This is probably the hardest post I've ever had to write here at SimV, but I was informed earlier this evening by another one of our members here and I regret to inform you all that John "Tipster" Consterdine has passed away.

For more information please visit http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=cafe;action=display;num=10...

I know those of us who's lives John touched will be deeply upset by this tragic news, and our thoughts will be with his family.

Mark

I am dumbfounded. 

The few times I chatted with him on MSN, I could tell right away that he was  giving, kind, and all-round great gentleman.

This is truly tragic.

This is a sad day and great loss for the FS community.

My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

I can hardly believe this. I am literally stunned and so saddened by this news.

I never met John but this is part of a message I received from him on 3rd June, the day before he disappeared.

"Roger thanks for the encouraging words. I've no doubt that things will eventually take a turn for the better. It would be difficult for them to get any worse!   

I hold on to a philosophy I've had since I was a child:

There is a ratio of bad things to good, that goes on in the world. It's pretty much fixed. So if I'm having a bad day (week/month/life), someone else is having a good one as a result.

It's probably all bull**** but it makes me feel better LOL"

John, I wish I could have done more to help in your time of need. I guess your philosophy says a lot about you. Even in your time of trouble your contributions did so much to help others and make their lives better.

I can think of no finer epitaph than the words you wrote to me.

Goodbye friend.

All of us feel privileged to have known John.

It's strange how someone you've never seen and never spoken to can become such a friend.  When the only thing you have in common is a few tips and jokes about a hobby.

John was a rare person for this time.  Always ready to give, never asking.

He will be sorely missed.

So sad to hear this news. My condolences to the family. What a shame for our community, he will be greatly missed.

he was a great person and will be missed by everyone who knew him and those he helped.
this world has lost a truley special person and i can only send out my condolences to his family, and its  still difficult to really believe we have lost him, we will all miss you friend, and hope you save us all a seat in your baron up there mate.
Rest in peace my friend

I am truly shocked and saddened by this news.    John helped create my website out of his kindness.  He was on of the greatest simmers I've met and he will truly be missed. 

My prayers go out to his family and especially his Children.  They have a great father.

My condoences,

Joe

my thoughts and prayers to the family
-jason

My condolences to his family and friends. He'll be missed! 

  I will certainly follow "Chops" lead and make a contribution to the "Diabetes Foundation" in John's name.  Fabulous Idea!!!!   "Gone, but never to be Forgotten"

Splash (Ed)

I just had a tought. I think we should dedicate the FS2002 forum in memory of John. This seemed to be his favorite place to hang out, so it only seems right.

'Tipster' as he'll be forever in my mind, was one good guy to have on this forum, always ready to help another guy out. I'll be missing his posts, his wits and his personality, as I am sure many other will.

My condolances to his loved ones.

What sad news! All our thoughts go to his family. The term sky pilot will take on a new meaning now. I know we will all miss his advice, and, in some cases, his reassurance that it would all come together in the end.

God speed, John, you will not be foggotten

Tony C (Bucks, UK)

Someone mentioned donating to the diabetes cause.  What if someone in charge (Pete, or a mod...) were to take up donations for anyone who wishes to do so (completely voluntary of course) and make a donation in the name of Simviation, and Mr. Consterdine's friends?

i did not get a chance to know John, but after reading all these kind words is saddens me for the great loss to his family, friends and this community, may his good memory live long with all those who will miss him, rest assured he is in a happier place now.

Truly a sad day for me.

Like most of you I only knew John through here. But, he helped me several times with some panel projects I was doing, and was kind enough to give me several pointers. He was a major insparation for many of the panels I've done.

Good-bye John. Your kindness, and enthusiasim will not be forgotten.

May John's memory live in our hearts for all times.

There have already been a couple of threads in the cafe about this Saratoga, look at the first page and you'll find the link for one of them.

Ozzy

Well Ozzy, with all due respect, remove it from here then. Five people have sent me AIM IMs saying they wished that they didn't have to see it whenever they looked for something FS, and truthfully, I do not blame them. He was a good man, but there is a better place for this to be located.

Riiight. Ignore topic.

I only joined this forum yesterday but anyone who is this well thought of deservers great repect.
My sympathy to his family and friends.

I also wondered if John had completed the trip. This has been on my mind for a while and I would think with the pressure he was under that given the time I don't think he completed it.
I also don't think that he would have included Antarctica in his travels as FS does not have a listing there.

You are all invited to share a leg of John's RTW by going to the RTW site and seeing where you can fit in.

I have flown the Baron(must have Johns' panel)SCIE/SCSE/SCDA/SLPL/SEMT/MNMG/Z21W/MMCU for a total of 26hrs. I'm in Mexico at the moment volunteers for a North America leg are most welcome.

Please go to Johns' site and register your interest.

Cheers,
Col.

PilotJohn raise a glass for Mr Consterdine,the Baron is parked at KFOT for the night.

Cheers

The Baron is now at CYZP. More to come

Cheers

The Baron is currently at Adak(PADK)after a total time tonight of 9.2hrs-bedtime.

Midway tomorrow hopefully.

Cheers

PICS!! YOUR KIDDIN' ME! I'm lucky to get this up. At the moment it's all Pacific and sky any way!

On a different note,a couple of more stops will see the Baron on its way home.

If you go to the RTW site you won't see the map showing progress or anything except an upgrade such as here.

Six join in and get the Baron home!!

