Richard 'Dick' Siudak
Photographer and aviation enthusiast
Aviation runs in his veins, his late father was one of the many Polish airmen who landed in England towards the end of WWII.
As a youngster, many weekends were spent at Gatwick Airport (England) in the hangars of Morton Air Services. At school, he became a member of the CCF - Air Section. Air experience flights at this time included such classics as Chipmunk, Pembroke, Anson and Bristol Sycamore helicopter. His 'star' flight was part of the awarding of a Royal Air Force Flying scholarship - a week long visit to the front line base, RAF Wattisham.
This was a real eye opener for a 16 year old, the base was home for two Lightning F.3 squadrons. He was assigned to 111 Squadron for the week and enjoyed a twenty minute 'ride' in the squadron's Lightning T.5. It started with a rapid climb to 36,000 feet over the North Sea during which the aircraft was 'cranked up' to Mach 1.53.
Young Richard became the youngest member of the Ten Ton Club by flying an aircraft at over 1,000 miles per hour. Next came a loop rolling over the top at a shade over 50,000 feet, a rapid descent followed by a Ground Control Intercept approach and it was all over with minimal reserves of fuel in this remarkable aircraft.
During high school summer holidays Richard cycled with mates through the south and midlands of England visiting airfields and the aircraft spotting bug was firmly entrenched. His step-mother often remarked that if he could remember his school work as he did aircraft serial numbers and details he would be a Rhodes Scholar!
Richard obtained his PPL flying Cessna 150 and Beagle Pup aircraft during a three week course at Carlisle in the north of England prior to migrating to Western Australia.
37 years on, a career federal public servant, aviation is still at the forefront of after-hours life. Richard also enjoys fishing, football umpiring and many committees and association work that he undertakes.
Aviation photography and writing has replaced flying and his work has been published in numerous publications worldwide.
Since 1975, Richard has specialised in naval aviation. The US Navy regularly visits WA and Richard has accumulated 11 trap landings in the Grumman C-2A Greyhound on several aircraft carriers and numerous helicopter sorties.
Richard Siudak in his element! He is enroute to an overnight assignment on board a US Navy C-2A Greyhound transport to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln which was several hundred miles off the WA coast.
