Dan Holeczy
Dan Holeczy - Extract from 'Syd's Last Pirate'
Daniel Holeczy joined Cathay Pacific on 15 June 1956 and resigned on 31 July 1965. Dan had won distinction fighting with the Royal Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Kiralyi Legiero) in support of Reichsmarshall Herman Goring’s Luftwaffe. In the spring of 1943 the Royal Hungarian Air Force received the superb Messerschmitt Bf 109G known to pilots as Gustav.
The then Leutnant Holeczy found the Bf 109’s controls coarse and not as responsive as the light Italian planes – the main contributors to his aeronautical experience of 300 hours. He explained the Fiat CR32 and 42 moved like a pencil with instant reaction. Furthermore, the Bf 109 had a narrow track that made it hard to keep straight on take-off and landing. Although the Bf 109 had these failings it could take great punishment and had a 1,200-hp engine. That, mused Dan, was a hell of a lot of horses for those days.
In 1975 Captain Dan Holeczy commanded a BAC 111 Series 500 with the German Bavaria airline. Nancy and Dan live in Wartenberg, Germany and spend several weeks each year on their property in Maroochydore, Queensland. We keep in touch.
The then Leutnant Holeczy found the Bf 109’s controls coarse and not as responsive as the light Italian planes – the main contributors to his aeronautical experience of 300 hours. He explained the Fiat CR32 and 42 moved like a pencil with instant reaction. Furthermore, the Bf 109 had a narrow track that made it hard to keep straight on take-off and landing. Although the Bf 109 had these failings it could take great punishment and had a 1,200-hp engine. That, mused Dan, was a hell of a lot of horses for those days.
In 1975 Captain Dan Holeczy commanded a BAC 111 Series 500 with the German Bavaria airline. Nancy and Dan live in Wartenberg, Germany and spend several weeks each year on their property in Maroochydore, Queensland. We keep in touch.
Capt. Dan Holeczy resigns from CPA.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109G. Maximum Speed 387 m.p.h. at 22,970 feet. 338 m.p.h. at sea level. Climb to 19,000 feet was 6 minutes. Service ceiling 39,750 feet. Range 450 miles at 330 m.p.h. at 19,000 feet; 615 miles at 260 m.p.h. at 19,000 feet. Weight: Empty 5,900 lb. Loaded 6,950 lb. Maximum loaded 7,500 lb.
(N) Puma Fighter Group, Hungarian Air Force 1943-44. (Source: Aircraft in Profile, Volume 5)
For more on Dan Holeczy please click on the following links:
Gathering of Eagles Foundation
http://www.goefoundation.org/index.php/eagles/biographies/h/holeczy-daniel/
Gathering of Eagles Foundation
http://www.goefoundation.org/index.php/eagles/biographies/h/holeczy-daniel/
