Moonee Ponds International Airport(YMEN)

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

Okay PPruners must be a few stories that can be told about Essendon Airport.

Nothing like standing on the tarmac and watching Oscar Victor Mike taxi out and take-off on a cold winter's night for one of the Gooney Bird flights.

The arrival and depature of a Learjet, or Citation or Gulfstream always looks impressive agianst the backdrop of Melbourne Skyline whether it be day or night.

The days of the mass departure by the Penguin flights, was always a way to spend a lazy afternoon, when the Doves, Navajo's, Cessna C402 would be heading off to Philip Island with the Japanese tourists.

Whatever happened to Skybird?

Fond memories of doing Link Training with Keith Hants while trying to unravel the mysteries of the ADF and holding patterns!

The night's of Ipec's Argosies going back and forth across Bass Strait.

The Disco in he main terminal.

Over to you Captain Wally, Fly-Spike and any other ppruners must be a few stories to be told.

[cac_sabre]

I guess I was about 5 and dad parked the car near the airport boundary somewhere. (I was a mad aeroplane tragic even then) a big beautiful shiny DC4 or 6 taxied passed, side window open, captains elbow hanging out, I was thrilled when the pilot returned my wave! A simple but good memory

[Wally Mk2]

..................sheeeez "CLX" cut that out will ya I have a tear in my eye from reading that post, ahhhh the memories:-)
Too many stories to tell here after 30 yrs of EN ops but the old Penguin flights where the best & I learnt the most about airman-ship/survival right there & then!:ok:. The DH104 (Dove) was typical Pommy CRAP..............flew beautifully but ergonomically was a night mare! One night returning back to base (EN) in the old Dove full of nipondenso's ( no disrespect meant) I had a young lady who was sitting up front with me (we crammed 'em in!13 POB) she leaned over me (wasn't all bad this night:}) & took a flash shot of the CBD skyline pretty much right in my face..................(they loved their cameras) for a little while there I was gunna ask her to take the controls as I could see sh1t!!!!!!.......as I said too many stories to tell here not enough scope to tell all:) We (the pilots) where still asked by MM to do a city orbit even in IMC for the happy Japs!. AlsoS/H ( & I mean second hand too!!!) champagne for the punters b4 we left for PID. They don't know how lucky they where to survive a ride in da old Dove!:}
"Skybird" had the biggest & fanciest rubber plants in their office, attracted us gringo's because we where impressed!:-) They had the most shinniest planes on-line, hardly any where there's I think.. Solo rates on VH WYG (for Eg) was $30 bucks!!!!.....God where did we go wrong from there?

Poor old KH may he rest in peace he was the most DTE guy I had ever met & real character when you where in that old steam driven Sim trying to concentrate on an NDB whilst he was talking away like there was no 2moro:) How he ever kept that old thing running I will never know! The stories he had alone ( DC6 engine off airframe over the water for one Eg) would take up the whole PPrune site for years!
AAA also remember them at EN, Hi Russ if yr still about:ok:

Loved the Disco, a real chick pick up joint for us lonely old men:} Doing joy flights out of the Disco of a night time, that was the cue for polishing the old ****** bars although with enough booze flowing you didn't need them anyway!:}
The Canberra bombers up at the Nth EN graveyard, often wandered around them for a look pre security BS, ahh those where the days............best I wipe the tears away here & let reality come filtering back:sad:


Wmk2:)

[QF A330]

The disco at Essendon Airport was called "The Cockpit" yes it was, running from late 70's until early to mid 80's and what a place it was, great views and plenty of beer and ladies.
It was from a brain cell depleted memory, open on Tues nights (ladies night, free entry) Thurs and Sunday and it closed around midnight.
Growing up on the flight path for the Western bound planes landing (I am not a pilot) is a memory I will never forget.
The early jets were very loud and we had to wait until they flew over before resuming a phone conversation.
Keep it open, as I can see both Tullamarine and Essendon plane movement from where we live now.
We live on the Eastern end of the runway and have not a worry at all from the airport traffic, and we know that and a few airline pilots live locally so we all should all form a "Keep Essendon Airport Alive" group.

[YPJT]

we all should all form a "Keep Essendon Airport Alive" group.
There's already one on facebook. :ok:

[yowieII]

Ah the Cockpit,then the Flitedeck, then Hangar 55. The .1 joyflights in the Chief, frozen meals at the Island, having to drive the Nippondensos back to their hotel, and still cant believe I got paid to fly the Great Ocean road at 500'. So many memories, most good:ok:

[john_tullamarine]

Oh dear ... memories, indeed ...

Skybird

John M, last I spoke with him up in Gisborne, was (is ?) busily making a quid in the legal eagle game .. no idea if he still does any flying. An interesting chap if ever there was one.

Keith Hants

(and Ken Fenton - did my initial I/F training with Ken when he was at AN)

lovely fellas both of them - gentlemen with high motivation for their student folk.

unravel the mysteries of the ADF

once you gave the RMI the flick and did it fixed card it became too easy ..

Ipec's Argosies going back and forth across Bass Strait

BBA, IPF, IPC and I think, from the fading brain cells, that BBA came back from Asia as IPA ? Phil Petersen, Dick Creak. Some interesting folk amongst that pilot group ... Keith, Jack, Denis, Terry S and Terry H, Russ, Baz, and a bunch of others ... They even had a DC3 at the start.

The Disco at the Cockpit

.. many nights spent there in disgraceful disarray with the usual cadre of reprobates .. fond memories of the entertainment afternoons ... Chad Morgan comes to mind .. a thoroughly interesting and entertaining chap.

the old Penguin flights where the best

I still think Jack Mac's test flights in Bob Eastgate's Mustang were the best. Can remember standing with the boys at the IPEC hangars when Jack departed for a quick circuit ... held the beast down and then a tactical transition to downwind .. magic stuff. Memories of Maurice's city flights and being grabbed to replace one of his pilots at the usual short notice .. hadn't been in that Chieftain before and couldn't find whatever switch was important at the time .. asked Maurie if he knew where it was through the DV window ... the passenger in the other seat didn't seem to notice or care.

Jess Smith's Melbourne Aircraft Maintenance and Omni Aviation

Ernie Shipanis' InterAir

Ralph Caponi's avionics business (how many know that Ralph originally flew for some time as an F/O with ANA before qualifying in medicine and, subsequently, electrical engineering ?)

