The World lost a Legend Today

Bobby Bailey was the designer of the Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly, an airplane designed for towing hang gliders. Bobby also worked on the Buccaneer and Connie amphibious airplanes, as well as the Tempest glider. Bobby played a revolutionary part in the hang gliding world, and he played a major role in bringing the sport to the masses.
In this video, I sit down with Bobby for his final interview. He will be missed
baileymoyesdragonfly.com
www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-b...

[@FloridaFlying]

Bobby Bailey’s Gofundme www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-bobbys-legacy-help-for-connie?modal=donations&tab=top

[@Anon54387]

That thing looks light as a kite. I'd not want to fly that in any area that has unpredictable winds. I happen to live in an area where the air is basically dead still all summer, but many areas in the USA have winds that can come out of nowhere.

[@milesbrown8016]

RIP sir. Thank you for your enduring legacy.

[@DAS-Videos]

@@Anon54387 Looking at the specs it weighs 514 pounds without passengers or fuel with a top speed of 46mph.

[@Hobgoblin1975]

He lived to be a respected old man and he died doing what he loved, not laying in a hospice bed. I think he won life.

[@williamrudolph3481]

You got that right.

[@AdamsOlympia]

@@iridium8341 why do you say that?

[@scrimmo]

I love diving. I don’t want to be eaten by a shark. I bet his family aren’t happy that they didn’t get to say goodbye. “Died doing what he loved” is the stupidest cliched phrase I’ve ever heard.

[@thefreedomguyuk]

​@@iridium8341Hell, yeah. A life, and an ending which you and I can only dream of !

[@easystar123]

Rest in Peace Bobby. You were a true aviation hero and legend. Gone but not forgotten. ❤

[@RedCanidae]

Most people are unable to find personal fullfilment and are more dependent on fame, wealth etc. Bobby was someone that clearly found his personal happiness, which is of all things, the most important you could possibly have

[@Flies2FLL]

Some people dream of things. Other people go out and DO THEM- I'm a perfectly normal man, an airline pilot by trade. An office job as an engineer like my dad had just wasn't good enough for me, so I went a different route and now I fly 767's around the world. This is why I also support transgender persons: While I have no desire at all to be one, I appreciate that they have the balls to give the world a big middle finger and do what they WANT.

[@NT4XT]

​@@Flies2FLL👍😎👍 same here, humans are.

[@JerrySuneagle]

I met Bobby in Australia and he is a true gentleman. I remember speaking to BIll Moyes as he was assembling a Dragonfly in Moyes factory and discussing the aircraft. He gave full credit to Bobby and all I can say is two amazing aviators and designers who have brought much happiness to thousands of pilots across the globe. God bless them both.

[@alwaysflushinpublic]

G'day and Kia Ora! NZ saved my life literally. Both countries are amazing & gorgeous.

[@terrymurphy562]

So nice to see a very talented man give an interview to you whilst just sitting on the Grass. A very humbling and talented man. R.i.P Bobby.

[@bobbob8765]

What a Lovely gentle man. Thanks for your great contribution to aviation. God bless you and your family.

[@yarosebas]

I flew a few months ago with him, he did all kinds of aerobatics and that day turned out to be one of my most memorable days in my life. Thank you Bobby fly high

[@socalfun64]

Thanks Man! Hadn’t heard of him but now I have and I will remember him! 🇺🇸🙏🏻

[@mbboisvert]

Thank you for this video. You were able to capture Bobby Bailey‘s essence and do him some justice. He is an absolute legend within the hang gliding community, but because the community is so small I believe he is underrated overall. He had tens of thousands of hours in dozens of Dragonflys and the way he flew them was so masterful and artistic that it was an inspiration to watch. Even into his 70s, he could fly so aggressively that it made me woozy as a passenger. He was still flying these almost every day until his last moment. Your understanding of the accident is exactly correct. I was there.

[@larrysouthern5098]

Sorry hear about Mr Bailey He did what he loved...Deepest condolences to the family..Rest in Peace...

[@Davie-jx4rh]

Rest In Peace, it’s sad to have a man die, it’s much sadder for that man to have never lived, This man lived!

[@scopex2749]

From an Air Force Veteran - RIP Bobby fly high with the angels.

[@Jeffrey-817]

Thanks for an appropriate tribute to a wonderful pioneer. I am 68 and was introduced to UL aviation by the same crew of people in this tight knit club. Starting in 1982, my hobby became secondary career when I became a flight instructor in 1989 and enjoyed introducing hundreds of people to the spiritual experience of flight along the beach at Plum Island Massachusetts in our MU 582 Drifter. I’m sad that Bobby passed that’s all I can say. His Dragonfly and work on tandem HG equipment brought safe hang gliding and instruction to the industry that only few had a chance to experience.

