Talair Reunion - Mayhem and the Aftermath!

[Torres]

This thread is under construction. Sort of. I think.......

When sobriety is established I'll post a web site address where the more respectible photographs taken at the reunion, can be uploaded.

OK. Link established. Go to Photo BucketShop (http://photobucket.com/login.php) and upload your photos.

User Name: Talair
Password: Talair

If I've done this right - you should be able to view the photos here (http://photobucket.com/albums/y154/Talair/).

[Chimbu chuckles]

As requested...it was an absolutely wonderfull evening and reurection this moaning...just most excellent all around.


The Gang (http://www.fototime.com/{018CFF3A-78DE-4779-BCAA-284F4A930447}/picture.JPG)

Peter, Ronny,Ann, Frank (http://www.fototime.com/{824FD0B9-6E54-4004-A8AD-2EA71E45EDD2}/picture.JPG)

Luke, Chuck, John,Frank (http://www.fototime.com/{2DD6C927-47E5-48BF-A569-F644F9621501}/picture.JPG)

Mike 'Jeeves' Butler and Ross fieldus (http://www.fototime.com/{C037DB61-35ED-4790-A165-EC5F0DB056E2}/picture.JPG)

Chuck

[Torres]

More detailed malicious lies later but briefly:

The reunion kicked off a day early with a reasonably well patronised p!ss up the night before. Around 10.00 pm Security arrived and suggested we "move on" due to noise complaints. Smooth talking Ron Buchanan not only saved the day - he had the bar reopened and a couple of cold cartons supplied on the deck.

Around 156 ex staff attended, including at least four past Chief Pilots - Don Sinclair, Waddles, Max and Wally. Don's undercarriage wasn't the best - probably caused by Talair engineers - so he sat out the night and sponged drinks - he hasn't changed! Don sends his warmest regards to all his old Talair mates.

Trader sent his best regards to tinpis, which really amazed everyone!

Max, still wearing the same cowboy boots and jeans said something about Junior, then we all clapped.

Sharpie was MC. Or something. Most of us could hear him but unless you stood on a chair you couldn't see him! He seems to be shrinking more everytime I see him.

Alky was flogging Skyland News for 20 bucks, or you could get a second hand, well read copy for 40 bucks from Trader Booth - with a free pen chucked in.

Prize for most changed: Fieldus.

Heavy weight prize: A draw between Dick and Big Foot.

I'll think of more lies when I fully recover.

[Woomera]

"....and reurection this moaning."

The mind boggles, Chuck. Tell us more...........

:}

Woomera

[Chimbu chuckles]

And just to prove the legend of Bigfoot is true (http://www.fototime.com/{E468BC1A-0D57-4AC4-919B-105CFBC4C0F0}/picture.JPG)

Orright it was a big night.....the last to leave after multitudinous double rum and cokes, and beers and red wine and...well you get the picture were myself, Wally Pendray, Bigfoot and Russell Fitzgerald....at 0420:E

Luke was apparently near to death this moaning...lapping the resort on the porcellin bus. Banging on his door at 11am was ugly:}

Alledgedly Mudgaurd was 'escorted' to his room the previous evening by security gaurds....something about "De fooking plumes and arrows fire was nuttin...you just fooking wait":ok:

5 ex Chief Pilots....ya forgot Bones.:p

Edited for file size...foot is big but not THAT big:uhoh:

[Torres]

5 ex Chief Pilots. Not bad - that's about 10% of the Chief Pilots we had over 40 years.......... :}

If you could believe the war stories, I counted around 230 sackings by Junior in 156 ex Talair staff present! :}

I omitted mentioning Mudguard's blue striped jacket. :yuk: :yuk:

No wonder some were chatting on the big porcelain telephone. Dunno if he got it from St Vinnies or nicked it from some poor Pommy school kid, but he certainly forgot to iron it! :E

And it was great to see some of the "old timers" from the early days of TAL, including Gerd Frank and Bill Sherwood Snr, both of whom flew DH84 Dragons and Cessna 170's for Territory Airlines in the 50's and early 60's.

Probably six or more Chief Pilots, Chuck. I have a feeling Gerd, Bill or both may have been past Chief Pilots.

[18-Wheeler]

Probably six or more Chief Pilots, Chuck. I have a feeling Gerd, Bill or both may have been past Chief Pilots.


Bill snr is my Dad, and yes he was Cheif Pilot in the early 60's I think. He said that Gred was the CP just before him.

[tinpis]

:p


Some dangerous looking buggers from Chimbus era!
No mention of food did anyone make it to dinner?
Think the plastic medic-alert bracelets were a good idea.