Jim Small's fish business when AN couldn't drag him to work on the Goose. The establishment replaced by the Air Ambulance after Jim wrote himself off in the Shrike .. lovely machine to fly. I think I saw in the paper recently that Phil Hogan stills heads up the Air Ambulance operation ?

The DCA Flying Unit (interesting memories of dear old George)

Mike Fall's operation

Notty's GAM

Can still picture the original Inspector at PAW but can't recall his name after a couple of wines (red hair and he then went off flying LearJets as I recall) .. followed up by Darryl Knight who, last time I ran into him, was at MB instructing. Both fine chaps.

Ansair with its seat manufacturing business

Noel Lamont's AAA (subsequently Pascoe da Gama's). Can recall one night .. no, no ... we won't go there .. and someone else won the lottery, anyway. Nimbus Coaching and the origins of Trevor Thom's ATC books hark back to those days and, for those now of senior vintage who think they know who I am .. "waffle, waffle, waffle".

Wally Bednar

Alan Baskett

The origins of Flight Data Systems

And, with a bit of effort, I could bring to mind many others.

However, that list should give others enough of a start to recall many, many anecdotes relating to tales of derry doing ....

Time now to retire to another glass of fine red with some Wagner in the background and rock gently in my rocking chair contemplating times now long gone .... a brief smile from time to time ....

[Wally Mk2]

Gee "JT" that rocking chair must be getting a good work out there:) How many flasks of red have ya got?:)

I recall Jim's escapade into the Northcote Golf Links in VH-ALH many years ago, sad story that one, won't go there, no need to now.
Yep JM is up my way (Gisborne), I don't think he's grown any, well vertically anyway:} He was always good to us gringo's, made us feel important:ok:

Yes PH is part of the Vic Air Ambo's, nice guy easy to talk too with no doubt many stories to tell as well.

GAM.....Notty was an apprentice working for Exec's back in the late 70's. Skinny little kid (believe it or not) we used to make go get our morning tea's & lunches. Little did we think at the time that he would go on to own the most AC's in the Sth hemisphere. RIP Steve & thanks for doing our dirty work for us:ok:

"yowie" the 500 ft coastal jaunts down the coast where fun dropping into Peterborough (the more inland strip) to let off the Japs & at times Cobden. One day I was tasked to take 2 Japanese tourists along to the GOR (Great ocean Road) & it was one of those typical hot Melb days where the wind was howling from the Nth.
Down around lake Colac after bouncing around like a cork in an ocean for a while I smelt something that I think I will never 4get. I turned around only to see the female pax pretty much green as the grass & spew EVERYWHERE! I didn't know someone could redecorate Maurice's old AC that much with every type of rice meal known to mankind!:yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk: The hubby ( I assume) tapped me on the shoulder & pointed back behind us, didn't take long to realize that they wanted to go back even though we couldn't communicate language wise. I always wondered if they ever understood the cabin safety briefing, oh well every man for himself going down in a ball of flames I reckon!:} When back at EN the lady was carted off to hossy by ambulance i think, MM wanted to know if they said anything about wanting their money back.........god I had to laugh!


Gee where does it end...............I wouldn't give any of it back for one second, I'd hate to have no stories to tell after a lifetime of flying if i was a product of a cadet-ship pilot sausage factory, but I guess they'll never know anyway.............such is life!

Wmk2 reaches for the tissues:{

[dogcharlietree]

Poor old KH may he rest in peace he was the most DTE guy I had ever met & real character when you where in that old steam driven Sim trying to concentrate on an NDB whilst he was talking away like there was no 2moro How he ever kept that old thing running I will never know! The stories he had alone ( DC6 engine off airframe over the water for one Eg) would take up the whole PPRuNe site for years!

I vividly remember how you would be (sweating) conducting a DME homing in his Link, when the Link side door would open and K would ask how would you like your coffee and a couple of minutes later, whilst still sweating, this time doing a letdown, the door would open and the coffee handed to you. Talk about pressure and again most of the time he would be relating some of his experiences. Ah, the GOD's.

[john_tullamarine]

Both Keith and Ken were masters at the "have a coffee" workload overload increase .. most students didn't realise what the gameplan was all about.

Both managed to gauge what the student could handle in stylish fashion.

... we all had more than a fair share of sweaty Links and sims ...

[compressor stall]

I took my 93 year old grandmother to the airways museum a few months back as her dad was the first ATC at Essendon back in the 30's.

She looked at the big aerial photo of EN on the wall taken in the late 30's and she commented, "yes, that's just how I remember it. I used to play just there [pointing to a shack where the tanks are now] when dad was at work."

She recounted how the Holyman airways pilots used to come over to her house to socialise with the family (who lived off the end of 17) and how devastated they were when the two aircraft were lost in Bass Strait in the mid 30's as they knew each other so well.

Many other stories as well. I'm trying to get it all on tape - particularly the bits about growing up on Thursday Island then Broome (where my great great grandfather was a radio operator) as a little white girl in the 1920's.

[Stationair8]

Did some time in Keith's sim, always found him a great teacher but also had a few good stories to tell as well.

I asked about the DC-6 incident and he just said, "oh had a prop overspeed and then a problem with the engine as well". Over a coffee explained what happened and how they dealt with it, and the next day he bought in the cutting out of the Sun. An interesting article in one of the ultralight magazines a few years ago, including the DC-6 incident.

Still got the J.O Lancaster invoices from him for the simulator.

Wonder what happened to his immaculate Holden Kingswood?

The other story he told me was getting the job with Ansett after many years of trying, like every other unemployed RAAF pilot. The checkout in the DC-3 consisted of three circuits on the old cross strip at Essendon and then sent off on a night freighter.


Capt Wally, if the disco was still at the terminal you could slip down while on night shift, and show the chickey babes some flash moves!!!!

Imagine Capt Wally with a mullet and tight flares.

[Stationair8]

What Navaids did Essendon have prior to Tullamarine opening?

Was there an ILS onto runway 17?

[Wally Mk2]

Christ "S8" i'd be lucky to climb the stairs to get to the disco these days buddy:-)

His Kingswood made way for an immaculate Toyota Cressida which I took a look at for him a few times being an ex motor mech. Even though I don't drink coffee old Keith still made me one & tried to hand it into the cockpit whilst I was turning inbound on an NDB all the while talking:ok: The likes of Keith made EN, the place has no personality now, just a commercial precinct that has lost her soul:sad: God I found my old log book with KH as my Sim instructor 1983 for me. The AT-34, amazing high tech machinery:}
As far as I know S8 EN had the ILS on rwy 26 (as now), an NDB & a twin Loc for rwy 17 & an Aussie DME Ch 5 I think? Probably a DME homing proc I can't recall.


