One of the great pleasures of recreational aviation is seeing historic aircraft continue to fly, carrying with them the stories of the people who built, flew and cared for them over the decades.
One of the great pleasures of recreational aviation is seeing historic aircraft continue to fly, carrying with them the stories of the people who built, flew and cared for them over the decades.
Recently, RAAus welcomed a nearly 50-year-old Wittman Tailwind, registration 19-2230, onto the RAAus register. Following a much-needed major inspection and extensive clean-up, the aircraft has returned to active service and has already logged more than 20 hours in the air.
Current owner Norm recently shared the aircraft’s remarkable journey with RAAus, along with the story of the man who first brought the aircraft to life.
That man is Barrie Bishton, who built the Tailwind almost half a century ago and spent many years flying it. Barrie had not seen the aircraft for more than 15 years after it was housed in Wedderburn by his brother-in-law. Following his brother-in-law’s passing, Norm purchased the aircraft and set about the task of restoring it and returning it to flying condition.
The result has been far more than the restoration of an aircraft—it has been the revival of a treasured piece of Australian recreational aviation history.
Barrie recently reunited with the Tailwind he built all those years ago and was delighted to see it flying once again. According to Norm, Barrie is thrilled to see his aircraft in such good shape and has already enjoyed several flights since its return to service. One particularly meaningful journey saw the pair fly to Kempsey, where Barrie once lived and served as club president for many years.
Stories like this remind us that recreational aviation is about far more than aircraft. It is about the people behind them, the friendships they create and the memories they preserve across generations.
RAAus acknowledges the efforts of everyone involved in preserving this unique aircraft and ensuring it can continue flying for years to come. Barrie’s contribution to recreational aviation and amateur-built aircraft is reflected in the enduring legacy of Tailwind 19-2230, while Norm’s restoration work and willingness to share its story have helped bring that legacy to life for a new generation of aviators.
As the aircraft approaches its 50th birthday, it is clear that this Tailwind still has plenty of life left in it.