[@steveasher9239]

I was fortunate enough to also fly with a legend. The author of "Rolls Around a Point", Duane Cole. That was 40+ years ago. I was a 90 hour private pilot and decided to take an aerobatic course so I would never find myself in any attitude which I hadn't experienced. So I paid an extra 50% over the general cost of such a course so I could learn from Duane Cole. I had seen him lecture at Oshkosh and he was "revered" by all. It was a trip. Tons of tales; really good ones and a helluva experience. Not to mention that involuntary spin later where the training saved my bacon. And "no", I wasn't the PIC but I was the guy that recovered from that spin while the PIC was freaking out.

[@troycarpenter3675]

Duane was a nice man

[@sonnyburnett8725]

Met him in 1980 in Ft Worth, what nice guy. All during the seventies the FBO I worked at sold his book on acro and we would watch him do his show at Falcon Field many times. That rolling 360 always blew my mind.

[@michaelsimpson9779]

I had a copy of that book.... brilliant stuff

[@adityasingh1051]

​@@sonnyburnett8725 Hi, could you help with the name of the Book...

[@kczbluesman]

@@adityasingh1051 “Roll Around a Point: Aerobatics”

[@Leesbiz52]

Thanks for. making this video. Bobby was a long lost friend of mine since the days of the Buccaneer that he came to Mobile Al. to help me complete. He was a most giving gentle soul.

[@banalpedant41]

A friend brought the first Dragon flyer into Canada; as far as I know, I was the first to be towed behind it. Thank you for everything you did for the world of hang gliding Bobby Bailey. I'm certain you will be missed tremendously. A true legend of a man.

[@fyerfyter339]

A fantastic journey we might say was a career. Bobby most likely just thought of it as a chance to continue to do what he loved. He will be missed. RIP.

[@frisk151]

That is some of the coolest crabbing ever in the entry clip!! RIP Bobby!!! I've wanted to get a Dragonfly for a long time but never got around to it (yet)... Very grateful you shot the video! Thanks!

[@Rico11b]

He was a bold pilot and he could get an airplane to do some crazy things. A very awesome and humble person. R.I.P. Bobby!

[@jimmyhaley727]

but,, no old/bold pilots

[@57Jimmy]

@@jimmyhaley727he was both!

[@jackfrost2146]

@@jimmyhaley727 That only relates to pilots getting killed by doing crazy things beyond their ability. Bobby did nothing beyond his ability to cause this diaster. He was the victim of a misplaced bolt.

[@adamr9215]

@@jimmyhaley727I hate it when people say that. It just tells you that they know nothing about flying. Bold and crazy don’t mean the same thing, but bold is the opposite of meek. A meek pilot would be too slow to react to emergencies, but a bold pilot takes action immediately. You have to be bold to be a good pilot.

[@vicariousjohnson9823]

@@adamr9215 it’s just a saying.

[@JohnJohn-wt5ll]

Aviation has brought a lifetime of joy to me. I am sorry I missed out on Bobby. It is people like him that have brought the blessings in my life.

[@steveinoz8188]

In the 1990s he helped me out with a couple of free tows out of Mt Beauty Vic Aus. I had a Moyes Hang Glider and he and Moyes sponsored me and others with free tows. He was very helpful to me as a nervous pilot.

[@CG-cx9fv]

Thanks for all that you gave to aviation, Mr Bobby Bailey. You will be remembered. RiP.

[@2pointmandolin]

Thanks so much for making this video. I met Bobby through my brother Dixon who worked with him at Epcot during that crazy air/water show they did there. Later I would learn to hang glide with some of those guys behind a boat, but Bobby's invention, The Dragonfly, changed the sport forever. I was lucky enough to fly with Bobby in the front seat of his cooked shrimp colored personal Dragonfly and was also towed to cloud base by him many times. I had to give up hang gliding 16 years ago but i still work in the Town of Groveland and could watch his graceful acrobatics out the warehouse doors. I'm hoping he's teaching angels to do wingovers and flat spins in heaven.

[@WildernessForever]

❤

[@kglesq1]

@FloridaFlying, you did a beautiful job of telling this man's story. You managed to make the story all about who he was and the remarkable life he lived despite the recency and circumstances of his passing, which you handled with absolute class. Well done.

[@kasm10]

Wow such a loss. He seemed like a real special person. Thanks for putting this together

[@Clearofprop3430]

Rest in price to this legend! Glad I was able to fly with him.

[@sky173]

What a charming guy. Thanks for sharing this interview. I'm sure he'd be great to talk to. Thanks for sharing.