Wmk2

[Stationair8]

Having a look in the logbook, used to hire a Cessna 172 VH-HJY off Skybird in the mid 80's. Pretty little red one, cause they always go faster.

Very humble experience going to Skybird with all those ace pilots wearing more gold bars than one could poke a stick at.

Remeber the Cheyenne they operated for corporate charter?

Anyone remember the Expo at the airport in 1984 or 1985?

What happened to the Cessna C207 that did survey work out of Essendon?

[Stationair8]

Funny how the airport designers of the day, put a tram line in all the way to the terminal in the 1930's, yet here we are 2010 and they are still talking about a fast train line from Tullamarine to the CBD by 2025?

Anyone remember the Nord Mohawks that Par Avion run through Essendon during the pilots dispute?

[ramble on]

Geeez Station8,

Your mention of the Melbourne-Tulla rail link has got me reeallly wound up - where are my pills?

Warning - rant coming:-

I don't know what is going on in Australia.

With what we pay in taxes it is a joke that Tulla has no public transport link.

I had to get in a taxi the other day to go down to Essendon from Tulla and the taxi driver nearly spat in my face when he discovered how short a journey he was getting. I got out and went upstairs and got in a drop-off cab, who was real happy.

Melbourne, and most of the other Australian capitals are creaking at the seams and it shows in the attitudes of the general population now.

We all seem to have the pressure rages just simmering underneath the surface and it is let go with the smallest of catalysts - in traffic or in crowds, or when we get the bills that are never ending. Australians are no longer polite or well mannered, or seem to have pride.

Maybe its because we pay huge taxes plus GST and look at the sh1tty infrastructure.

The citylink tollways in Melbourne? FFS? The system is a serious p1sstake and ridiculous cost where in most other countries it would be free. And we just can't build a decent road. The system is like me - ready for a quadruple bypass.

Flinders St station is like a sewer.

Roads that resemble goat tracks, limited bike paths unless you live in the 'name' suburbs, trams and trains destroyed with graffiti and abuse.

Either the train or tram system should be buried underground, and the recovered arterial rail land used for proper road and bike links.

What is going on?

We are 100 years behind. Time for a revolution!

[john_tullamarine]

the taxi driver nearly spat in my face when he discovered how short a journey he was getting

Keep in mind that the driver has just spent probably 3-4 hours in the taxi holding pattern over past the freight sheds.

Simple courtesy consideration.

In a previous life I did numerous taxi trips from around the back of the airport to the terminal - about a third of the distance to Essendon. When departing from Tullamarine airport for a short trip, consider jumping in the cab at the departures, rather than arrivals, level just after the arriving taxi passenger gets out .. no complaints then.

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

So no ILS on runway 17, only the twin locater approach?

Must have been big balls stuff taking a B727/DC-9 into Essendon on a dirty wet night with a low cloud base then.

Did the B727/DC-9 use the 26 taxiway or did they have to backtrack for depature?

Ipec had a contract at one stage for G.J. Coles warehouse so consequently at Christmas time the Argosies were running around the clock to meet the demand.

Come on Ppruners must be few more stories lurking about Essendon.

[dogcharlietree]

Yep. Learnt many, many years ago that at Tulla, you go upstairs to Arrivals, ask the cabbie politely if they would like a short fare to EN and have never been turned down yet. :ok:

Come on Ppruners must be few more stories lurking about Essendon.

Ah yes there are, but fortunately, most of the characters are still with us, so to protect the (not so) innocent.....mum's the word.

[ZEEBEE]

Yep. Learnt many, many years ago that at Tulla, you go upstairs to Arrivals, ask the cabbie politely if they would like a short fare to EN and have never been turned down yet.

Used to do that all the time at Tulla to get to EN, but last time, the driver apologized and said he would like to, but would lose his license since the airport nazis had stopped that. :*

[john_tullamarine]

since the airport nazis had stopped that

For quite some years now the rule has been no pickups upstairs .. most of the regulars check that the Gestapo are elsewhere and jump a cab upstairs to do a favour to the poor guys who would otherwise get a wasted fare.

[Critical Reynolds No]

I have notice a little taxi stop near the main taxi stand that states small trips to Essendon etc. From memory it is to the left of the main area (coming out of the Qantas terminal).

[Stationair8]

Anyone remember the grey leather jackets that the Sunstate(Mildura) pilots had when they had the Victorian Air Ambulance Contract?

Anyone remember a company called Bizjets that run C402's and MetroII on RPT work out to Portland and also serviced a few ports in Tasmnia?

What about Foresstair that were the Partenavia agents for Australia?

[le Pingouin]

I was under the impression that it's a public road so the airport authorities have no such right. They tried it on & were put back in their box. I've never had a problem.

[bushy]

Some years ago in England we returned a rental car near heathrow, and were looking for a taxi to take us to a hotel. We ewre told there was no taxi available, and no public phones, but a shuttlebus went to Heathrow airport. I replied that we did not want to go to heathrow airport, but that made no dofference, so we went to Heathrow airport in the shuttlebus. At the airport there was a taxi dropping off pax and I asked if he could take us but he replied that he was not permitted to. So we went down to the taxi area and spoke to the uniformed taxi "organiser". He asked where we wanted to go and I replied we wanted to find a hotel nearby, and taxi drivers always know where they are. That was not good enough and would not be allowed. He listed hotels and I picked one, so he waved a cab over to take us. I told the driver that we did not have a booking, so may have to go on to another hotel if there was no vacancy. He replied that he was not permitted to do that. Fortunately we did get a room at that hotel, and were very pleased to fly out of the UK the following morning.
Is that what is developing here?? I hope not.

[Chief galah]

S8
I remember doing a flight in the RHS on Bizjets Metro to Devonport. Can't fix the era, but Neil Storan was at the helm that day. They ran two flights a day from memory.

Many flights done in DCA's F28's, some to Tassie, some on navaid checks. We just used to phone up the Flying Unit (Spiffing chaps) , or they would call up with a spare seat! Neat wheels up go-rounds from 50' agl.

The other approach to RWY 26 was the PLE LOC/DME. LOC being locator in those days, not localiser. Backtracking from a navaid renowned for it's inaccuracy must have been challenging. Became defunct with the removal of the DME (Ch5).

Cheers all.

