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Tributes have been flying in after the "consummate gentleman" and "gifted aviator" credited with helping to bring a historic aircraft back to the island sadly passed away.
Peter 'Willy' Weber, who passed away peacefully at Jersey Hospice on 30 January, flew a wide variety of aircraft throughout his career.
The beloved husband, father and grandfather was also known as one of the main champions behind the campaign to bring a historic former Jersey Airlines De Havilland Heron back to the island.
Mr Weber used to fly Heron planes similar to the Duchess back in the early 60s, but by the time he started to work for Jersey Airlines in 1963, the Duchess had been sold to the UK Ministry of Defence.
After a stint as an Admiral’s barge, when the Duchess worked routes between Gibraltar and Malta, Mr Weber and his fellow aviation enthusiasts bought the plane back when it came up for auction in 1989.
Pictured: An archive image of the Heron. (Supplied by Mr Weber for a previous Express article)
After being used for sightseeing trips to France in the 90s and 00s, the Duchess started suffering technical difficulties. Becoming harder to maintain from Jersey, the aircraft was sent to a hangar in Coventry belonging to another local aviator.
More than a decade grounded in the hangar then followed - until a group of ambitious former pilots and aviation enthusiasts started their campaign to get her back in the skies.
After restoration that Mr Weber previously described as having "cost a proverbial arm and a leg", Mr Weber flew The Duchess back to her true home in 2018, alongside pilot Lee McConnell, who described it as a "privilege".
Mr McConnell was among the many islanders to pay tribute to Mr Weber following his passing, describing him as a "wonderful gentleman".
Matt Palmer later purchased the Heron to ensure it could be preserved.
Pictured: Mr Weber and Matt Palmer in front of the Heron at the Airport.
Recalling his interactions with Mr Weber, he said: "He was a remarkable man and without his efforts and persistence to bring the Heron back to Jersey we would not even have the opportunity that we have now.
"I am very sorry to hear of his passing."
But Mr Weber wasn't only known and loved for his efforts with the Heron, but roundly admired for both his character and aviation experience.
Jim Buckley, who was Chairman of the Aero Club when Mr Weber was on the committee, said: "Captain Willy Weber was a consummate gentleman in every sense of the word and he was also a very gifted aviator, which was displayed in the way he approached his profession.
"He flew a wide variety of aircraft in his career including Dakota's, Viscounts, Boeing 737's, 747's and of course the Heron.
"I once asked him which of the aircraft he had flown had been the most difficult, he laughed and said, 'A Dakota in a crosswind, in driving rain can be a bit sporty!'"
Mr Buckley continued: "First Officers and Flight Engineers who flew with him always described it as a pleasure and if he had to pass on his knowledge or advice it was always presented in a firm but gentle way backed up with solid reason."
"There was one occasion when he had a minor accident. He was taxiing out at Abingdon in the Heron, the Heron has a large wingspan, keeping faithfully to the centre line his port wingtip just touched a grass bank, not his fault but it earned him the nickname, 'Wingtips Willy!'
"There was no damage to the aircraft."
Mr Buckley added: "Willy Weber was a very kind man, he treated everyone he met equally, always interested in what they had to say, he was clever and very wise, a great sense of humour and we are all going to miss him.
"Blue skies Willy".
Mr Weber leaves behind a wife, Diane, and two sons, James and Richard. He was also a proud grandfather to Rebecca, Sam, Amelia and Gus.
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