He performed at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney then found an agent and toured America. He was towed behind a dune buggy and 'cut loose' to gracefully fly to the ground. For these shows Bill wore a white jump-suit and was billed as 'The Australian Birdman'. Even more dangerous was the plane tow behind a Piper Supercub in 1971 in Amery, Wisconsin, USA.īy this time Bill's interest in kite flying became an all-consuming passion so to promote the burgeoning sport and satisfy his own innate showmanship he started giving spectacular demonstrations of his flying. A madcap venture to fly a kite some 1,000 km from Sydney to Brisbane in 1969 was abandoned after only 304 km and six hours of flying when the boat hauling him in open sea was swamped and broken up by waves. Then, in early 1968 on Lake Ellesmore, in New Zealand, he attached himself to a 3,000 metre cable behind a speed boat and took the world altitude record to 883 metres. In the Winter of 1967 Bill became the first person to ski off Mount Crackenback in the Australian Alps and flew his kite down to the ski resort of Thredbo. Later he unsuccessfully tried launching himself from a speeding motorcycle riding along the sand with the kite strapped to his back. This was dependent on the boat driver pulling at the right speed and ended up in numerous spills into Botany Bay. Initially Bill used his skill as a water-skier to launch himself into the air while being towed behind a speed-boat. Within six weeks of first taking to the air Bill astounded aeronautical experts by flying 321 metres over Tuggerah Lakes on the Central Coast of NSW and became the first in the world to fly a man-carrying kite at an altitude of over 300 metres. His first kites flapped like rags but after reading about high speed sailing on ice he picked up numerous hints about battens and airfoil shapes and flexibility. He had no formal training in aerodynamics but worked through trial and error and observation. Bill realised that the kite was the answer to his childhood flying dreams and every week would build a new model in his workshop, changing and modifying the design. However, at this time there were many accidents and deaths amongst participants. His interest in kite flying developed almost as soon as the Rogallo wing was developed in 1967. As well as working hard Bill played hard and started barefoot water skiing in 1965 becoming an Australian barefoot water ski champion. He worked for two years then, with a 200 pound bank loan, bought his employer's business in the City then moved it to Waverley close to his home and the beach.īill and Molly Moyes raised a family of five and built up the business working long hours. He started a cadetship as an electrical engineer but switched to being an auto electrician. He was born in 1932 at Bronte, a southern Sydney beach suburb, and after leaving school married his childhood sweetheart Molly. Notes This hand glider was made by Bill Moyes in 1969 and donated by him through Moyes Delta Gliders Pty Ltd in the Sydney suburb of Waverley in 1985.įrom a young age Bill had dreamt he could fly. A beginner needed a softer, more flexible frame while a competition pilot needed it to be rigid to give immediate and tight response. Each customer was seen as an individual and frames were adjusted to the skill of the pilot. He also test flew every hang-glider that left the shop and several other qualified test pilots were needed as business expanded. Steve looked after overseas sales and transformed Bill's designs into a reality. In 1982 Bill opened a kite factory in Como, Italy and the following year another near Los Angeles.īy the 1980s the Waverley factory was a family run business with Bill's daughter Susan running the shop and various sons-in-law employed in the firm. In 1983, 2000 kites came out of the Waverley workshop, 600 of which were for the Australian market. Within 10 years Moyes kites were sold internationally and recognised as the best in the world. Part of his auto-electrical workshop was set aside for this purpose. Notes Because of his reputation Bill Moyes was constantly approached by other pilots for advice and help with sails so he turned to manufacturing and selling complete kites.
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