[balus]

ahhh Crashair - the times I spent in an aerated bandit looking for a hole in the clouds into Wau.....

pax only, but it does bring back memories.

[Torres]

Sharpie recons the next reunion should be in five years but I doubt they'll allow a p!ssup in a geriatric home for the mentally deranged!

:}

Actually tinpis, there was lashings of numba wan kai kai. Definately an improvement on the Hagen airport kitchen or Goroka Mess!

My only bitch was the bloody two foot wide bar and 150 thirsty patrons all trying to get a grog. A few smart thirsty guys simply propped up the bar making it very difficult for anyone else to get a beer. Ah well, think I got me share.

:ok:

[OzExpat]

I can't believe how many faces that I recognised among that lot. Good to see "Rusty" again. Lots of folks there who are still here too. Am I missing something or was Milesy among those "missing in action"?

I'll resist the temptation to suggest that Chuck seems to have put on a bit of weight tho! :E All I'll say is that it looks like life is agreeing with him! :D Wonder when I'm gunna catch up with Sharpey again... one of us might owe the other one a drink, or something. ;)

I'm not surprised that Chuck was among the last to leave, of course... :}

[Torres]

Shags definately wasn't MIA. Just keeping a low profile as he concentrated on getting his share of the free p!ss, plus as much of everyone else's he could in the limited time available.

:ok:

[OzExpat]

So Shags was in unfamiliar territory eh? Can't imagine how he'd cope with any limitation on his drinking time! :D

[Chimbu chuckles]

Yeah a few more Kg Ozex...it has reached the point I really need to pull my finger out and lose some...but if anyone posts a piccy of me next to Foot with the caption Bigfoot and Littlefoot I'll snot them:} :uhoh: :{ :ok:

[tinpis]

An event in aviaton history akin to the Battle of Britain and only 16 photties?

:{ :{

[TwoDogs]

Here! Here! Tinpis.....
It has been days now, surely enup time for the hangovers to have blown away (even for a bunch of "old codgers") and more than enup time to have organised a complete "gallery of rogues".
More photos please.

[OzExpat]

Just blame all those lunches that taily, forces you to have in the UK Chuck! :E

More photos please.
Maybe if there are a few more photos to come yet, we might find someone who was fast enough to catch Shags! :}

[Pinky the pilot]

Really sorry that I could'nt attend as an invitee courtesy of Torres, being an ex DZ driver. The usual excuse, finances!
Looks like I really missed out big time on a good time!:{ :{

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[Woomera]

More photos here. (http://users.bigpond.com/kdodd/tourism.htm)

:ok:

[tinpis]

:{ :{

They wont open !!!!

[Chimbu chuckles]

Bloody amazing how little some people have aged in the last 13 years since Talair closed...'Uncle Bob' Webster being a classic example...seen standing with Luke Stringer in the above piccies...he hasn't aged 30 seconds in all that time. And Mudguard hasn't changed much either...nor has he let his guard down...you can just imagine him saying "no fooking moles and picininis" ie no wives and children:D But we all know you're just an old softy Guard:ok:

It was a great night...really great...the only dissappointment was how many people didn't make it to the reunion for a variety of reasons. Good also to see a few people come along that, while not ex Talair as such, were definately part of the gang that made life so interesting and fun.

I'll put a bunch more piccies up later today.

Chuckles.

[jokova]

Mention of the C170 calls to mind what Keith told (back in our Frugal-liner days), of taxying Laurie's 170 past Goroka (?)Tower and extracting the long thin thing that was stowed for the express purpose of turning round and tapping on woolly nuts to duck down - of those crammed in that would embarrass the boss if true POB were known.

Extraneous to this thread, but I had a chuckle this morning reading Col 8 in the SMH (May 5 page 22.):
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


PARADISICAL TEMORA has a fine aviation museum, which only adds to it's undeniable charms, that Column 8 will sample soon. But the curators may be shocked by 'AW' of Newtown's confession. "All this talk of Temora has caused my ex-boyfriend and me much mirth. A few years back we found ourselves in this highly hospitable town... . One evening we stumbled across the local airport, closed and deserted. It must have been the much-discussed aura the town emits, but in a moment of amorous daring. . ." How best to put this? Well in the words of our romantic correspondent: "Any town where you can copulate on the airport runway is surely the most wonderful town in the world."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Thinks - 'Aahh. . .in a Tardis there'd be every chance of winding back to the place's EFTS days where many a sigh and many a groan doubtless carried on a still summer night's air.') ("Daddy, where did I come from?")