[Stationair8]

Thanks for that Chief Galah, a lot of "experts" reckon that Bizjets didn't exist. We travelled from Essendon to Devonport on the Metro II VH-BIS in about 1980, and I was allowed to sit in the co-pilots seat. The Captain was Allen Walker who later worked for Kendalls on the Metro and Saab out of Melbourne for many years. Incidentally in those days the Metro's and Bandeirantes were flown single-pilot on RPT operations.

Thanks for the info on the navaids.

Did Essendon have a VOR as a primary navaid, or was it still the good old VAR?

[Anthill]

Alan Baskett



Speedair.

Alan sent me solo in the Citabria VH-SLO(W) in 1977. By recollection the hire charges were $28 solo/ $36 dual. I used to catch the tram up Mt Alexander rd. to the airport for my flying lesson.

Last I heard he was in WA on the RFDS contract , but that was 20+ years ago. After his accident, Alan always advised his students never to wear those blue 'Pilot's' jackets that everyone wears; the Nylon melts when it burns you see. I can see him in minds' eye right now, smoking a Marlbrough Gold. Lovely wife, Gwen and 2 very charming daughters who worked in the Flying School office..

The Cockpit--Ha! Full of Pilots, Posers, Wankers, Wouldbees and Office Girls...

Remember the blond check-in-chick from Flinders Island Airlines? (Lara??).

:ok:

[Trent 972]

Anthill Alan sent me solo in the Citabria VH-SLO(W) in 1977 33 years ago, which made Anthill age 44, eleven years old.
Well Done! young fella. You wouldn't lie about your age, would you?

[Anthill]

Me? Nahhhh..:p

[Chief galah]

The EN VAR was before my time. There was always a VOR on the field but it was never commissioned. A NOTAM existed for years stating it was on test using a "XP" ident.

Allen Walker was in ATC for a while. He never minded training the fresh faced dimwits who would turn up to plug in. Always a quiet gentleman, he seemed out of place in the egotistical circus of the time.

Anthill

One of the FAC safety officers used to love Saturday night shifts. He reckoned after 3 AM when the Cockpit Lounge closed, one could observe all sorts of sexual acrobatics being performed in the carpark.

CG

[djpil]

I did a tailwheel refresher in SLO with Alan in '77. Last flew SLO last year - it is going well.
Thanks for the memories John Tullamarine. What about the Browns?
Our Airtourer 100 was always told to report at Westgate at 1500 ft - never once made it to 1500 ft before we got to the bridge.

[Anthill]

The Browns - Didn't they run Galaxy Flying School??

Also Emu Flying School.

A job at Security Express was almost like winning the lottery, or even a job at Kendell.

I used to fly the PA18 and the PA25 out at The 'Marsh for a while and see a lot of the aircraft from EN come down the lane for Touch and Goes. Sometimes the guys used to come an buy a can of drink from the 'Pie-cart'. One guy came over in a Duchess with a mate of his and 2 v. nice looking girls for a look at the gliders. This guy had wings, sorry, WINGS! and 3 bar epps. Looked the part but I knew him as we were both doing CPL theory together. :hmm:

The Police Air Wing C172 VH-FUZ.

Graham Faux (rip) doing glide approaches with the engine REALLY shut down. :{

Didn't Laurie P. thump some drunk dill who tried to steal one of his aeroplanes and go for a joy ride one night? :D

I ferried the Super Cub from BCS to EN for a 100 hourly one day with a 40kt northerly blowing. I decended vertically onto the RWY35 threshold from about 300' a-la-helicopter, much to the mirth of the guys in the tower. I think it took me a good 10 mins to get from Westgate Bridge to EN that day.

DJ, is SLO still at Camden? I should have look for old time sake.:)

[boocs]

VH-UBU was the 207 doing aerial survey work and the other survey aircraft was C-320 VH-DRK, which had an endurance of almost 7 hours with all those fuel tanks. Run by AAA/Victorian Airlines.

b.

[john_tullamarine]

Alan Baskett.

Had plenty of time for Alan.

A now VERY senior chap at Rex and I did our Partenavia endorsements with Alan a week or two before the Gull household disaster. I guess our trip with the wives to Sydney and back would have been the last cross country the aircraft did ...

What about the Browns?

For whatever reason never had a lot to do with them but such as I did was fine.

never once made it to 1500 ft before we got to the bridge

That would be similar to when you and I were doing our aerobatics endorsements in it at Grovedale ? Fun machine but only if you weigh 3/5 of 5/8 ..

I used to fly the PA18 and the PA25

Can recall an occasion when I went for a ride in the Cub with one of the tug pilots ... steep turns in the preceding wake ... never told him that, by stretching a bit, I could see the altimeter over his shoulder. I think he really thought I was doing it on skill rather than rat cunning.

Graham Faux

Knew Graham well over a long period. One of those fairly skilled chaps who lacked a sufficient reserve of caution. Bit of a character, though.

Laurie P.

Had forgotten Laurie. A fine gentleman.

AAA/Victorian Airlines

Russ, Lorraine, Sue and John. Had a lot to do with them over the years.

[boocs]

Is Russ with Tiger? I know Ken's with V Australia, have a look here.

YouTube - V Australia's first Boeing 777-300ER Flight Simulator on 'Totally Wild' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4fpQiw-ofM)

b.

[djpil]

SLO is currently in SE Qld.
The Browns had some great parties.

[hei yu]

I've just finished reading "Associated Airlines-The first fifty years (1937-1987)".

It ends with ...
"with fifty years experience and customer appreciation behind it Associated Airlines can look to a future with a sense of challenge and to the past with a sense of pride"

What happened after 1987 ?

[Anthill]

I flew in and out of EN for a few years with a couple of SAL (Supplemental Air Line-for those who either cant remember the older CAO 82 or wern't born yet!)companies: Promair and Flinders Island Airlines.

Promair operated 3 PA31s to EN, MB, KI, FLI, LT, DV and Welshpool. They also had a very sad C182 for VFR charters (mainly fish and fruit and vegies). They had a pirate NDB at Welshpool. I dont know if anyone ever used it (269 khz). The 3 Navajos reeked of crayfish.

Flinders Island Airlines had headquarters at MB but did the "Paper Run" for the Herald and Weekly Times every afternoon. The route was EN-Swan Hill-Mildura-Ouyen-EN. It was a sackable offence to refer to the "Paper Run" as the Paper Run. I dont know why. :rolleyes: Everybody did as long as the boss wasn't around.

