Pilot speaks out after friend's near-death crash at Avalon Airshow

Three weeks after almost dying in a stunt plane crash at Avalon, veteran pilot Glenn Collins has “beaten the odds” and is on the road to recovery.

His team is now preparing for more airshows and a special aerobatic gesture to honour their mate.

Friend Paul Bennet is getting ready for an extra special performance next Sunday in the NSW Central West.

The skies above Mudgee will be filled with love to send a message 900 kilometres away to their mate in Melbourne. 

“We’ll do a love heart in the middle and dedicate it to Glenn Collins and his family,” Bennet said.

Collins was left in a critical condition when his stunt plane crashed at the Avalon Airshow three weeks ago. 

Bennet was in the sky with Collins at the time.

“I still didn’t realise, I don’t think the other guys did either,” Bennet said.

“We obviously had to get back together, so check one, check two, check three, check four.

“I got two and three and I didn’t get four.” 

Collins was in an induced coma for a week with horrific injuries to his spine and legs, but he has pulled through.

“He’s beaten the odds at the moment and we’re stoked about it,” Bennet said.

Collins remains in hospital where he continues his recovery.

While it is a long road ahead, there is hope one day the veteran pilot will take to the skies again.

“Hopefully he gets back in a plane,” Bennet said.

“It’s been amazing and the support has been sensational for everyone and especially Glenn and his family.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. 

The focus for Collins’ team is to put on a spectacular show. 

“He doesn’t want us to stop, he wants us to get going and almost pretend nothing ever happened,” Bennet said.

“He’s really pulled through a miracle, hasn’t he?”