'. . . . Nora felt his hot breath on her cheek as he ripped the thin silk from . . . .' and that folks is only inserted here in memory of Peter Sellars and his skit on, not Temora, but Balham.

tasol

[OzExpat]

Yes they do tinned fish, click on each of the thumbnails and they open in the big picture underneath, on the same page. It's just modern technology mate! :p

Funny you should say that about Muddy, Chuck. I caught up with him a couple of years ago at the Cairns Dero and he hadn't had the good grace to age at all. If anything, the bugga looks even younger in the party pics - I wonder who his plastic surgeon is? :D

[Sharpie]

Yes Torres,
me thinks that 5 years will be too long and may I suggest 2009 is far enough away to blow out the cobwebs of time.

It is a medical fact that you continue to grow until around 26 years of age, and shrink thereafter!

As Alkie Mal once said, Sharpie must be around 110 years old to have shrunk so much. But of course there are times when even the Borneo bushmen find lack of height an advantage.

Large, or shall we say Richard Broomhead at Sundays brekkie in dulcet tomes stated, "Sharpie, your Pidgin was rat--t 40 years ago and is still Rat--t!" Tanks Dick. Anyway, it was great that Slapsie picked up and spoke how we all felt for RDB and the years working for him. Thanks Max.

Great to see a grand bunch of people from different eras encompassing the best and maybe worst of PNG aviation. Sad that we did not have Jasper or Billy Johns in attendance. Better luck next time.

Can we con Torres into having Sinclair write Volume 4 of the PNG Aviation saga to bring us all up to date on the happenings over the past 10 years. What wouyld such a tome cost Torres?

Sorry that I can not contribute to the Rogues Gallery but someone scored a good digital camera off me before I got to the 'Do'.

Ozexpat: Yes. I did get to POM and wandered down the corridors of all knowledge looking for life! Alas, no one at home. Even John Reagan was out. The blighter must have known that I was in town.

I did manage to bale-up Bernie at the Temple of Eros on Monday night for a few gargles but no-one seemed to recall when Ozexpat last visited that mighty establishment. There was one Wichetygrub within the 'cone of silence' entertaining a few fair young maidens, possibly regailing them with stories of deeringdo, rock filled mountains or maybe foam filled mattresses.

Now that I am back in Subic, one's alcohol level can return to normal.

Thanks to everyone for a really great night and Mudguards jacket did appear to be a relic from alcatraz or buchenwald!:D

[Chimbu chuckles]

:}

Maski wari lik lik masta..the thought that counts....and the booze wot prolly didn't.

To save time pasting myriad URLs here are all my picks...click on them and you'll get a caption with names of the guilty...one with me and a huge wet spot on my shirt was after I got caught within spray distance of Bigfoot and his desert:E


Talair reunion (http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?userid={DB64806F-4B23-4D7E-95D8-48C52DDD261C}&AlbumId={3363A8AC-22FB-4CF8-A7C3-435A48B74160}&GroupId={537D2AD5-F616-4B7E-A052-FE61ED083CDC})

[bulolobob]

Chimbu

Obviously yours and your mates reputations preceded you - PLASTIC cups for the beer! :p

Cheers

[Torres]

Chuck.

Nice pics. I thought the stage props - milk shake containers - in photo 3 was a nice touch. :ok:

I think you will find the one on the left in photo 4 is Robin Mead.

Sharpie.

Seeing as you raised the point, Mudguard's jacket looked like some thing one would buy from a souvenir shop at Auschwitz! :}

Unfortunately I doubt we will get Jim Sinclair to write another edition of Balus. I spoke to him a week or two ago and he was starting his biggest book yet - the history of the Highlands. I know Junior's contribution to the cost of Balus and I think it would be beyond our means.

Perhaps a lik lik reunion in a year or two could be a good planning committee for 2009?

[Chimbu chuckles]

Thanks for the correction...I only met him properly for the first time the other night, and I might have been less than sober at the time...but I don't remember...although I have a very vague recollection of maybe meeting him once back in the mid 80s...but I think he was leaving as I arrived in PNG.

