Draft Posts
The articles, photos and stories posted below are drafts and are not fully published and are not available for public viewing until finalized and approved.
Capt. Ron Gillies flew seaplanes for over 30 years before he arrived at Antilles Air Boats. Ron's father, Norman Gillies was a flyer as his brother, Jack and that continued to the next generation.
Read more about the family that had their head in the clouds.​​​​
The Flying Gillies
NBERRA
SYDNEY
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BRISBANE
Mudjimba, Queensland
Ansett Flying Boats Service
Magowra Station
Heli-Muster Kimberlies NT
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Graeme Gillies
and his wife Helen have operated Blue Tongue Helicopter Service for over 34 years, offering flight training as well as scenic flights, aerial photography and other helicopter services. They are Australia's leading helicopter flight training specialist. This distinction came from many years of flying in various environments acquiring the experience he has passed on to his students.
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​​Graeme was born in Melborne, the only son of Wing Commander, Ron Gillies in 1948.He was also the grandson of Norman Gillies, an engineer for the Australian Air Force during WWI and was responsible for the building the first aeroplane for the Australian Air Force, living in the first house located on Point Cook.
​​It was not surprising that Graeme would follow in the family footsteps but not quite in the way his father, Ron would have hoped. As a young boy, he joined the Air Cadets but for many years Graeme avoided the aviation industry possibly because of the strong involvement from the family.
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​​At the age of 34, Graeme obtained his commercial Helicopters license in California and headed back to Australia to conquer the world. This was not to happen immediately, but 6 months later and his first mustering job came along on "Magoura"
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​​Next came a job in Sydney running the Darling Harbour Heliport followed by long line sling work in the remote Star Mountains of Papua New Guinea.​
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In 1988 Graeme and his wife travelled north to the Sunshine Coast hoping for a healthier and quieter lifestyle. He obtained his Grade 11 Instructor rating with illustrious Peter Spoor and for a few years taught for other schools in the area.
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Finally, it was time to start up his own district style of school and thus became Blue Tongue Helicopter Service. Helicopter ratings include AS350, Bell 206A&B, Bell 206, Bell 47G, Bell 47T, Bell 47J, R500D, KH4, R22, R44, Rotorway Exec 90 & 162F, Sling, Water, Mustering, Aproved Pilot for Mustering Endorsement, Chief Flying Officer, Grade 1 Instructor, CASA Approved Testing Officer, Dangerous Goods Acceptance.
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Besides aviation, Graeme's other passion is film and television having made several documentaries and tv programs.​​
He used his first Bell 47, VH-MOU at the Warner Bros. Studios on the Gold Coast for the remake of "Skippy".
A few videos from G.D. Gillies
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With all the new digital film equipment, Graeme started creating training videos for Blue Tongue Helicopter Service students.