[@w13rdguy]

😢 Fascinating guy. I feel a loss, but a far greater gain now, having got his story 👍

[@kenanderson2002]

I've been an aviation nut for decades and I recall seeing tons of videos of Bobby but I had no idea this man's body of work was so diverse!!! RIP to the legend!

[@robertmatch6550]

I had not known of him. Excellent, well put together introduction and interview. An 'introview' and a tribute as well. WELL DONE.

[@portnuefflyer]

Didn't know him, but as a former HG pilot (well before the concept of towing via UL came into vogue) I had heard nothing but good about the Dragonfly bird. I'm also an old fart, been flying 52 years, HG's, UL's and fixed wing homebuilts, and the one thing that sticks in my mind is, no matter how experienced one is as a pilot, in fact the MORE experienced one is as a pilot, that evil bitch complacency never sleeps. The more hours you fly, mutiple decades, the more insidious the hazard of complacency is. I'm not typing this so much as to comment on his demise, but just as a reminder to myself.

[@bmepdoc9675]

"The more hours you fly, mutiple decades, the more insidious the hazard of complacency is" - - -> In stone

[@SVSky]

I towed behind him once when I had just gotten my aerotow rating. He took off and immediately reefed into a sharp turn, which continued.... Turns out he had dumped me off directly into a thermal. He waved me off and I kept climbing. Truly an amazing pilot, designer and man.

[@GlenSalmonMarine]

Very sad to hear about Bobby's accident, thank you for the terrific interview. I'll allways remember Bob as the quiet humble guy sitting over on his own when he was here in Australia. But put him in the Dragonfly he was the star attaction, just amazing to watch. I have wonderfull memories of Bobby after dropping us into a thermals out in Forbes and Hay then seeing him plumet and cork screw his way down 2000 ft for the next tow. His skill and grace landing in the most difficult conditions just extraordinary, just like watching a dragonfly! Thank you Bobby we'll miss you, my condolances and best wishes to all his family. 🙏

[@adventureswitharizonaart6117]

I tow behind those, I've never ridden in one. You met an icon. Basically everything I do when I tow was invented or refined by him.

[@gasdive]

I met Bill Moyes many times as he was both my auto electrician and builder of my hang gliders. I worked in the post office across the road from his shop and Vicky Moyes came in every day. Such a humble legend.

[@Xpyburnt_ndz]

So sad to hear of these things when a person is testing someone else's work to find a pointless neglected flaw that takes them from the world. RIP gr8 aviator Bobby!

[@mitchell5828]

Thank you so much for sharing this video- it means alot to those of us who knew him

[@thejammer3359]

He truly was a barnstormer when it came to this aircraft.

[@Fastal69]

What an incredible guy my thoughts go out to family and friends 😢 fly high Bobby

[@robertlafnear7034]

WOW... been away from the computer for a week and then I hear about this😭 I'm kinda sad... Love and Prayers for his family , his Dragonfly Videos were the best . R.I.P. Sir.🙏🙏🙏

[@TrikeAdventures]

Thanks for putting this great video together. You did it perfectly, capturing some life achievements in his own words and presenting in a way not many could do. This is an amazing video! Thanks Ken

[@Beltfedshooters]

I found this on Aero News about the accident: Shortly after his appearance at SUN n FUN 2024, where he was supporting the attendance of Pitman, Bailey reportedly was asked to test fly a customer-build Dragonfly out of the Groveland airport in Florida. Airport manager, Eric Williams, a friend of Bailey's for a number of decades, reported that a California customer brought the aircraft to the field for a test flight but allegedly did not complete the wing assembly properly. “The plane was not assembled correctly,” claimed Williams in local media reports. On April 19th, in the early afternoon, Bailey flew the aircraft but did not see that there was a 'bolt missing in the wing assembly,' and that, “He (Bailey) could not have seen that.” At an altitude estimated at 350 feet, the aircraft experienced a wing separation and the impact was not survivable.

[@waynewilliams8554]

@Beltfedshooters. I met Bobby about six years ago during a hang- gliding competition at Groveland. Just before sunset, the five days there, he would fire up his Dragonfly and put on a 15 to 20 minute one man aero show. Unbelievable what he could do with that aircraft. He will be missed. RIP Bobby!!

[@marttimattila9561]

Thank You for information that was a murder.

[@mattskustomkreations]

@@marttimattila9561…or possibly negligent homicide.

[@tomcoryell]

I just learned who Mr. Bailey was this morning only to find out tonight that he is gone. Goodbye to an extraordinary designer and pilot. One of the coolest aviation videos I have ever seen is the dreadlocks video.