I'd vote for a biennial reunion too...I think 5 yrs is too long...if we wait another 5 yrs Sharpie will only be two foot tall:}

bulolobob I think we can rest assured that the management of Rydges had not heard about the last Talair pissup...if they had we might have been looking for alternative digs:} The last 'official' Talair pissup that I am aware of happened when we had the 'Dash 8 Go Pinis' party in the Talair 'Dreamworld' compound in Moresby. Highlights were someone (who was there the other night) driving a Bandit through the compound between the houses and straight over the hauswin by the pool...where Al Craigie DCA Boss(who was there the other night) was sitting sipping a beer with then Chief Pilot Drew Salter (who was not there the other night). "Chuck tell me that was not one of ours:ugh: " But Dude that would be lieing:D " Later in the evening there was an upside down drinking competition where two individuals, one of whom now is a CASA FOI in Townsville, ended up hanging semi naked by their knees from the hauswin roof with foaming beers stuck outa their arse cracks. Things then ratcheted up a notch when the aforementioned Bandit pilot tried to jump the pool on someone's 90cc Posty Bike...with mixed results:ok: As a side note you'd be amazed how long the hazard lights keep working underwater.

As we arrived at Rydges last saturday the aforemention bandit driving evil keneval wannabee suggested the evening was either going to be like watching paint dry or we'd all end up in jail....I had wondered myself what the maturing effect of 13 years would be...either a great evening of convivial drinking and conversation...or a bunch of old bush pilots (lets face it the youngest ex Talair pilots are now 40+) trying to recreate their youthfull hijinks....thankfully it was the former...although the later woulda been fun too:E

If there was a downside to the evening it was the constant badgering efforts of the Rydges Staff to corale us into areas where we wouldn't upset the other hotel patrons...thankfully one bar staff member gave up and we cranked up the juke box and rocked on until 4 am...well a few of us did...the number of times Shirley Van Horck got dropped on the floor while 'dancing' with sundry pilots and instantly bounced back for more was quite amazing...she must of ached all over the next day. I got a severe talking to by one bar maid when I slapped my hand on the bar top several times and requested her assitance in providing me with alcoholic libations..."but can I have a double rum and coke anyway?":ouch:

Twas a great evening....we shouldn't wait 5 years to do it again.

Chuckles.

[tinpis]

:p

Anyway, it was great that Slapsie picked up and spoke how we all felt for RDB and the years working for him. Thanks Max.


I'd like to hear that :}

[18-Wheeler]

More info from the old bugger, Bill S the Chief Pilot of the late 50's.
He wrote in an email ->
"Re the TAL thing.
I arrived at Garoka on the 30th of March 1959, Gerd Franks was the Chief and only Pilot. The old 170 GKA was the only a/c , there was a Dragon inside the MAL hanger dissembled and up against the north wall of the hanger. Gerd left TAL around June 1959 and Nevil Hardgraves arrived and was posted to Mendi. I was fortunate to get employment with TAA when they took over from Qantas's internal operations 1st July 1960. Last flight with Tal was 16th of June 1960, still in the faithfull GKA . During this time Junior had imported three second hand 180s GKB/C/D. The Pilots were Niel Williams , John Bayles , Nevil Hardgreaves, I had three years flying the single engined Otter round the Highlands, and then moved to Brisbane."

So there ya go, for the older blokes.

[tinpis]

Thanks for sharing that 18 wheeler.
Christ a 170 would never be "VFR on top" you would be constantly committed to the weeds.

I dont know that the Otter would have been the weapon of choice for that matter either ?

Well I can recognise about five in the photos anyone got the 60s and 70s mob on film?

[OzExpat]

Sharpie... If you were wandering around the "hallowed halls" on Monday, all I can think is that it was either lunchtime, or somewhere between 09:00 and 10:30, when I was in a meeting in the Other Airports Conference Room for the debrief of last week's calibration efforts.

I suspect that the last time I was at the new Temple would've been the Aero Club reunion in 2000. Might've been there once since then... :uhoh:

Great photos Chuck. Now I understand why you were among the last to leave - too busy taking photos to have a drink? :D Lots of extra names that I recall from earlier times, though the corresponding faces have changed a bit... :}

Life seems to have treated Granger VERY well indeed eh? ;)

[18-Wheeler]

Christ a 170 would never be "VFR on top" you would be constantly committed to the weeds.

I dont know that the Otter would have been the weapon of choice for that matter either ?


I remember him telling me how he used to fly the single-engined Otter at about 38 kts just above the trees, in cloud, along the tracks to the vollages, then turn onto the runway - He knew where they were!

[Animalclub]

I thought Bill senior was also a DC3 pilot. Maybe my mind's gone into senile decay... I did kill a few brain cells Saturday!!

Didn't El Partridge land a single engined Otter in a swamp? It apparantly floated very well. The story goes that Len Cooper (TAA Engineering Manager) was in the party that went out on rescue and from atop the Otter wing was continuously firing his pistol at those barking "dogs"... methinks something along the puk puk lines.

[Torres]

18-Wheeler. That's about what your Dad wrote me 25 years ago, all that correspondence and photos being passed on to Jim Sinclair at the 30th Birthday.

