A legend of Australian aviation has died, three weeks short of his 96th birthday. Max Hazelton, the co-founder of Hazelton Airlines and one of the founding fathers of Rex, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday evening at Orange. In 1954, Mr Hazelton made national news after crashing his four-seat Auster Aiglet in bad weather near Oberon in the NSW central tablelands, sparking the largest search in Australian history at the time. As each day passed hopes of finding him alive faded, until six days later he emerged from the bush having walked 100km through rugged terrain. Hazelton Airlines was bought by Ansett in 2001, not long before the latter’s collapse, paving the way for the creation of Regional Express (Rex) a year later. Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said Mr Hazelton was a quiet, humble man who would forever be remembered for his unbridled passion for, and love of, both aviation and his family. “He wasn’t afraid of hard work, with his dedication, determination and drive underpinning his many extraordinary achievements,” Mr Sharp said.
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