Gloucester residents, Ian and Angela Sampson had a special visit from their family flying into town recently.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Sunday August 30, their 21-year-old grandson William Taylor landed at Gloucester Aero Club with his mother Fiona and younger sibling Lukas in tow.
The visit was for Father's Day and an early celebration for Ian's (Pop) 86th birthday, which was on September 6.
According to Ian's son Mark, the visit was long overdue given the COVID situation.
"Considering how socially isolating at times it's been for Nan and Pop being in semi isolation due to COVID-19 they were completely thrilled by William's 'flying visit' ... even though no hugs could be exchanged sadly," Mark said.
William is in his final year of a Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) degree from the University of New South Wales and this recent trip will count toward his required course hours. It was a one and a half hour flight from Camden to Gloucester. William hopes to be a commercial pilot once the airline industry gets back up and running post-COVID.
It was the first time William had flown to Gloucester.
"William was able to make the flight on a single tank of fuel, avoiding the need to refuel on the way home, so it was a perfect distance," Mark explained. "They were easily able to navigate to Gloucester by following the train line here."
For a small country airstrip, William said the Gloucester Aero Club provided excellent facilities and that he hoped to make the scenic trip again soon in the 1961 built Cessna aircraft.
