Well known artist and aviation art specialist Don Bell interviews senior local aviators of Nelson Mandela Bay for the Port Elizabeth South African Airforce Museum‘s Pathfinder Magazine in an effort to stimulate members of the public to take a bigger interest in the aviation industry and help to protect our SAAF heritage.
Don recently chatted to Tony Douglas Jones – a well known local businessman and pilot – who was born in Port Elizabeth on 19 February 1944 during WW2 and from a young age has been interested in aircraft and flying, spending many hours building model aircraft. Tony attended Grey High School and went on to study Engineering at the University of Cape Town.
He joined his father, Thorold Douglas-Jones in the family hardware business Douglas-Jones & Co., and eventually took this over. He also established the successful Wood City franchise and expanded this nationally. He has since retired.
As with most South African males, in his early years he was conscripted to do National Military duty and did a spell in the operational area of Namibia (South West Africa as it was known then) as a Signals Officer.
Tony started flying in 1983 at the Algoa Flying Club where he is still a member today. He obtained his Private pilot’s licence and then went on to get an Instrument and Twin Rating.
He purchased his first two aircraft, a Robin ZS-JHE as well as a Beech Baron ZS-PAS and lastly a Cessna Cutlass ZS-KND.
“I also tried my hand at aerobatics for a short while to see whether I could handle it,” says Tony with a sly grin – “but not for long!” I got the feeling that this was a kind-of-boyish-challenge-to-overcome!
After a long stint of fixed wingers he decided to take up the challenge of helicopters and took lessons with John Huddleston, another well known local aviator. His first helicopter solo flight was achieved in 2010 at the Uitenhage Airfield qualifying on Robinson R22 & R44 models.
Tony’s answer to what he prefers was; “I have always been interested in leisure rather than commercial flying and have had some wonderful memories of trips and places I have flown to. Glynn my wife has accompanied me on many of these.”
“One of the most interesting excursions was flying students from the University of Port Elizabeth into the Namib Desert also doing marine research along the skeleton coast. We experienced the wonders of this region including the coastline and the awesome Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon after the Grand Canyon in the USA.” He goes on to tell how they had to move the aircraft from the coast into the desert to avoid damage from the harsh sandblasting of the wind over the dunes.
Highlights of his flying, as with most pilots, were his first solo flights. But he has been fortunate to have flown in an Impala jet, ferried a microlite from Lanseria to Port Elizabeth for a friend and touched down on all manner of beautiful farms, golf courses and towns in the region.
Since retiring from the business world Tony has taken up radio controlled planes as a very serious and dedicated hobby.
The range and number of his collection of helicopters is staggering to a feet-on-the-ground-person like me and I was very fortunate to be invited to his beautiful home in Deer Park to witness a demonstration of some of these.
He demonstrated the military chopper a Hughes MD500 (600size) and then a weird four-rotor drone (for a better word) which has all manner of built-in technology that can auto-land back from where it took off from, maintain a safe distance from the controller, has blinking lights, carries a Go-pro video camera and looks rather like a UFO type wasp from space – even sounds like one!
Another really impressive chopper is the Airwolf which is as realistic as they come.
Q: What is your philosophy to piloting an aircraft?
A: Plan your flight down to the last detail including weight and balance, fuel, navigation, weather, preflight, law and all the many other factors and checks which you are taught. If after having flown many flights none of these factors became an issue to you and you become lax beware you now become an accident waiting to happen. Only with strict discipline can you enjoy a safe aviation career.
Q: What do you advise youngsters who are considering becoming a pilot?
A: Set your sights firmly on your dream and persevere. The rewards are more than worthwhile.
Q: What is non-negotiable when flying?
A: Although you may be instrument rated your aircraft may be capable yet ill equipped. Before undertaking an instrument flight into known poor conditions make sure that your rating is current and that your aircraft is suitable. I once nearly froze to death one night in an aircraft without a heater and also accumulated a large amount of ice on the windshield and wings which I could barely see through the side window. I was in heavy cloud and over the Drakensburg becoming overweight (icing up with no anti icing equipment) and could not maintain altitude, constantly having to trim up as the airflow over the wings had now become compromised and started to descend. I was also out of radio range. Eventually over the Free State I broke cloud and the ice began to break off very noisily. And there were more nightmares to come including one dead engine in cloud over Johannesburg. However, this is another long story so I will just end off by saying that all ended well. Just!!
Q: If you could do it all over again would you do anything differently?
A: No not really. I must say that for the times all went well and according to plan. The facilities and training here in Port Elizabeth are great. Firstly here you are trained from day one at a busy international airport amongst most types of aircraft up to airliners. Then from your first training flight you are expected to use the radio before which one needs to be competent and licensed. Also we learn to fly in windy conditions here which are a huge plus. So from day one it can be quite daunting but it lays the perfect foundation for the future. Also P.E. has to be one of the most beautiful areas in the country and flying around here can be quite exhilarating.
Related Article: Eric Douglas-Jones
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