At 75 Years of age John Chesterfileld is as sharp as a tack. The former Fighter Pilot hung up his headset this week, but a permanent spot on the recliner is still years away.
With more than 11,500 fixed wing and helicopter flying hours to his name, Chesty as he’s know in the industry, now heads up CareFlight operations after an incredible 58 years in military aviation and pilot training.
“I really enjoy the management side of the job at CareFlight, it keeps the mind active, as long as the brain continues to do its job I plan to stick with the organisation for as long as I can contribute to its mission,” said John Chesterfield.
During his Top Gun days the young Fighter Pilot was living his dream. In 1957 as part of the No 3 Squadron, Chesty and 15 other pilots flying F86 Sabre jets flew more than 1000 miles over water on deployment to Malaysia without blinking an eyelid.
“These days that would be considered dicing with death, I wouldn’t fly more than 10 miles off the coast in a single engine aircraft now, but at the time we thought nothing of it, it was marvelous fun.”
During the Vietnam war though John experienced what was without doubt the scare of his career. He’d been asked to observe US Air Force ground attack procedures in the second seat with a US Pilot in command.
As the F100 Super Sabre dived at the target at 500 MPH the US Pilot lost sight of the target marker in smoke haze. At the very last minute he found it, but instead of pulling out of the approach he stayed on track heading straight for a mountain almost killing himself and Chesty.
“It was absolute stupidity, as close to the edge of the envelope as you can get, I just sat there waiting to hit the mountain and die.”
The bomb was dropped but it completely missed the target and the aircraft scraped along the tops of trees as it climbed the mountain slope in the dive recovery. When the men got out after landing they noticed the wings of the aircraft were stained green from the leaves.
After leading the Black Panthers Aerobatic team for several years, Chesty went on to become the Director of Training at the RAAF Headquarters in Canberra. He continued to climb the ranks eventually becoming an Air Commodore in 1982, but not before being awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his services to officer training and education.
Despite his passion for jets Chesty admits the most satisfying job he’s ever had was in helicopter search and rescue. A dramatic retrieval of a fisherman who had survived 48 hours at sea off Lady Elliott Island is one he’ll never forget.
“I had to sit in a hover for 25 minutes while the survivor was winched on board, afterwards I was exhausted but seeing the grin from ear to ear on the man’s face as he was lifted past the skids made it well worth it.”
“Saving lives instead of ending lives is the icing on the cake.”
In June 1983 Chesty called it a day leaving the RAAF and moved to the Gold Coast where he opened his own flying school at Coolangatta which was responsible for training many of the Captains now flying for Virgin Blue.
“The Gold Coast is a beautiful place to finally call home, my wife and I lived in 22 different houses throughout my RAAF career and we love it here.”
“At CareFlight I’m responsible for assisting with fixed wing mission planning, data collection for fixed wing/ helicopters operations and Queensland government reports. I truly couldn’t be happier, everyone is so professional it reminds me of the Military sometimes.”
ENDS.
Media Contact Renee Buckingham 0421 381 023