[@kimber1911]

So there ARE Old and Bold pilots.

[@Lorrieboi]

They’re all flying agricultural operations with a beer in their hand

[@ericoschmitt]

There indeed are, I know of a hang glider pilot who has been into the sport for 46 years now, and I heard dozens of tales of the things he did over the years. He's still flying, now conservative and back to an intermediate easy to land and handle glider (Wills Wing Sport 3)

[@andyb.1026]

Well done in honouring Bobby, you did a fine job.. Blue sky's from Scotland 😢

[@TheBDD1970]

Great video, so sad to see that he is gone from us for now.

[@JoeKyser]

This video was so good. RIP Bobby

[@user-fv5yo5fi5c]

RIP Bobby. What a nice tribute to a legend. I know it sounds so corny, but it's the actual truth.Bobby died doing what he loved most in life. My old office mate Steve Fossett the adventurer dies the very same way. It's very sad, but these kid of people are just giants who stand out in our huge world.

[@premyslbenes5715]

Great guy, exellent pilot. I wish great blessings for Bobby.

[@BasketCase]

R.I.P Bob Bailey ❤ I had the honour to watch him in action at the Forbes Flatlands competition in Australia. Bob in the Dragonfly was really something special 😎

[@flyrobroy]

Awesome video man! And it's truly amazing that you go to capture some last great moments with Bobby...

[@ditch6389]

Met Bobby a few time and had been towed up by him many times. Such a great guy. He will be dearly missed among his friends and the flying community.

[@kevchilton908]

Thank you so much for capturing this very sepcial footage of such a legend and wonderful man! Blue skies, Bobby ❤

[@lizardog]

Thank you. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch this video until today. It's wonderful.

[@albertseabra9226]

What a fantastic and also sad story.

[@19sloper]

Thanks so much for doing this video. A quiet guy who was amazing and is relatively unknown. A real Legend as you said. Good job!

[@iansmith1556]

Lovely tribute to a great aircraft designer. Lovingly presented

[@calvinhenshaw2147]

thank you for sharing and filming.

[@dustinalexander4620]

Mad respect to you, your dedication to make this video. While i didn't know him, you did a great interview with him. Bravo

[@statwizard]

Thank you for sharing this video. RIP Mr. Bailey, Godspeed!

[@jefferyhudson4681]

Thank you for making this video and sharing on you tube.

[@robg3545]

What a great aircraft, a very sensitive piece, well done.

[@user-ny2bx8ez1c]

RIP Bobby. I started hang gliding in72, as well, and knew all about him, however we never met.

[@dennispoledna2438]

Spent some years in Navy Aviation. RIP, Bobby. You always knew that there are old pilots and there are bold pilots. There are few old, bold pilots. You kept going for the edges anyway. Respect.

[@adamr9215]

The only good pilots are bold. Bold is the opposite of meek, and a meek pilot would second guess themselves instead of reacting to an emergency, but a bold pilot reacts immediately. Anyone who says the old “there are no bold old pilots” is a hack that doesn’t know what they are talking about. You cannot be a good pilot without being bold.

[@dennispoledna2438]

@@adamr9215 Thanks for your thoughts. I guess I was just an unobservant young person during my service with VT-23, VS-41 and VAL-4.

[@adamr9215]

@@dennispoledna2438 Military flight training is full of propaganda to control pilots. I mean, the military teaches that taildraggers are uncontrollable and no one should fly them. But they admitted that they teach that lie to keep pilots from buying their own plane and flying in their off time. So yea, anything like that you learned in the military is a lie. Do some research, our military lies to pilots to keep them from flying outside of the military.

[@adamr9215]

@@dennispoledna2438 That’s easy. Our military has always used propaganda to control pilots. They teach their pilots that taildraggers are unsafe and no one should fly them, but that is 100% incorrect. They teach that because taildraggers are one of the cheapest planes you can buy, and they don’t want their pilots flying outside of their duty. They teach many things that are wrong to keep pilots doing what they want them to. It’s about control, not reality. The Navy and the Army are actually worse than the Air Force about giving their pilots bad info. I’ve helped quite a few former military pilots learn the truth. I’m a flight instructor that specializes in STOL and off airport landings, and have dealt with many people like you. They come in and learn that most of what they were taught is just BS.

[@hansecker876]

We lost a real legend - RIP, Bobby

[@TheWindGinProject]

Thank You for this wonderful video. Wow! Bobby Bailey did so much for aviation. I bet I have a few old hang gliding friends that knew him.

[@kevinlewis9151]

It's hard to have so much admiration and love for someone you can never meet.