The DH84 your Dad recalls in the hangar (the rego eludes me - may have been VH-AAC or BDC?) was bought as a wreck by TAL and never flew again. Sadly it's buried somewhere at the Goroka tip (along with the three wheel Meserchmit car - who remembers that?).

The last operational Dragon was VH-AON, flown to Australia in August 1958 by Dick Cresswell, that aircraft last heard of, preserved, at Wodonga.

My one regret now is that we didn't get a photo of all the ex Chief Pilots, together, at the reunion. Doubt we ever will now. :ugh:

A number of people have asked where they can get copies of "Balus". Sadly, they are as scarse as hens teeth - necessary to search trough the online used book shops and auctions and don't be surprised at $100 per book, $500 for the set. have however located a few used copies of other PNG books by Jim Sinclair (including a couple of copies of Outside Man - the story of Jack Hides). PM me if you want details.

[tinpis]

I liked the bit in The Outside Man when Jack-a-Hides knocks seven shades of ****e out of Errol Flynn in the old Papuan hotel.
:}

[18-Wheeler]

I thought Bill senior was also a DC3 pilot. Maybe my mind's gone into senile decay... I did kill a few brain cells Saturday!!


Yes he was, though for TAA in the early 60's in QLD.




18-Wheeler. That's about what your Dad wrote me 25 years ago, all that correspondence and photos being passed on to Jim Sinclair at the 30th Birthday.

The DH84 your Dad recalls in the hangar (the rego eludes me - may have been VH-AAC or BDC?) was bought as a wreck by TAL and never flew again. Sadly it's buried somewhere at the Goroka tip (along with the three wheel Meserchmit car - who remembers that?).

Ah-ha!
I know he reads this thread, so hopefully he might give out some more info.

[tinpis]

Torres who got the old 210 (with struts) at the back of the GKA hangar?

[Sharpie]

OZEX: Yep. It was before 'Belo' and I was surprised to see all the windows covered in ONC's, old newspapers or whatever. I assume to keep prying eyes from seeing everyone working like crazy!

I now agree that five years is too long and two years should give sufficient time to get the act together. Do we put the weights on Kevin to do it again? I nominate him as I believe that he did a pretty good job this time.

Let's get a few more of the stories from all, along with photo's and surely if Sinclair can not do it, then maybe SkyLand can come up with a bigger edition. Just an idea. Come on Alky what do you say and at an individual cost lighter on the pocket than 4 packets of fags!

Womera. Can we post the list of ex Talair employees to hopefully get a better record?
Looie.

[Torres]

"Torres who got the old 210 (with struts) at the back of the GKA hangar?"

Don't remember a strutted 210. Are you talking about the Cessna 210-5 - a gutless wonder? Went to Bundi once with JA (of Tari Gap prang fame) and a Japanese film crew. Wouldn't perform - back at Goroka Cranky Frank determined the sole function of one cylinder was to increase friction!!

Thought my final days had come........... :{

Dunno who got that - but I feel sorry for them.......... :E

[Woomera]

Shorty .... sorry, Sharpie. Can't post the lists here - way too big and some past staff, perpetually on the run from multiple ex wives, may not appreciate their names up in lights.

I suggest Kev add the list of names to his web site. Could post the link here?

I support two years to the next TAL/Talair bash, but can we make sure it's somewhere we can partake of the local liquid refreshment at normal, sane early morning hours without being shoved around by Security?

Maybe also invite ex Solair, Air Mel and Flight West staff?

I second Kev's nomination as Convener!!

[tinpis]

:p

Why not have it in a place that KNOWS how to party?
DARWHINE.

Everythings illegal in Qweensland.:}

[Chimbu chuckles]

Krabi is pretty central:E

Just trying to be a bit considerate towards the ex Talair staff currently employed at Ryanair...both of em...not to mention one in DHL Bahrain and Skidler in EK...bug-er me the idea just gets betterer and betterer:ok: :}

Chuckles

[tinpis]

Waddles I can recognise I last saw him climbing into his beloved GKX push pull for his usual afternoon IFR trip Chimbu to Goroka and back :p

Bob Ivanow I knew as a teenager in Mendi he now looks like his Dad :}

The face on the right is familiar who might that be?

Waddles , Bob , and ??????? (http://photobucket.com/albums/y154/Talair/?action=view&current=WaddlesBobIvanow.jpg)


Oh...heeheehee..can read his name badge.....:8

[tail wheel]

Thirteen years have passed and there is talk of another Talair reunion.

Details? :confused:

[tail wheel]

Now current in PPRuNe. God knows why............. :} :}