Toni McErlane <email> sends:

A dear friend, Irish/oz hang glider pilot Ken Johnston, (otherwise known as Leam O'Flaherty, Pixie, Dr Evil, and many other names depending on what he was doing at the time and who he was with) passed away on Thursday after being diagnosed with cancer one and a half years ago. A rare gem, scholar, scoundrel, comedian, (even known to some to be delightful) and very loyal friend was our Kenny.

Many people have shared some wonderful adventures flying and otherwise with Ken, guaranteed never a dull moment. Mr. Ingenuity always found a way to get himself in the sky (or someone else). I visited him one month ago, and he dragged himself out into the bitter cold of Ireland's weather to show me his local site the "Devils Bite". Adamant I should fly it, the next day he could hardly breathe, but was up trying to organize a glider and take me up the hill. The weather didn't hold out for us so it never happened, but his love and dedication to flight just amazed me.

Ken traveled around the US in the mid 90's and got his 100 mile flight in the Owens while he was there and also tripped around New Zealand in the late 90's flying his mosquito 200 odd kilometers up the west coast of the South Island, so I am sure there are people out there who had the pleasure to meet Ken on his flying travels.

He had been living in Newcastle a long time and originally came out from Ireland and worked for Moyes. His funeral was a few days ago in Ireland and in Newcastle they are having a ceremony for him and I'm feeling a little lost over here not having someway to send him off

Kennny, Flaherty, Johnston, Dr Evil, Pixie will be missed by many.