Pay, Colin 'Col'

Colin Pay

Colin Pay was born at Narromine on the 26^th October, 1932, the second son of Bede and Ethel Pay. During World War Two Narromine airfield was actively training pilots. Col used to ride his bike out to the airfield after school and became engrossed in aeroplanes and flying. After leaving school at fifteen Colin's work was anything that gave him cash to put towards the cost of learning to fly. Colin gained his private pilots licence in 1953 at Narromine Aero Club from the Late Neil Johnston and in 1957 he gained his commercial and instructional licence. He also started aerial agricultural flying with Max Hazelton this year. Two years later, Col purchased a Tiger Moth VH-PCL and commenced his own business in Narromine. Colin's other love to flying was Dianne Woods and they were married in August 1960, and together they enjoyed 47 years of happy married life and had three children, Ross, Jillian and Helen.

In 1961 Col saw an opening for a super spreading and pasture topping business at Scone and moved there, taking on a partner in Bruce Williamson. In 1968 he bought out his partner and Pay's Air Service began. The aerial agriculture business has grown and grown since then and remains the bread and butter; however a love for warbirds has led to an accumulation of 'toys' over the last 30 years. In this time the team at Scone have put back in the air a Mustang, two Kittyhawks, a Spitfire, an A-37 jet and several Cessna Birddog spotting planes from Vietnam. For many years Col owned and flew the only flying Spitfire in Australia, a Mark VIII which was restored from scratch. It was A58-758, the last of 656 Spitfires supplied to Australia to equip the RAAF in Darwin. It took its first flight in 1985 from Scone airstrip. Jeff Watson once said to Colin, "Aren't you the luckiest man in the world to own a Spitfire and a Mustang?" He replied, "Yes. The harder I work the luckier I get."

Away from all the flying Colin was a loving family man. He was funny, cheeky, deaf (when it suited), loving, unassuming and fondly referred to as 'grumpy' by his children. Colin was fortunate to be able to share his passion for flying with his son, Ross. So many hours were spent together spraying crops, firefighting, flying warbirds and just enjoying a quiet beer and a yarn. Colin was a man who would scan the world for a bargain, yet if you said you needed twenty dollars, he would stuff one hundred dollars in your pocket. He loved to shout beers and dinner and never expected anything in return. Colin always said how fortunate he was to have such a great crew of people working for him, all of whom he considered mates.

The loyalty of his staff is a testament to both them and him. Never more so then as shown by Phil Haggarty and Scott Bridge as they put themselves at risk in an attempt to save Col.

Col Pay had two feet on the ground, but his heart and head were in the air. Col won great respect from the aviation community as witnessed by the outpouring of tributes and support since his death. This was partly for his stick and rudder skills, but also for his tenacity, his innovation, his cunning and the help he offered others. Since his passing many people have spoken of how they felt they owed their flying career to Colin.

Colin had a keen sense of humour and often had mischief in his eyes. He had it a few weeks ago as he explained to Phil Hurst of his new water skiing scoop for firebombing.

They both laughed - not at the outrageousness of it or the skill required, but at the fact he was actually doing it legally.

The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. That much of the community cannot grasp why someone should die taking risks for their passion indicates how timid our world has become. In "ag" flying safety is critical, you do not achieve 50 years in this business as Col Pay did by being a 'cowboy'. But sometimes in aviation you have to push the current boundaries to find out what is possible - to move the industry forward - and that is what Col was doing to the last.

These days to live a life writ large is often seen as a challenge to those who would like everything in its place, everything in accordance with their world view, everything within their control. Everything beige. Col Pay was never beige. He was full of life and ideas and you always knew where you stood At 75 years of age he was still able to outperform those decades his junior. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse.

Col Pay was a lot of things - an inspiration, a hard worker, a hard bargainer with inbuilt radar for a good deal, a skilled engineer, a hard marker and a generous man. But above all Col Pay was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a mate. He went too soon.

Impressions of a pilot

Flight is freedom in its purest form, to dance with the clouds which follow a storm;

To roll and glide, to wheel and spin, to feel the joy that swells within;

To leave the earth with its troubles and fly, and know the warmth of a clear spring sky;

Then back to the earth at the end of a day, Released from the tensions which melted away.

Should my end come while I am in flight, Whether brightest day or darkest night;

Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain, Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again;

For each of us is created to die,

And within me I know,

I was born to fly.

(Gary Claude Stoker)

With thanks to Nic Woods, Ross Pay, Phil Hurst and Jeff Watson for these words.