My first ever flight was from Essendon Airport to Cooma in an Ansett ANA F27 in 1960.

I was then employed at Essendon in 1986 through to 1992 with the CAA Flying Unit, and again with the Royal Flying Doctors as a contractor to Ambulance Victoria’s air wing in 1998 and 1999.

I remember watching from my office in Hangar 4 as the neighbours DC-3 was caught by the wind and rolled backwards into a building.

I also remember being in the crowd to greet Muhammad Ali after he arrived in the Pratt’s business jet. What a scene!

I was also once up front in an F27 for a trip at low level around the Bay to measure smog levels – down to just 90 feet over Corio Bay!

No doubt there are the more serious incidents that came with my roles, but it’s good to trawl through the memory for the good and fun times, and importantly the fantastic people and professional teams I worked with.