MAX NEUBACHER, inset, is seen here with the plane that disappeared in October 1990.

Tales of a Terrace pilot

This week, I would like to go —_
back to the ‘morning of Oct. 22,

1990. 1; ’
‘T would like to tell you about Here n
the legendary pilot. Maxi [ih ere’ 3

Neubacher. Max was the pilot of
the twin, engine piper Navaho

re an

by Yvonne Moen

plane’ that belonged to Trans-
provincial Airlines. The plane has 4
never been found since that fate- - a ,
ful morning, w Pat Johnston, and flew with him
Max had picked up his pas- - at a local air show. Pal was the
sengers from Telegraph Creek. son of pioneer Ted Johnston. He
Karen Hawkins. was taking her was killed at an air show at
children - three-year-old Aaron Prince George.
and cight-year-old Leanne - to Since that October day in 1990,
Terrace hospital for a medical Max’s wife Brigit and their many
check-up, good friends have not given up.
Max had said his final goodbye They hope that one day scon
to his wife Brigit as he left their — someone will find a clue to what
Queensway home on that Mon- went wrong, and maybe someone
day morning. Max, the pas- — will find the missing plane and its
sengers and the plane were never passengers. Maybe then all can

found. . rest.
Max Neubacher was born Aug. Since coming to Terrace in
4, 1923 at Mime! (Lithuan 1965, Max Neubacher made.

county) in East Prussia.

Max was one of five children,
He had three brothers. and one
sister. His parents are now- both
deceased.

“Max did all of: his regular

many friends, who greatly miss
him for his kindness, his Jove of
flying and his willingness to help
others in need.

Max. got his private pilot
licence on Aug, 5, 1966, and his
schooling in Mimel. Afterwards, commercial licence on July 31,

© went to university for. two . 1969. He spent many hours flying
years, where be studied.enginger i. others-ta many,locations,..and all...
the, Maxt'trad‘actually' wanted 'to |" Had'preat trast in’his ‘flying skills. (*
be a bridge builder, but. instead
became a great pilot.

During the Second World War,

kkkkk

Terraceview news:

A few people who had
birthdays this month were Sam
Sobchyshyn, Vera Frank, Louisa
Sutherland, Beatrice Abramson,
Amn Hampton, Lucy Denicola,
Opal Cyr, Jean McFaddea, Pearl
Richardson and Rosa Seabrooks.

A vety speedy recovery going
out to Tom Olson who now has
been in the hospital for a week.
Hurry and get well, Tom - I
would like to interview you on

_ your life history. We could keep

everyone interested for many
weeks with some of your stories.

And guess: what - I am a
grandma again. My son Gary and
his wife Steph have just had a
brand new six-pound, three-ounce
ey boy on June 23 at the Kam-
loops hospital. They named him

eter Davin Moen. So now I ania, .

"granimaf for the third time! -3

Max was taken away to go to
fight. At the time, he trained with
the Luftwaffe (the German air-
force). He had the misfortune’ to
spend some months in a prison
camp. Later, told of some of the
terrible things that he had to go
through. -

‘It, was during those years that
Max began his flying career. He
had extensive glider training in
Germany. He gained well: over
500 hours‘ of ‘gliding time. ‘Later, .
he flew as a fixed wing pilot in
Canada.

After the war years in Germany,
Max became an amateur boxer. In
1964, he immigrated’ to Canada.
He spent ‘his first months in the
Vancouver area, On March 9,
. 1965, he came to Terrace to live.
He went to work for McGillis and

Gibbs as a log pecler. Later on,
he became a car salesman at a lo-
‘cal “Volkswagen: dealership,
owned by Mr. Wickman.

. Eventually, Max and his wife
Brigit took over the Sportsmen
Drive-in Restaurant. They bought
it from Bill and Ida Onstien, and
ran ituntil 1972,

Max then went to work for

Skoglund Logging in May 1972 ©
as: their ‘pilot. He worked there
until 1977. oo
~~ Tt. was ‘then’ that, ‘Max, Clift
- Sharples: and ‘Ray Skoglund
formed a new charter company,
** Terrace Air Ltd.” Max was the
chief pilot untif' 1989, when he
went to Trans-provincial Airlines.
He was a pilot there until his dis-
appearance on October 22, 1990,

Max had many hours of experi-
ence flying passengers to many
‘locations in the northwest, and
had over 20 years flying experi-

ence as a bush pilot. He dedicated
his life to flying. -

_ He was.a.pilot with consider-

~able talent. He had coped with
fog, gales, mountain barriers and
other batriers, “Natural and un-

‘natural, and had: always: made
successful landings:

- While living’in-"Terrace, Max
was very involved with. the Ter-
race Air Cadets.’ He was also the
alr chief for: the; Prince Rupert
zone. of search. _ Bnd. rescue, and -
-was the head:of, the seatch. oper
tion for the Terrace. altport. .

Max was also involved with -
several air shows, and as.a result”

he travelled to Red Deas, ‘Alla.
Max. was. knot
Barow.” He

a

Sy

|. Annivetsatios |
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