FIA had been around for about 40 years and had operated Beech18s and Ansons at one stage. The had the H&WT contract for most of this time until they went out of business in 1990.

Bob Bell at Stayward Air in Warnambool operated a PA31 (VH-SOW) on the WBL-EN-WBL run 2 x daily. This was bought out by FIA who operated EN-Warnambool-Hamilton and also EN-Stawell-Horsham for a while. VH-SOW had been landed gear-up at some stage and the rebuild was a bit odd: one engine nacelle pointed down and the other one up! Strangely, the aircraft flew straight so it must have been bent somewhere else in the airframe as well. :p

Photos: Beech D18S Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Flinders-Island-Airlines/Beech-D18S/1422194/&sid=3d5f18d04376d5b21cb06e31807edf7b)

[Stationair8]

Anyone remember the Esso flight department and the Citation VH-EMO?

[Wanderin_dave]

Yep, i know EMO well. Mate of mine used to look after the maintenance of her. Helped him tear her down and put her back together one year. Beautiful machine, probably the best maintained aircraft i've ever come across, there wasn't one part of her you couldn't use as a mirror. Flew something like 1 hour every morning and 1 hour every everning with an 11 seat interior (i think).

But back to reminiscing about YMEN, i used to love sitting up on that balcony with my CPL studies out working thru notes. I didn't even train there! Such a shame when that went off limits. Walking out to the end of those walk ways and watching Shortstops DC-3 lift off 35 stands out. Talking my way into GIV TGG, just walking up to Executives hangar and asking if i could have a look around "yeah, no worries, just take your shoes off if you go inside any of them". Oh and best of all the 727 that came in every year for maintenance Romeo Mike Something. Gold!:ok:

Shame how it's changed in the last 10 years. :(

[boocs]

RMX.

And yes, that stinks you can't sit out there these days. Or do you need an ASIC card for that??? :*

b.

[Teal]

Enjoyed my time there working in the control tower and briefing office in the 1970s - the variety of aircraft parked at or using the airport was pretty interesting. With Tulla taking all the RPT traffic the evening and night shifts were very relaxing. Former ATC Jack Russell had a funny story to tell after falling asleep on one of his night shifts in the 1960s:

YouTube - Essendon Airport Nostalgia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsxoZj7lnGk)

[Stationair8]

Watched RMX or Readymix as it was called depart out of Essendon on RWY26 for a right base onto 34 at Tulla.

Didn't Esso operate a Learjet and Merlin at one stage?

When did they close down the flight department?

Anyone remember Associated Airlines Gulfstream 1 VH-FLO?

Did CRA have their own flight department or was that part of Associated?

[Wally Mk2]

S8 I recall VH FLO & the Esso Merlin, now yr bringing back memories when the Merlin was handled (if I recall) by EAM, Exec Air Maint back when I was about in the mid to late 70's. We had the agencies for Enstrom choppers, Tobago's,(I recall them in wooden crates brand new) the Nomad N24 Searchmaster mods, oh boy age shall not weary them they say? BS I feel about a 100 yrs old now!:{
I also remember the Departments fleet of planes a few in which they did wheels up ldg's at MNG I think, G1000? Yep they (DCA) led the way:}


Wmk2:-)

[BULLDOG 248]

Did Bill Bell have Reg 203 approval to do the WBL-EN run to start with??? Vaguely remember him bringing in a load of WBL local pollies into EN to rally DCA and VH-SOW was hit by a bullet on the way in.

Stationair8..I do remember the G1. It was (still is) my favourite looking a/c.

Like MB, the gang in the Briefing office went beyond the call of duty to help you recieve the right notams, wx and submit a basic VFR full reporting flt plan.


Is Russ P. still flying????How old would he be now??

[Stationair8]

Good on your Captain Wally, I knew you would be good for a few stories on YMEN.

What was the name of Russ Pascoes flying school? Always have a chuckle when another operator refererred to him as Puss Rascoe. If you out there Russ in ppruneland, thanks for that advice many years ago at least you gave me an honest opinion and saved me a lot of dollars! Did Russ fly the Argosies for Ipec?

A mutual friends dad and grandfather worked at Air Express as casual loaders for some extra cash in the 70's, loading the Bristol Freighters and later the DC-4's for the nightly runs to Launceston and King Island. Muttered something about Essendon being a cold wet place on a winters night.

Remember the fixed wing section of the Police Air Wing?

[BULLDOG 248]

Russ had AAA I think??

The police had Cessna 400 series twin???? I dont remember if they were 402's or 404's????

What's happening to my brain????!!!!!:confused:

[Dangnammit]

What about when B.H's PA31 (I think) was broken into and started, causing havok 10-15 years ago. They did a crimestoppers ep for that.

I used to drive my car airside and take photos with the planes and keep it parked out there too. Security didn't exist at all

[Stationair8]

Police air wing had a Cessna C402, VH-PVA if my memory is correct.

Thanks for that Bulldog, AAA was also ay YMMB for a while as well.

[Propstop]

Dear old FLO ended her days at AKL in the 90s as I saw her there on the scrap heap after she was robbed of all useable parts which could be used on F27 (engine and gearbox etc.)

[john_tullamarine]

Did Russ fly the Argosies for Ipec?

Flew as F/O on Argosy and DC9 ending up an Argosy captain prior to 1989.

Police air wing had a Cessna C402

Memory is a tad fading. As I recall they started off with a brace of Shrikes and then into Conquests (?)

PVA was one of the Dauphin registrations

[QNIM]

Gday
First memory of Essendon was silver hangars in the south eastern corner (which was cut off for the Tulla freeway) and Tiger Moths or similar flying over head, they moved to Moorabbin when that opened. I spent quite a bit of time just watching the movements, the operators then were, TAA ANA Ansett and Southern Air with Doves Just below the tower. We could get in through a hole in the timber picket fence near the reservoir, now water tanks, that was left open for the workers living to the east, at times we could walk around to the north then get into the hangars, or get the little yellow Landy and get evicted. In the mid 60’s I was introduced to the tower controllers and spent many nights watching from the tower, the radar was a round green cathode tube in a little tent. On one occasion I remember a Viscount on approach to 17 the controller advised the pilot he was increasing intensity of the runway lights, the aircraft made an abrupt change in direction, they were lined up on Bulla Road. They were great days very little security, it was just like a big family. Unfortunately those days are over.
Cheers Q

[Chief galah]

Just a few of the thoughts from the old days -

Associated Airlines in my time had a G4, VH-ASG later replaced by VH-ASM I think, and three G1's VH-ASJ, VH-FLO and VH-CRA. When the G4 and G1's went they had a CL-60 VH-ASM, and a WW24 VH-ASR.

