Aviation!
As you've probably gathered by now, Peter Norvill has been an aviator for most of his life.
His very first flying experience at the controls was at the age of 17 when he was given the opportunity to have a trial instructional flight at Bankstown Aerodrome in Sydney . He was certain that he could never learn to fly - however, a short time later he decided that he was going to give it a go and started taking lessons from the late John Henry * at Tamworth Aero Club.
He had to keep these lessons a secret from his family, which he managed to do until he was near to having his private licence.
( * John Henry was an ex-WWII Lancaster pilot who took part in Dambusters Raids.)
Peter – 13 years old. BORN TO FLY!
Not only has Peter achieved fame following his solo around the world flight in 1988, in recognition of which he was awarded an OAM, but he has also undertaken a number of record-breaking and commemorative flights, including:
. First single-engine crossing of Tasman Sea – Tasmania to New Zealand
. First non-stop flight across Australia – Carnarvon to Coolangatta
. Fastest time around Australia
. First solo flight around the world by an Australian in an aeroplane
. Trans-Pacific Commemorative Flight 1928-1988
. Fastest time between Sydney and Alice Springs return
. Longest non-stop flight in Australia
. First double, non-stop, Tasman Sea crossing
. First single-engine flight to the Antarctic Ice area
Peter's Order of Australia Medal
The Fletcher at Rock Dhu, in the snow, 1984
Crop-dusting at Cooplacurripa, mid-1980s
Approaching to land, same strip as on left
Peter attained his commercial licence before taking over the running of Rock Dhu in 1977. Becoming a full-time farmer and grazier did not interfere too much with his flying career. He trained with Ian Martin at Tamworth Aero Club until he became a flying instructor and spent a couple of years training pilots in the Hunter Valley and the North West .
Col Pay offered Peter the chance to do an agricultural pilot rating. Peter then earned part of his living crop-dusting as well, throughout many areas of New South Wales . He flew a Fletcher aircraft, spreading fertiliser. Crop-dusting involves dare-devil flying, close to the ground, and is certainly not for the faint-hearted, and Peter enjoyed this type of flying above all others!
He realised that he hadn't even known how to fly until he began crop-dusting!
There is a real camaraderie among crop-dusting pilots, and a special brand of humour associated with it.
Another thing Peter enjoyed about crop-dusting was the close relationship he developed with his clients, as he was a farmer and grazier himself.
Peter's Cessna, the plane he flew around the world, still rests in the hangar behind the homestead, chained down to the cement slab – Peter says this is to prevent the plane from taking off in the strong winds that blow at Rock Dhu, but maybe it's so he can't be tempted to take it out for just one more flight!
Peter's books Solo Around The World and Supplement are available for purchase.
Click here .