[@bdtrauma01]

I was fortunate enough to meet Bobby a few years back in CA when he came to help build a Dragonfly with Ed Pitman. Both were legends in aviation. RIP.

[@mmb811]

Nice and Sad at the same time video, thanks for such a great presentation

[@90FF1]

Great interview and respectful. Thanks.

[@flat6fever680]

Great interview! You really got some good conversation there that is now preserved forever. I haven't flown in a DF but did spend time in a Drifter near Sebring FL. It was equipped with floats and we got to land and take off on an alligator filled lake lol. Took a few lessons. A nice craft and facility.

[@circusfactory]

what an incredible story. so glad you took the time to make the interview.

[@sloptop]

Died doing what he loved and was passionate about - fucking LEGEND, indeed.

[@daveevans5291]

Great tribute to a remarkable man. Thanks.

[@TerrifyHavoc]

We hope to be in the right place at the right time and maybe recognize it when we're there. But to capture that moment, that's truly rare. Bobby created memories for so many that are deep and lasting and grow stronger over time. You did a great job. Thank you.

[@Frizztone]

Thanks for sharing this!!!

[@427lucky]

Very well done and heartfelt tribute to a true aviator.

[@KuschallRacing]

so sad...another hero of innovation has left us....

[@korngarage7]

Very nice piece! Thank you!

[@trunkmonkey9417]

Exceptional honor to Bobby Baily. Thank you.

[@kennedysingh3916]

Watched from Old Harbour Jamaica 🇯🇲, sorry about what happened to Bobby.

[@PaulFrancis111]

Thank you for teaching the world Bobby, fly with the angels and rest in the clouds, blue skies and fair weather my friend.

[@PacificAirwave144]

Love and condolences to his family and friends. I've known is name since the early 90's. When the Dragonfly came out it was a game changer! Only a couple weeks ago I saw a KZbin video of him doing incredible aerobatics in one. Its tough to hear this news!

[@anthonygiglio9860]

Fantastic Video RIP❤

[@ak2nda695]

I don't know why this video popped up for me, but now I have to watch some Dragonfly videos.

[@MsRandiCook]

Thank you so much for making this video! ❤💔

[@wraitheful]

ok, that guy was cool (my old man got into gliders in the late 70’s and I like them too) Dragonfly looks amazing. Sorry about his accident, thanks for sharing the interview.

[@donzioldbuddy]

Flying with a BRS parachute just makes sense…RIP Bobby

[@entelin]

The dragonfly generally is equipped with one actually. Apparently this occurred quite low, but from the looks of it, technically high enough for the brs. It's a good question, but either way he would have had just seconds to pull that.

[@lauraharris8140]

Great Men are humble men. Thanks for a great video.

[@Odysseuss.]

That was well done mate. RIP Bobby.

[@Samrushtonblight]

Many an epic cross country flight has begun behind one of these aircraft. Vale Bob.

[@seanmccloskey7873]

I came across this video via recommended and I hope this man is at peace. I want to wish the woman who spoke highly of him, his friends, and family my sincere condolences. Rest in peace.

[@aipengineering7519]

Thanks for sharing this interview. My condolences to his friends and family. I live just over 10 miles north of Paradise Airsports / Wilotree Park. I often see ultralights flying over my house.

[@fly1327]

I didn't know before last week. I had very brief correspondence with him about flying the Dragonfly, me being a hang glider/sailplane/power pilot. Sad, but hoping he's happy back home.

[@AndreZA979]

Real aviators are a special breed. RIP and condolences to friends and family.

[@richardbodine7256]

Just heard the news of Bobby's passing. I had to privilege to fly with him. And I believe it was 2020 when they had the nationals at Hern Texas. He was in the process of traveling around beefing up the front leading edge. And I got to help him one evening. It was. A pleasure he will be missed.

[@hotliner2872]

RIP.... a worthwhile life well lived.

[@kenhurley4441]

I have a T-Bird II that I'm restoring and a KR2 that I'm restoring. I just got home from KC talking to the FAA about paperwork and I saw this video. Thanks for a great video! I'm gonna double check everything before I go flying!

[@madmarkstoys]

He was a good Boy Bobby Live life like a king

[@MSDOGS1976]

Thank you for posting this. I didn't know him but feel I have a little connection to what he loved....flying. My dad flew and rebuilt a small wrecked plane and I flew with him as a child. He loved flying too but the bug didn't bite me. He bought me a set of golf clubs when I was 13 and I think he was glad I went in that direction. I'm almost 70 and still play today. Bobby was a lucky one to do what he loved doing throughout life. We're not all fortunate to have a job that we really love. May he RIP.

[@WolfandCatUnite]

Great video. Thank you