The police used a C441, VH-EVP, (later to become VH-OPM)? They also used a C414, VH-FKH for a while.
The SA police turned up one day in VH-COP, and as they taxied in our local wit said
"shouldn't that be Papa India Golf?" ..
"Uh, say again"..
"shouldn't that be Papa India Golf?"
Talk about stony bloody silence!
JT Don't believe they ever had Shrikes. And you would have wept tears of blood when the mechanical muncher turned the Argosy's into a pile of scrap aluminium.

The Esso boys..what a great bunch of old stagers! VH-EMO, twice a day, three times on Tuesday to WSL and back. 27 min EET planned no matter what the wind was doing. When based at SY, they ran a LJ35, VH-EMP, and being private class of ops, apparently spent many a hour in the BIK holding pattern.

Anyone remember Melbourne Aeronautics, and their prototype the Melbourne Mamba? What ever happened to that?

More to come when I can dredge it up

CG

[blackburn]

Chief:
ASG and ASM were G2's. ASM supplemented ASG late in the scheme of things so the two operated for a while. I think ASM replaced one of the G1’s.
One - can't remember which but it was probably ASG - was subsequently upgraded to something like a G3 (new wing plus probably upgraded engines and other goodies). The police may have borrowed a Shrike occasionally but I don’t remember them as a Shrike operator. The Mamba was Jess Smith’s design and I believe he occasionally still flies one of them. Will ask him next time I see him.
Blackburn

[Rabbit 1]

Self was a 'hangar rat' with Stillwells at Hangar 204 for a while. Great job and have fond memories there. Worked later at Associated clipping hedges, mowing lawns etc before getting my CPL and going north. I recall VH-ASG (known as 'G' by the engineers) was a Gulfstream IIB version. VH-ASR and FLO were the only three aircraft at that time. Is that pressurized 210 still parked outside?

[Stationair8]

VH-FLO what a mighty machine, Associated Airlines then to Rob Sherrards operation, then finally a freighter at one stage in the early 1990's.

Wasn't there another G1 around for while in the mid 80's?

[john_tullamarine]

Associated Airlines in my time had a G4

can't recall their ever having a GIV .. if my recollection is correct, and this echoes other posts, the two aircraft were GIIs but subsequently modified to GIIB ?

JT Don't believe they ever had Shrikes.

Certainly did - odds and sods of paperwork still in my archives from doing engineering work on them. That was right at the beinging of the operation when Neville Balding - he had the most delightful shock of red hair - was the brevet Inspector in Charge. As I recall both very presentable machines. VH-KAK rings a bell without checking into the dungeons. As I recall they didn't last terribly long with the PAW.

A quick google gives the official confirmation (http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=172).

I can recall that the standard briefing to the crims was along the line that they could step out any time they liked ... apparently most were very well behaved during transit flights.

And you would have wept tears of blood when the mechanical muncher turned the Argosy's into a pile of scrap aluminium.

not only would I have done so .. I most certainly did so ... I was standing on the apron adjacent when the muncher did its dreadful deeds. The then GM, whose name we need not recall, picked up (as I remember) something like $4k scrap value for the company ... a dreadful tragedy when there were various folk lining up to get gate guards out of the fleet and would have thrown in more dollars.

Anyone remember Melbourne Aeronautics, and their prototype the Melbourne Mamba?

Melbourne Aircraft Maintenance - Jess Smith's operation as noted elsewhere. Hence Melbourne Aircraft Maintenance Basic Aircraft. Jess actually designed the first iteration of the aircraft on his hangar floor in chalk with Graham Harvey (the sheetie who built it) and a couple of other reprobates who can remain nameless. Some fine folk involved with that project as it developed ... a great idea which really should have kicked along and made Jess a fistful of dollars. I can still recall sweating profusely during the wing sandbag structural tests ... every creak frightened the bejazzus out of us all. Merv (the stressman), throughout, was quite relaxed in his delightful way. Haven't spoken with Jess for a year or two but I guess he still is tied up with the aircraft work at Kangan ?

Rob Sherrard

... now there's an interesting fellow ...

[Tmbstory]

Wally Mk2:

Re your post no: 46, I think that I can recall an incident in a DCA Twin Turbo Prop at Wagga when the Crew had the idea, that to check Landing Chart information they were to close the throttles to the ground fine position at 50 feet AGL. The wing fuel tanks certainly increased their fuel leak rate.

Tmb

[hei yu]

According to Agnes Hannan's book "Associated Airlines the first 50 years" , ASG was converted to a G2B in 1986.

Does anyone have any info re AA's recent history (the nineties and the noughties) ?

[Stationair8]

Oxley Airlines ran a B200 Kingair on RPT between Essendon and Newcastle for a while in the early 1990's.

Another company was Shuttle Airlines with the Bandeirante VH-CRG, did both charter and night freight.

Can anyone recall the company that tried to run a Chieftain on RPT between Essendon and Canberra for a short while in the 1990's. The guy who ran it tried to set it up as a franchise, with one AOC and various routes that he leased out ?

Anyone remember Bare Air?

[uncle8]

Perhaps the cops should have used VH-SOW

[mad.tobias]

Associated Airlines had a G4 it's rego was ASQ

[john_tullamarine]

Associated Airlines had a G4 it's rego was ASQ

after my time at Essendon, I guess .. not doubt one of Paul, David, George, or whomever, will be a PPRuNer and comment.

[fl610]

Photos: Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV Gulfstream IV-SP Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Gulfstream-Aerospace-G-IV/0020328/&sid=bd7b241199eb8a1fed7c3d866d1c7ed9)

[Stationair8]

Was any serious consideration ever given to extending Essendon instead of building Tullamarine?

Who had the last flight out of Essendon, TAA or Ansett?

When was the last RPT international flight out of Essendon?

[john_tullamarine]

Was any serious consideration ever given to extending Essendon instead of building Tullamarine?

.. where did you forsee any opportunity to extend any of the runways without disproportionate penalty expense ?

Who had the last flight out of Essendon, TAA or Ansett?

Probably need to qualify the question. I don't recall which tail was last out during the transfer to Melbourne but you need to account for the periodic diversions into Essendon (usually due fog). No idea if this still occurs.

[Dog One]

DC3's on final for 35 with a 40 - 50 kt headwind!

