Mike Hartley. Photo: Supplied Mike Hartley. Photo: Supplied
YUSUF MOOLLA
At the age of 81, Mike Hartley performed a tandem parachute jump at the Durban Air Show, and played an integral part in the annual show for many years.
Hartley, 83, died on Friday after failing to recover from a back operation.
Described as a “phenomenal, passionate and kind-hearted individual”, Hartley, a pilot, and president of the Durban Wings Club, put his heart into aviation.
Brian Emmenis, an air-show commentator and broadcaster, said Hartley had looked after the Durban Air Show for the past 26 years.
“Mike was a beautiful person. I regarded him as one of the fathers of air shows in South Africa.
“I loved interviewing him, because he had the most interesting stories to tell of the early days of air shows.
“Mike organised the Virginia show and would travel to shows across the country to ensure the standard of the Durban event stayed on top, and was the best in the country,” he said.
“Records of his interviews should be kept to form part of the country’s aviation history.
“It is a dark time for aviation in South Africa,” he said of Hartley’s death.
Durban Air Show spokesman Ray de Vries said Hartley was a “phenomenal” man.
“At 81 years of age, he didn’t ask, he demanded, that he have a tandem parachute jump.
“He was a huge driving force, making sure the air show was bigger and better every year,” he said.
Hartley leaves his wife, Ruth, and three children.