Len Cormac

Ancestors

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pam Cormac Smith [send private message]

Biography

Len Cormac is genealogies verbind aan Suid Afrika /is genealogically connected to South Africa

Birth

Leonard Arthur Cormac was born on 18 Dec 1935^[1] to Arthur David Cormac and Edna Victoria May^[2] Edwards.

Leonard Arthur baptised 9 Feb 1936. Born 18 Dec 1935. Parents: Arthur David and Edna Victoria May Cormac; Witnesses: Ellen Mabel Beech, Henry Richard Sparks, James Cormac. [2]

Baptism

The baptism of Leonard Arthur Cormac can be found on 9 Feb 1936 in the St Mary's, Greyville Church register. ^[2]

Childhood

Leonard's Letters 1941

As a young child Len lived at Ivy Road in Durban. Circa 1939

Marriage

On 11 Apr 1959 Len married Pauline Riddle at St Columbus, Durban, Natal. The ceremony was witnessed by W.J. Riddle and DC Schutte.^[1]

Residence

1936 - 598 North Coast Rd, Greenwood Park^[2]

1938 - 42 Ivy Road, Durban

1959 - 38 Hill View Road, Greenwood Park^[1]

Career

Len worked his apprenticeship under his uncle George Robert Cormac at Lion Match Company in Durban. He then worked for British Fleet Liners where he became a first engineer and travelled all over the Far East. In 1956 Len was working onboard the M.V. Inverbank, a vessel owned by Bank Line. By 1959 he was a fitter and turner.^[1]

List of Aircraft

Reg: ZS-UHF^[3][4]

Type: FALCONAR F-12^[3][4]

ICAO: D11^[3]

CN: LAC 1^[3][4]

MTOW: 619^[4]

Owner: CORMAC L A^[3]

First Registration Date: 12/31/1975^[4]

Ownership Date: 02/13/2013^[4]

Reg: ZS-UGO^[5][3]

Type: FALCONAR F-9^[5][3]

ICAO: ZZZZ^[3]

CN: F-4069^[3][5]

MTOW: 619^[5]

Owner: CORMAC L A^[3]

First Registration Date: 04/17/1973^[5]

Ownership Date: 02/14/1973^[5]

Awards

• East Coast, AGM at Grass Roots airfield, Saturday 14 November 2015^[6]

The Harry Antel Trophy for Altruism:

Len began his involvement with the EAA, way back before the EAA was officially formed. Pietermaritzburg had a group of flight-minded folk who decided to get plans and build aeroplanes. They worked closely together and the bonds of those early years have held tight over all the succeeding years. He built a Jodel D9, which flew in the 1970s, and has assisted in the construction of many, many aircraft since then. It would be quite impossible to enumerate the magnitude of what this man has done to promote the construction and safe flight of aeroplanes in KZN. Len is presently building a pair of Jodel D150s and the first is rapidly nearing completion.

• Aeroclub Annual Awards 2017^[7]

"Len Cormac was one of a group of men constructing and flying home-made hang gliders in and around Pietermaritzburg in the late 1960s and early 70s. Their enthusiasm grew and this group then moved on to making aeroplanes. Len started with a Jodel D9, ZS-UGO,^[5] which he completed and flew in 1974. It was a joy to see in the sky. He subsequently built a Jodel D11, which was unfortunately burned in a fire. He is presently about 70 % along on another aircraft – this time a Jodel D185.

Len has been an Aero Club of South Africa member and an EAA member since 1973. That is more than 40 years ! Len was one of the first two Approved Persons (A.P.s) in Natal (now KZN), that being achieved in the mid 70s. He is a very active A.P., signing out about 50 odd aircraft each year.

Annual Aeroclub Awards 2017.

He has accumulated more than 5000 flying hours in a vast array of differing aircraft types, and was an instructor at Cato Microlight airfield for many years.

He continues to be an inspiration and a fount of knowledge to KZN EAA members, and as a talented engineer will always step forward to assist with the manufacture of door locks, brake levers, bushes, or whatever bit of engineering is required, quite often without even asking for the material costs.

Len is a man who has been at the heart of homebuilding and NTC aircraft in KwaZulu-Natal for many decades, and truly fits the description of a ‘selfless aviation enthusiast’."

Research Notes

Need to work on this profile

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "South Africa, Civil Marriage Records, 1840-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZDBW-Q7W2 : 1 February 2021), Leonard Arthur Cormac, 1959.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} "Greyville, Durban, Natal, South Africa Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9T49-4C3 : September 24, 2021), image 241 of 297; William Cullen Library. University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa).; Added by Pam Cormac on 3 Aug 2020.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9} antonakis.co.uk; antonakis.co.uk South Africa Registers 21 Apr 2018.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} avcom.co.za; Aircraft Registration: Registration ZS-UHF; First registration date: 12/31/1975
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} avcom.co.za; Aircraft Registration: Registration ZS-UGO; First registration date: 04/17/1973
6. ↑ eaa.org.za CONTACT newsletter, December 2015; Chapter 1502 East Coast held its AGM at Grass Roots airfield on Saturday 14 November..
7. ↑ aeroclub.org.za annual awards function; Aeroclub Annual Awards 2017; Read the article here: flightlineweekly.com/post/2017/11/06/aeroclub-of-south-africa-awards-dinner or here