[le Pingouin]

but you need to account for the periodic diversions into Essendon (usually due fog). No idea if this still occurs.It doesn't - they bugger off elsewhere. Are the runways/taxiways even up to it anymore?

[Stationair8]

Was the Government Aircraft Factories airstrip at Fishermans Bend inside the Essendon CTA in those days?

[john_tullamarine]

The Bend strip (http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/AC0145) ... now, you'll need a bedridden really old greybeard to go back that far ... (actually in the CAC area, as I recall, rather than GAF's).

A more interesting shot (http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/AC0263) ... which will bring a tear or two to Centaurus's eye.

I have it in mind that vestiges were still there in the late 60's as I have a faint recollection that there was talk of doing the initial Nomad flying there ? DJPil's memory may be better than mine on that one.

[djpil]

The photo on this page shows the Bend from the air (http://www.ozatwar.com/airfields/fishermensbendairfield.htm). Factories at the bottom of the pic - CAC on the left and GAF (DAP as it was then) on the right. The West Gate Bridge featured in those discussions about flying the Nomad from there.

[B772]

boocs and Bulldog 248. Last I heard Russ P is with Jetstar in NZ awaiting a slot in MEL.

[Brian Abraham]

Old memories being stirred here.
I recall VH-ASG (known as 'G' by the engineers) was a Gulfstream IIB version.
Here is the REAL VH-ASG

http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/electra/vhasg1.jpg

Happy memories of flying in the old girl as a teenager, along with its sister ship ABH, the Heron ASH, F-27 TFK (on lease from TAA), and the G1 ASJ. Pilots Bob Watts, Alan Frank, Reg Bagwell (during the war force landed a Lockheed 10 in the scrub around Derby way following an engine failure - aircraft retrieved undamaged), Jim Green, Len Diprose - now there is a man with a history of Australias early, early days of aviation, to wit,

1st April 1934 - Flying a DH61 from Carnarvon to Broome encountered bad weather following a cyclone. Arrived at Broome at 6:20PM in darkness and driving rain, on approach to land hit a car, unroofing it, and breaking the prop.

9th July 1935 - Flew the first Marylands to Adelaide service in Norman Brearleys West Australian Airways (first scheduled airline in Australia) brand new Dragon Six. A step up in comfort for the pilot from the open cockpit DH-66 Hercules he had been flying on the run.

23rd Nov 1938 - Australian National Airways - led two crews, comprising Captain, F/O and Engineer in each, on a trip from Essendon to Calcutta under charter to QANTAS Empire Airways to help transport Christmas mail to and from England. Was the first occasion a foreign built (non British) aircraft was used on the Empire Air Mail route. Aircraft used DC-3 (first in Australia) VH-UZK Kurana, later to crash 8 November 1948, on Mount Macedon.

[wwejosh]

Lots of great stories coming out of the airport here.
In the coming weeks I will be preparing my year twelve VCE oral presentation arguing "Essendon Airport should not be closed".
I'm trying to develop some strong arguments in it's defence, some opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Also, say hypothetically the airport was to close today. I would like to hear from people that are employed because of the airport and how a closure would effect you.

Any PM's or replies would be great, cheers

[Stationair8]

Were GA aircraft allowed into Essendon, prior to Tullamarine opening in 1971?

[PLovett]

Were GA aircraft allowed into Essendon, prior to Tullamarine opening in 1971?

Yes, but it was not encouraged IIRC.

[Centaurus]

A more interesting shot ... which will bring a tear or two to Centaurus's eye.

Not a bad beat up. From the book "Testing Time" by John Miles - page 29. He states: "The first Australian-built Lincoln was due to have its first test flight in 1946. Clarrie Scott, who had been one of the early G.A.F. test pilots, had just been appointed to the position of Service Manager of G.A.F. I therefore had been appointed Chief Test Pilot for G.A.F. When the Lincoln became due for test flight, Clarrie and I flew it. I was in the left-hand seat....

[Centaurus]

Remeber the Cheyenne they operated for corporate charter?


Remember it only too well if only because the AH was unreliable at times which didn't help in IMC.

[Stationair8]

Nice photos in a locally produced aviation magazine showing B707 Airforce 1, PanAm B707 and RAAF Convairs, Viscounts and Mysteres bringing in the VIP's for Harold Holts funeral in 1967.

Wonder want the local residents thought about the B707 departing over the suburbs leaving a trail of black smoke. Imagine the anti-airport brigade if that happened today!!!!

[saintmikeII]

Probably a Qantas Electra (L188) or maybe an Air NZ DC8-50 but these would have been in mid-60's.

[emeritus]

I recall being called out (late 70's) to ferry an Electra from En to ML that had diverted due fog.

Taxied out for 35 expecting a quick t/o and left base for 27..but not so.

Trip took 50 mins !

Must have been one of the last to use the Bend. Lobbed in there in Nov of 62in RHR a 182, to drop someone off. The E-W rwy was all that was useable and I recall taxiing to the eastern end of the rwy which disappeared under a factory.

From memory, construction may have already started on the WGB.

Really urinated off that I never took as many pics as I should have.

PS...anyone recall the BOAC comet that landed short on 35 at EN..yes 35!

Sixties sometime I think. The wheel marks were there for a long time . Cared for I s'pose by the groundsmen,
Emeritus.

[oicur12.again]

IPEC DC9 evening departure from 08.
Fallsy blasting off in BSJ.

Or the time the Skybird boys marshaled a RAAF Herc into one of the bays in front of the flying school instead of letting it proceed down to the hardstand at IPEC where a marshaller was waiting. Hilarious.

Graham Innes having a tough time one morning in a Mitsu with a runaway trim from 17.

[A37575]

Remeber the Cheyenne they operated for corporate charter

Rewmember it well because of the dodgy artificial horizon which showed a bank angle during straight and level in VMC so you knew it was crook. As far as I recall no one wrote up the defect but word of mouth warned pilots to be careful in IMC.

[Centaurus]

I did occasional moonlighting on a DC3 freighter with old Bill Brown of Brain and Brown fame. I think it was in the early Seventies. He told me to get comfortable in the copilots seat one dark early morning while he did a walk-around inspection. Then he hopped into the left seat and started the right engine which was ran OK. Then just as he moved the mixture to rich to catch the left engine there was an mighty bang from that direction. Bill looked through his glasses across to me and said WTF was that? I said "Dunno, Bill but sounds expensive" and while he was dithering as Bill did, I cut both mixtures.

