Aeroplanes don’t just disappear, we are assured. However, in 2014 one did. Having left Malaysia for Beijing, flight MH370 never reached Vietnamese airspace as directed. Eventually bits of its debris were found near Africa’s coast, but no one has established with certainty what happened.

Not even Geoffrey Thomas, then aviation editor of The West Australian. His views were sought on aviation issues much less severe than crashes. There was an enormous Ukrainian plane making a spectacular landing in Perth . . . a major airline’s business collapsing . . . discontent and industrial action . . . he could be relied on to write informatively, becoming the go-to person for reporting on aviation events, nationally and internationally. A frequent contributor to Sunrise, Seven’s morning program, his career awards included Australasian aviation journalist of the year in 2001, 2009 and 2011.

As a break from aircraft drama, he wrote about his successful battle with prostate cancer and his need to lose weight. Geoffrey could be gently provocative. “Historically,” he wrote in 2022, “I have always battled weight, a tussle that started with a mother who was a superb cook and always insisted that I was a growing boy.”

Perhaps a few laps with players of his beloved Claremont Football Club could have helped with the slimming. A former West colleague, John Townsend, recalls that at 13 Geoffrey had marvelled at the Tigers’ remarkable 1964 WA grand final victory by four points over East Fremantle, who had earlier been miles ahead. “Geoffrey then got to know many of the Claremont players . . . he went on to arrange club reunions. His wife, Christine, was editor of a more recent book of mine,” he said.

Geoffrey never forgot the day an uncle who worked for an airline took him to Perth Airport to watch planes land and take off. The boy was hooked.

The walls of his bedroom at home in Dalkeith would be covered with photographs and magazine cuttings. The lad’s imagination soared and, after learning to use a camera, he captured images, largely but not solely, of aircraft. He collected model planes by the dozen.

Geoffrey James Thomas was born on September 9, 1951, eldest of three children of Una (nee McAlpine) and Ted Thomas.

Geoffrey attended Dalkeith Primary School, then Christ Church Grammar and finally Hollywood Senior High, leaving at 17 in 1968.

It wasn’t just football reunions that drew on his skills as host and master of ceremonies. Hundreds of Hollywood ex-students remember his adept arrangement of gatherings.

His first employer was a bank, but he heard of airline job possibilities in the Pilbara. He became a baggage handler and spreader of “Welcome aboard” announcements and safety demonstrations. He claimed to be Australia’s first male flight attendant, deflecting suggestions to shave his legs as female staff did.

Sharing North-West accommodation with single blokes was off-putting. Waves of cockroaches were unwelcome flyers. “Feral chaos” was Geoffrey’s overall assessment that brought laughter at his funeral at Karrakatta on June 17.

A job in Perth beckoned. He joined the fabrics company where his father was managing director, and was employed there when he married Rhonwen Boorman in 1975. The marriage ended in 1977. His second wife was Anne Grieve, with whom he had two sons. Geoffrey’s third marriage, in 2010, was to Christine Wells. They published 16 books during their 26 years together.

Geoffrey’s personable manner led to fruitful bonds with everyone from jumbo jet pilots to airline bosses to booking clerks. He was delighted to land a full-time position as aviation editor, after The West’s executives realised they needed Geoffrey’s reporting skills and contacts to compete with rivals. Front-page headlines flowed.

Geoffrey was nicknamed Biggles — alluding to escapades of the star pilot in books by Captain W.E. Johns

Geoffrey was nicknamed Biggles — alluding to escapades of the star pilot in books by Captain W.E. Johns — and was ever an energetic communicator and connector.

“An outstanding flight captain of the committee hosting reunions, in 2023 and 2025, of ex-West editorial staff,” says Kaye Hopkins, committee spokesperson. Geoffrey founded a website, Airline Ratings, and was involved with it for 12 years. Rotary International was among his spots as guest speaker.

Stephen Scourfield, The West’s travel editor, adds: “Though he mostly wrote for business and news pages, his enthusiasm for all things aviation spilled into travel pages. He expanded and explained.”

Alan Joyce, former head of Qantas, puts it succinctly: “Geoffrey was the trusted voice.”

Needing heart surgery, Geoffrey developed a fatal infection. He died on June 3, survived by Christine, sons Nick and Christopher,a stepson, Simon, and three step-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Lesley, and brother, Russell.

For more than 12 years Geoffrey monitored developments in the MH370 mystery. He addressed the agony felt by families of the 239 crew and passengers who were never seen again. For him their plight was not just a news report. It was unfinished business.

Geoffrey Thomas

Aviation editor and writer

Born: Perth, 1951

Died: Perth, aged 74