And all you others out there that knew John through SimV and admired and respected  him help bring the Baron home!!

Cheers

Once again another 11.5 hours of sea and sky(should have been a surfer)interspersed with some place called Honululu and Christmas Island wherein is it the Baron currently rests.

Not having many options the plan is to:NTAA/NTGJ/Pitcairn Island(fly over only)/NTGJ/NCRG/NFTF/NZAA leaving there for Australia.

All these legs are more sea and sky,what I call transport legs,so if you're not interested flying any I fully understand. This is also basically my home ground(or water if you must!!)so lots of hours with nothing to see.

The weather has been so good but I think a cyclone or something else interesting wouldn't be missed I can tell ya!

Cheers,
Col.

Weather has been good again with light winds but you've still got to pick your altitude(180 wind change in 500ft). So it was NTAA/NTGJ/Pitcairn Island(which needs a serious Sim overhaul!)/NTTX. Muroroa is not one of my favourite places but,hey,they got gas.

This was not the plan I put up but the winds etc changed all!  Total hrs 8.7

Cheers,
Col.

Great stuff Col

You're not seeing a lot of response but I think quite a few guys are following this with interest as I am so don't think you're being ignored

Here's a thought

I've not flown online before and from a few comments in screenshots and other forums, quite a few others haven't either.

When the Baron eventually gets home, would be good if it could be accompanied on all or part of the last leg, or be met even, by a bunch of SIMVs. That would be a fitting way to remember John that he would have been proud of I'm sure.

What do people think?

Right!

Any more takers?

For people like Cherokee and me we've got enough time to get things sorted out so we know how and can do it, plus sort out any technical bits and pieces.

I think a whole bunch of Barons coming into land one after the other led by John's would be something to remember and to remember him by. Fantastic!

BEN!! MAAAAATE,sorry I forgot you now that the Baron is in Inverell. My sincerest apologies

Cheers,
Col.

Sadly I never got to e - meet this man. Even though I give greatest condolences.
Dan Garner 

Lot of catching up to do here I have been putting in an effort since the last post.

From Learmonth it was up to Bali then on to Jakarta. From there it was up the islands then across to Chennai in India. Next stop was Islamabad which was the stepping off place for an interesting flight to Gilgit(thanks MattNW). I must admit to have done the Gilgit flight before using FS intersections and flying up the river valley but it was so much more fun with FSnavigator being able to set my own fixes and get down low in the valley and only fly the final approach manually. Nice trip!!

Up and over from there following valleys in the general direction of Karachi then on to auto pilot and sit back ,til letdown. Which was fine until I was all lined up on final.
When the controller says'cleared to land No.3 for landing,follow the aircraft on final(me)'what it really means is 'cleared to land No.2 for landing,fly through the aircraft on final(me)'
Now if you haven't already found AUTOSAVE go looking for it because that was the first time I've had to use it and it is a very handy Utility.

Flying from Karachi to Djibouti via Salalah after that was pretty average. That is where the Baron is tonight HDAM.  Total flying timeYPLM/WRRR/WIII/WITT/VOMM/OPRN/OPGT/OPKC/OOSA/HDAM 37.2hrs.

On our way to ZIMBABWE!!

Cheers,
Col.

Apology:FSNavigator uses the database  in FS2K2 for its' information.  Any suggestion that there is a fault in FSNavigator is incorrect.

OK. FEFF was the last stop so it's
FEFF/DRZD/DTTA/LFRC for a total of 15hrs.

The Baron is now in Cherbourg.

I am now waiting for contact from Johns' friends before proceeding further.

Cheers,
Col.

Good Job Colin! I have been following your trip and it was a very nice way to remember a good man....

I am going to make a note of this in the Cafe as everyone should be aware of this...

again...good job.

You've done John proud Colin! I think he's be delighted - in fact I know he would!

I'm so pleased this happened & someone has done this. 

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Did you finish the round the world flight for him?


I never knew him but ive spent the last 4 hours reading his posts on his other forums and he seemed like a wonderful,warm and caring man who sincerly cared for the people who knew him.It is such a shame that life gave  him a raw deal and in his last minutes on this earth he was alone.



oooops! Nevermind i just scrolled up  

i never actually new john but he sounds a great person and a great flyer so i give good wishes to him

I'm new on this forum,and i've never heard of Mr Consterdine,but I hope  now he's flying better skyes.
RIP.

I've been looking over some of the stuff that John wrote, before he went missing. Some things that somebody should have caught on, but didn't.


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(This could be argued good, or bad, but it seemed to be significant to me. I don't know why.)

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(Maybe in his "giving up")

I remember when his internet service was due to cancel, some generous member paid his bill. I always wondered who did this kind act.

Dave

Sorry all
Dont know Tipster or Ozzy
No disrespect intended to anyone
Was my first forum log in so I picked the most recent
Cheers Smithy

I just read this topic... I never met this man... and I don't... but damnit I cried for this man.

Could some post what happend to him? The link does not work.

Might I also suggest that some one put johns RTW paln up for dload on the site? For memorial recreation.

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Uhh, wrong thread.

Wow....even though I never met him or heard of him till now, I still feel the grief. I'm sure he was a great man and I wish I had the oppurtunity to meet and know him. 

May he live on forever...

Fair winds John. You will now become part of the fiber that makes this place so special.

Dave

Goodbye John, thanks for the conversations, the help, and all the memories. You will always be remembered on these forums!

God Bless.