Bill climbs from his seat and walked around the left engine and found a inch missing from the tip of a blade of the port prop. The culprit was the observers safety belt buckle hanging way out from the hamburger door (small freight door immediately behind the pilot). Bill hadn't done a very good walk-around inspection otherwise he would have seen the belt trapped under the bottom of the freight door and dangling from the door. As the port engine started, the belt was pulled into the prop which passed within inches of the hamburger door. Now you could see why the freight door was called the hamburger door.

I thoughts that's it - the prop blade is rooted so I may as well go back to bed at home. But Bill pulls out a metal file from somewhere and grabs a servicing stand and I watch in mouth-open amazement as he spent the next ten minutes filing the prop tip to iron out the jagged bits. After an exemplary career in the RAAF I now knew I was in GA.

We eventually got airborne and there was no vibration so Bill must have known what he was doing I guess. When we returned from Tassie to EN later that day he gave me the landing from the RH seat. Now I had been an instructor on RAAF Daks and thought I knew all about what surprises a student can do to you, but I tell you what, old Bill really caught me out after I had done a greaser in a strong northerly on 35. As the tail of the DC3 lowered the aircraft began to swing into the gusty crosswind and I was ready for it when suddenly the rudder totally jammed leaving us with no rudder control.

I was only able to keep it straight by harsh dabs on the starboard brake which set off the gear warning horn with the side strain. DC3's could do that to you sometimes in a strong crooswind as the tail came down. I couldn't move the rudder pedal and glanced down to find that bloody old Bill had deliberately engaged the automatic pilot shortly after touch down. The autopilot did its job only too well and centralised the rudder against my pedal pressure. I said to Bill WTF are you doing to me? I was only trying to help you sez Bill.

Now in the DC3 it was common practice to engage the autopilot while taxiing in a strong crosswind in order to stop the huge rudder surface from banging from side to side which you could not prevent with sheer leg power. Bill should have waited until the end of the landing roll and then asked me did I want him to engage the autopilot which I would have quite happy to accept.

But no - the bugger engaged the autopilot as I was trying to sort out the crosswind swing (the DC3 is a tail-dragger with all that means in a crosswind - meaning they swing harshly). So now the rudder was jammed central with 600 PSI hydraulic pressure holding the rudder fore and aft and me trying to use full rudder to keep straight. Thanks for nothing dear old Bill - but a lovely old codger for all that. He died many years ago.

[dogcharlietree]

IPEC DC9 evening departure from 08.
You should have seen it from inside the cockpit.
Quite a few leather washers made on those take-offs. :uhoh:

[dogcharlietree]

IPEC had the old B&B Argosy VH-BBA (from memory a 100 series), then bought VH-IPA and VH-IPB (200 series) from Gabon. DC9's were VH-IPC and VH-IPF. DC3 was VH-EWE.

[john_tullamarine]

Without digging into the archives to check how far the memory has drifted, I recollect that BBA went O/S with Seeds and Co for a while and then came back home as IPD ?

[dogcharlietree]

(shaking the cobwebs off.....) Damn it....I think you're correct.

[6317alan]

The one aeroplane that has not been mentioned that flew from Essendon are the B170 Bristol Freighter's that were operated by Air Express. They could actually be operated single pilot legally although A/A flew them 2 pilot with a "radio operator" in the second seat. They were a very good freighter and would carry about 1/2 as much again as a DC3 about 5-10 knots faster using about 1/3 more fuel. The only problem with them was that they were Very, Very NOISY inside the cockpit with the straight out exhaust from 1980 hp just outside your side window!
I have about 15 hours on them in my logbook although I have flown at least 10 times that, I could only book the hours with the Training Captains. My first flight was with a Captain that knew my tailwheel background and said, " Älan it's just like a big Auster" and it was certainly easy to handle using basic technique, and most Captains would fly leg for leg. The most memorable flight was on the return leg from Launceston and this Captain offered to do the walk around preflight and suggested that I settle myself in Left Hand Seat, All went well until just after settling in cruise when I was hand flying in actual IFR the aeroplane felt quite sensitive and it was quite hard work to fly accurately. It was daylight by the time we arrived back at YMEN and after breaking right from the 26 approach path to land on 17 on short final a company aeroplane waiting to T/O made some sort derogatory remark to us and then the tower wanted to know if we wanted to get out in a hurry. After parking we then found out why the comments and my difficulty flying the aeroplane was because the pilot access a fold down door about 2' x 3' was hanging down in airstream! My own built-in "Äirbrake"under the nose, however It was a good honest aeroplane! Interesting times!

[Wally Mk2]

...ahhh yes the old Bristol freighter, poor buggers who went to their watery grave mid 70's where no doubt wishing they where in something more powerful.
Gee just did a quick Google on the old Bristol..........Christ they have crashed more times than I have had hot meals since the 40's!

I also recall the old Canberra bombers up the nth end of the drome, I have an old photo of them looking derelict but never could figure out how to post pix here.
The Piagio twin piston job, the old Cat looking more like a Hills clothes line & the CB bombers along with many other old machines are now only memories in us old buggers fading minds!:)
That's when Australia was a nation of happy proud people who had an exciting & rewarding aviation industry..........that too is gone along with the ghosts of many a nice time:-)
Progress, the nail in the coffin for all things of the past:sad:

Wmk2

[john_tullamarine]

poor buggers who went to their watery grave mid 70's

brings back sad memories. The right seater I trained up for his various theory exams and he was set for a great career .. a very bright and talented young fellow.

[By George]

The Bristol went down on the 10th of May 1975. The Captain was Les Barnes, ex-ANSW, who came out of early retirement to go flying again.
After the accident they changed to a two pilot operation with both pilots holding an endorsement. I was in the group of new Co-Pilots and did my endorsement with Len Veger at Mangalore. I will always remember the line of cars parked on the highway watching this bellowing beast bounce around the circuit. It did indeed fly like a big Auster but with 56 inches of manifold pressure at 2800 rpm on take-off. No mixture controls, they had carby shut-off levers and automatic leaning. Auto-coarse, electrical tail-wheel lock, I could go on. Pommy madness in engineering at its very best. I enjoyed it, but it was kind of scary at times, especially at high weights during the winter nights. 'SJG' only had a LLZ with no G/s which made life difficult. We called the other one, 'ADL' "Adolf" which seemed very apt. It now lives behind a fence at the Moorabbin Air Museum were it can do no further harm.