Austen Wood
AUSTRALIA: Margaret Simons is sad to announce that her father, Martin Simons, died last Friday, 19 January 2024.
MARTIN SIMONS 1930-2024Martin died on the 19 January after a short illness at Craigcare Moonee Ponds. He was 93 years old. He had suffered from dementia for a number of years. He was born in England where he began his gliding career in his teens.
Martin was a member of the Waikerie Gliding Club from 1968 when he arrived in Australia until he gave up solo flying in 2000, serving on the committee for several years. He was an active competition pilot in the 1970s and 80s, owning and flying owning a Kestrel (XX), a standard Libelle (BV), and later an LS3.
He was a founding member of the Vintage Gliding Club, and before he migrated to Australia, restored a Skylark 2A, named the Phoenix, which he flew at the London Gliding Club.
Martin was the editor of Australian Gliding magazine (now Gliding Australia) for over a decade in the 1970s and 80s. He was also an enthusiastic aeromodeller, and he designed the Martini model which was made into a kit.
Dad worked as a school teacher and academic, from 1968 until his retirement at the University of Adelaide with his speciality being philosophy of education. In the United Kingdom he was a geographer.
Martin is perhaps best remembered for his many books and articles on gliding history and model aerodynamics.
He is survived by his daughters, Pat and Margaret, and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being made and will be announced later.
The family would appreciate assistance in spreading this news among those who should know.