E.A. (Ted) Pascoe

From http://lists.internode.on.net/mailma...fo/aus-soaring

Dear Aus-soaring peoples,

For the information of those in this list who knew him, I feel compelled
to advise that E.A. (Ted) Pascoe passed away at the Royal Adelaide
Hospital on Sunday October 21st at the age of 80 years.

Ted's contribution to gliding was significant. He designed and built
two gliders - the EP-1 (known for most of its life as The Spruce Goose),
and later in the 1960's, the EP-2 which was perhaps inevitably destined
to be known as the Super Goose. Both were small, petite aircraft which
looked good and by all accounts were both pleasant and easy to fly.
The EP-1 enjoyed a special aura and mystique in the then Clare (now
Balaklava) Gliding Club where it became a syndicate aircraft in the
formative days of the club, and then again much later when the late Merv
Gill flew it with dedication, unbounded optimism and occasional
distinction in the SA and Horsham competition scene.

Ted was a passionate supporter of any cause which attracted his
interest. He became president of the SAGA in the 70's, and in this role
he was to play a significant role in airspace negotiations for the mid
north of South Australia in the mid 70's. As a GFA councillor he also
fought for a more simple and less expensive model for the GFA
Incorporation than that proposed and adopted in the early 80's. It's
interesting to see that some 20+ years later GFA did elect to change
it's incorporation machinery to operate under State rather than ACT
legislation just as Ted argued so strongly in the initial proposal.

Ted was also involved extensively in the competition scene as a both
competitor and also as an administrator. He instigated, promoted and
supported the decentralized state comps for SAGA in the 70's which
resulted in every club regatta being an event in the state
championships. This had a tremendous influence in attracting people to
the various club events through the year in what was truly a golden era.
He was deeply involved in the planning for and setting up of the
1976/77 Nationals at Renmark, intending initially to hand over the
management of the contest to someone else and join the group of
competing pilots for the event itself. In the end 'someone else' didn't
show up, and so he selflessly putting aside this aspiration at the last
minute to continue on as contest administrator for the event. He also
worked at the 1974 World Comps at Waikerie in the start line operation
and elsewhere as the need arose.

In this period, Ted attended and competed at several Nationals in
Balaklava Club aircraft, and was amongst the first to retrofit water
ballast facilities to the original standard Libelles. Legend has it
that at one of pre-world comps at Waikerie, there was one particularly
impressive worm burn finish run across the airfield from the south
east. It's reported that mild pandemonium took over as a certain
Libelle, with an un-named pilot at the controls continued straight for
the spectator gallery at the front of the main hangar at a height and
attitude such that some mused with rapidly increasing angst whether the
little ship was going to fly over the hangar or through it. Witnesses
state that several decided to make a run for it anyway scattering deck
chairs and other utensils as they did so. Those who remained may have
caught the briefest glimpse of a characteristic mischievous grin from
the pilot as he did indeed climb to fly over the top of the hangar by a
margin still under dispute by those who were there. I cannot confirm
the identity of the pilot as I wasn't of them ;-),

Ted won the 19th standard class Nationals at Benalla 1978/79, in a
Jantar VH-GEE. Unfortunately his wife and loyal crew chief over the
years (Win) could not be there to share in the worthy culmination of
their combined efforts, but those of us who were there and knew the full
story unashamedly shared Ted's tears of combined joy and sadness as he
received the Doc Heydon trophy.

Ted gave away gliding quite unexpectedly, and in a manner most
un-befitting of his previous involvement and contribution to the sport.
At the 20th Nationals in Wakerie in 1979/80 Ted was again competing in
the Jantar as only he knew how. As the combination was crossing the
start line at 1,000 metres, at a "significant" speed, there was a loud
bang from the rear of the aircraft. Ted slowed down as carefully as he
reasonably could and assessed the situation. Something was clearly
wrong with the elevator - possibly also the rudder, however, having
drawn on all of his airworthiness experience, he elected to stay with
the aircraft rather than step out. Any reservations about such a
decision of course get ever more imperative and worrying as one gets
lower, because there is a point at which an further damage to the
aircraft may mean a bale out - now essential - may not provide enough
height to do so safely. He made a cautious circuit and a remarkably
ordinary landing. I was one of the first there after he landed. The
elevator assembly of the Jantar had indeed suffered quite serious
damage, and in a typically frank "Ted" statement he admitted that if had
know it was that bad, he 'probably would have taken to the parachute'.
To my knowledge, Ted never flew again. It was an ignominious and quite
inappropriate conclusion to an outstanding career in the sport.

I personally valued Ted's support and enthusiasm immensely in my time as
an SAGA and GFA 'animal'. It can be admitted that Ted's often single
minded determination sometimes brought him into conflict with some who
may have seen things in a different way, but sometimes this was what was
needed to get the job done. It is doubtful however whether either of
the "Geese" would ever have really endured the paper war with
officialdom needed to get them in the air at that time unless their
owner and builder possessed these levels of determination and
persistence. For those of us who were close to him however, he will be
missed and fondly remembered as a colourful and larger than life
individual, immensely talented in so many areas, a likeable larrikin and
an adventurous drinking companion who gave a great deal to the sport he
loved and to the people he shared it with.

Ted's contribution to gliding was formally and deservedly recognised
when he received the Ryan award for excellence in Airworthiness in 1982,
although he would almost certainly been equally deserving of either of
the two other GFA awards for notable contributions to the sporting or
administrative arenas.

Terry Neumann
30 October 2007.