set up the Temora Aviation Museum and became its treasurer.
His aerobatic displays in his state-of-the-art Extra 300s, painted to resemble a wedgetail eagle, delighted crowds at the museum's regular flying weekends.
Moon also became a display pilot for the museum's historic Wirraway and Boomerang aircraft.
He could explain in a calm voice what he was doing even during the most violent gyration and tumble over the heads of the crowd.
His drive for new adventures also took him to the sea, buying a 50-foot sailing catamaran with his brothers Peter and David and sailing much of the north and west coasts of Australia.
He loved music, playing the piano, guitar and harmonica.
At the world championships in Slovakia, he and a teammate played La Marseillaise on harmonicas outside the French headquarters.
The French smiled and politely asked them not to do it again.
Tom will also be remembered for his enormous sense of fun, his jokes (mostly terrible) and his songs (even more terrible)
Tom Moon is survived by his wife, Roxarne.
Tom Moon - Tribute - The Aussie Aviator.Net
champion pilot killed in crash - Local News - News - General - The Daily Advertiser
Straight flying was not enough for Moon, who started training at Sydney Aerobatic School, Bankstown, in 1986 and entered his first aerobatic competition in 1987.
He rose to become overall Australian champion four times, runner-up five times and won the Australian freestyle championships seven times. He represented Australia at the World Aerobatic Championships in Hungary in 1994, the US in 1996 and in Slovakia in 1998.
Moon was president of the Australian Aerobatic Club for 12 years and, with Roxarne, a driving force in competition aerobatics, helping to organise and judge contests.
He taught and became a role model to many less experienced competitors.
He did his best to promote safety, but told the Herald last year: "Every aerobatic pilot has had a near-death experience.
It's good to know what it feels like." And he warned: "There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots."
Moon became a close friend of a fellow aerobatic competitor, the Sydney businessman David Lowy. He helped Lowy set up the Temora Aviation Museum and became its treasurer.
His aerobatic displays in his state-of-the-art Extra 300s, painted to resemble a wedgetail eagle, delighted crowds at the museum's regular flying weekends.
Moon also became a display pilot for the museum's historic Wirraway and Boomerang aircraft.
He could explain in a calm voice what he was doing even during the most violent gyration and tumble over the heads of the crowd.
His drive for new adventures also took him to the sea, buying a 50-foot sailing catamaran with his brothers Peter and David and sailing much of the north and west coasts of Australia.
He loved music, playing the piano, guitar and harmonica.
At the world championships in Slovakia, he and a teammate played La Marseillaise on harmonicas outside the French headquarters.
The French smiled and politely asked them not to do it again.
Tom will also be remembered for his enormous sense of fun, his jokes (mostly terrible) and his songs (even more terrible)
Tom Moon is survived by his wife, Roxarne.
Rest in Peace
