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VALE COL PAY

The death of crop-dusting pilot and warbird enthusiast Colin Pay, 75, of Scone,

has stunned the aviation community.

Mr Pay's yellow Air Tractor 802 was performing a water-skimming exercise on

Lake Liddell, near the New England Highway northwest of Singleton, at 9.40am when it touched the surface of the lake, flipped over and sank.

The single-seat aircraft, designed as a crop-duster, had been converted

for fire-bombing operations.

Col Pay, regarded as one of the Rural Fire Service's best pilots, was practising scooping up water ahead of the bushfire season. He was the only person in the plane when it crashed.

Mr Pay was passionate about protecting Australia's flying heritage. He imported more warbirds than any other Australian and lovingly restored Mustangs, Kittyhawks and Spitfires, which he flew at various air shows.

Col's wife and three children released a statement saying they were proud of his achievements during a 50-year career in aviation.

"But Col's family are even more proud of the husband and father who gave them so much over so many years," the statement said. "They will cherish his memory as someone who made their lives complete."

The plane was owned by Mr Pay's family company -- Pay's Air Service -- which operates a fire-bombing service.

He had been testing new equipment when the crash occurred, but it is not known whether that equipment contributed to the crash.

Two of Mr Pay's colleagues, who were watching his trial from a boat, phoned emergency services.

"They're not coping very well, as youcan imagine," a police spokesperson said.

Al Gordon, club captain of Scone Aero Club, said: "Col was a good bloke who was held in high esteem".

"He had thousands of flying hours; for him to die in this way is unbelievable. It's tragic." The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash.