As the roar of B-17s and P-38 Lightnings pierced the skies of North Queensland, marking the twilight of World War II, a young boy from Innisfail watched in awe. The world was changing dramatically—the atomic bomb had just been dropped on Hiroshima. Amidst this historical crescendo, a captivated young onlooker, he would not only dream of the skies but eventually shape them.
A boy whose early fascination with aircraft led to a lifetime of educating pilots, through his groundbreaking books and courses. Bob Tait OAM leaves a lasting legacy that lifted thousands of pilots and aviators into the air.
“I was born in Innisfail, North Queensland, just as World War II was coming to an end,” says Bob. “My earliest memories are shadowed by the remnants of war: trenches in our schoolyard and the awe-inspiring sight of USAF warplanes flying overhead. Those planes captivated me deeply, igniting a profound fascination with aviation from a very young age.
“Despite no one in my circle sharing this passion, I was irresistibly drawn to it. I spent many hours at the local aerodrome, just watching aircraft, particularly the DC3s, land and take off. The weekends were special because that’s when the Cairns Aero Club would bring two Tiger Moths to Innisfail. Though flying them was beyond my financial
