Bill Moyes. Photo: Moyes Gliders
Bill Moyes has been awarded one of the most prestigious awards in air sports – the FAI Gold Air Medal.
The award was announced on 17 July 2014, and will be presented at a forthcoming FAI conference in Thailand. The FAI is the World Air Sports Federation.
According to the FAI website the award is one of the two highest awards they can grant. It was first awarded in 1925 and is reserved for, “those who have contributed greatly to the development of aeronautics by their activities, work, achievements, initiative or devotion to the cause of aviation”.
Previous recipients of the award include trans-Atlantic aviator Charles Lindbergh, first human in Space Yuri Gagarin and the first pilot to break the sound barrier Chuck Yeager.
Bill Moyes in the early days – towing up behind a boat and landing on water skis. Photo: Moyes Gliders
‘Super Bill!’. Photo: Moyes Glider
Bill Moyes flies tandem in the early days of hang gliding. Photo: Moyes Gliders
Bill Moyes, hang gliding pioneer and now over 80, played a vital role in the development of hang gliding and was involved from the very beginning.
He set up his first company in 1969 and is still active today with his company Moyes Gliders.
A resident of Australia he was nominated by the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia for the award.
In their nomination the HGFA set out why he deserved to be honoured in this way. They said:
As John Dickenson, inventor of the Modern Hang Glider and FAI Air Gold Medal recipient, declared it: “Bill Moyes developed the sport from a local phenomena to a worldwide thing of staggering proportion, and thousands and thousands of people are now flying because of what he’s been doing.”
Bill learned to fly in 1967 and stretched the Dickinson wing limits, breaking successive altitude and endurance records, being the first to fly off a mountain and soar on a ridge.
In 1969, he started selling his own gliders and went around the USA, Europe and the Pacific, giving demonstrations, showing his trade, raising awareness, making followers, spreading the Dickenson wing, proving that it could soar, glide and go up like no others.
When CIVL was created, Bill became involved as a Delegate or Vice-President for nine years. He played a vital part in changing hang gliding from a recreational activity into an internationally recognized sport.
In 1969, Bill Moyes founded Delta Wing Kites and Gliders, that became Moyes Gliders and grew to be the most succesful hang glider manufacturer, still active today, having sold thousands of gliders, all having a reputation of combining safeness, sturdiness and performance.
Now over 80 years old, Bill is still active in hang gliding circles, in manufacturing and competitions.
CIVL and the Australian NAC believe that Bill Moyes, although closely defeated last year for the FAI Air Gold Medal, rightly deserve to be nominated again. He would certainly be a worthy recipient.
Cross Country magazine sends its sincere congratulations to Bill Moyes and all his family and friends.
