27th Jan 2019, 13:21 - Wikipost
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A thread where ex PNG geriatrics lapuns and long longs can live in the dim distant past.
Where tall stories are accepted as fact. War stories are applauded. Grab a Brownie, pull up a story and join in a trip down memory lane!!! 
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PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok
Silly Old Git
Maxy and the Talair guys in Lae in '83 were building a raft in that old Macair hangar in CAC Sabres photo. What were they going to do with that? Baron salvage? 
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expat6974........
Gary Honour had a Datsun Fairlady sports in Lae...could that have been the Alfa ?.
cac_sabre....great photos , bring back pleasant memories . Did Cedric really fit 3 plantation labour recruits in the pod ?.
Gary Honour had a Datsun Fairlady sports in Lae...could that have been the Alfa ?.
cac_sabre....great photos , bring back pleasant memories . Did Cedric really fit 3 plantation labour recruits in the pod ?.
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I remember that Bandit prang in POM, Max was sure glad he had invested in a good pair of glass shattering cowboy boots.
Enjoyed the photos cac-sabre, I flew the C206 SEK, based out of Tabubil for a few months in 1979 at the end of the Kennecott feasibility study. This bird and I became close friends in the days pre GPS, TAWS etc. The only other aircraft that came to Tabubil was the weekly Twotter freezer run from POM, usually flown by Dangerous Dave, (now there's a legend.)
Enjoyed the photos cac-sabre, I flew the C206 SEK, based out of Tabubil for a few months in 1979 at the end of the Kennecott feasibility study. This bird and I became close friends in the days pre GPS, TAWS etc. The only other aircraft that came to Tabubil was the weekly Twotter freezer run from POM, usually flown by Dangerous Dave, (now there's a legend.)
Retired Tiger pilot
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Tinpis + Biggsie.
Got me on that one. Te aztec was reputed to have full wing tanks plus a couple of 44's in the cabin, sufficient fuel for a long haul.
I think that we will have to wait for Biggsie to come clean now that he is out and reveal all.
If the plane did go down, it may stay unfound for many years like the Patair P166B and many wartime stuff that went-in and not shot down.
I believe that all png operators should install the NZ "SPOT Tracking System" along with the elt.epirb or whatever. at least you will have a better idea of where the hull is.
I think that we will have to wait for Biggsie to come clean now that he is out and reveal all.
If the plane did go down, it may stay unfound for many years like the Patair P166B and many wartime stuff that went-in and not shot down.
I believe that all png operators should install the NZ "SPOT Tracking System" along with the elt.epirb or whatever. at least you will have a better idea of where the hull is.
Grandpa Aerotart
You're right, I didn't fly any of the Talair machines that had been crashed before I joined 
RDL was an DHC6-300 when I flew it - forgot about the Bandit BBQ. What a good aeroplane the Bandit was for Talair - you'd struggle to fault Dennis' aircraft choices.
Checked my log book and the BN2 Simbu Aviation bought from Cecil Chee was CBE not NAM. No idea why NAM rang a bell - other than the good old days competing with Morobe Airways in the Monghe Valley when Paul Seeto and Mac Lee were flying it. More fun than should be legal - and some of it wasn't.
RDL was an DHC6-300 when I flew it - forgot about the Bandit BBQ. What a good aeroplane the Bandit was for Talair - you'd struggle to fault Dennis' aircraft choices.Checked my log book and the BN2 Simbu Aviation bought from Cecil Chee was CBE not NAM. No idea why NAM rang a bell - other than the good old days competing with Morobe Airways in the Monghe Valley when Paul Seeto and Mac Lee were flying it. More fun than should be legal - and some of it wasn't.
Silly Old Git
Be hard to find something interesting to natter about the 767 wouldnt it Chuck?
"There we were at 390 and the buggers wanted us to come DOWN to 350! Well I took the comms off the FO quicksmart...." lol
"There we were at 390 and the buggers wanted us to come DOWN to 350! Well I took the comms off the FO quicksmart...." lol
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Porters in Nuguinea
A question for the old hands -
I'm flying porters across the border in Jaya where their well received and quite well represented (20 or so airframes with more to come).
I know Telair had 2 converted to "Turbo-porters" and was wondering why they never really got a foot-hold in the PNG scene?
I'm flying porters across the border in Jaya where their well received and quite well represented (20 or so airframes with more to come).
I know Telair had 2 converted to "Turbo-porters" and was wondering why they never really got a foot-hold in the PNG scene?
Pilatus Porter
Good to hear Porters are popular across the border. I always wanted to fly one, but never got the chance.
Talair actually only had one Turbo Porter (P2-SEA, PT6-20 powered). The other piston powered Porter (Lycoming GSO-480) came to a sticky end during crew training at Goroka, and thereafter sat by the fence for many years. I believe it was always planned to convert it to PT6 power as well, but some issue precluded this.
As to their popularity, I think the ready availability of cheaper piston-powered singles limited the appeal of the Porter, as well as finding pilots with sufficient skill in tailwheel flying. I would suggest that about half the pilots who flew the Porter in my time with Talair scratched the paint in one way or another. No real reflection on the crews; just an acknowledgement that the Porterflew into some particularly crappy strips.
On the other hand, the Islander was cheaper to buy (and insure), easier to fly, and carried similar loads (remember avgas was much cheaper back then).
I still want to fly a Porter though............
Talair actually only had one Turbo Porter (P2-SEA, PT6-20 powered). The other piston powered Porter (Lycoming GSO-480) came to a sticky end during crew training at Goroka, and thereafter sat by the fence for many years. I believe it was always planned to convert it to PT6 power as well, but some issue precluded this.
As to their popularity, I think the ready availability of cheaper piston-powered singles limited the appeal of the Porter, as well as finding pilots with sufficient skill in tailwheel flying. I would suggest that about half the pilots who flew the Porter in my time with Talair scratched the paint in one way or another. No real reflection on the crews; just an acknowledgement that the Porterflew into some particularly crappy strips.
On the other hand, the Islander was cheaper to buy (and insure), easier to fly, and carried similar loads (remember avgas was much cheaper back then).
I still want to fly a Porter though............
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Na mate, didn't loose me job - well not yet anyways...
the boss just went shoppin for new toys thats all...
http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...ewVVKsmall.jpg
Only done a hunderd or so hours in em so far so am still a pup but they truly are awesome.
The photo's on the apron in Sentani - just round the corner from AMA.
the boss just went shoppin for new toys thats all...
http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/a...ewVVKsmall.jpg
Only done a hunderd or so hours in em so far so am still a pup but they truly are awesome.
The photo's on the apron in Sentani - just round the corner from AMA.
Silly Old Git
Lineboy my apologies. Here i was thinking you somehow were talking about a piston Porter and me thinking what sorta drugs they got in Irian Jaya these days cos as far as I know there arent any of those old bastard things left?
In the olden days early 70,s I used to do the odd trip in to Sentani in a 402 repatriating naughty boys that had crossed the border into PNG
There were several piston Porters there then and a few Helio Couriers (nice)
I flew both the Turbo Porters you refer to in PNG. They were, as the saying goes, as much fun as you can have with your clothes on up in those mountains
I hope you can find someone to show you the ropes because they got quite a repetoire, and when you get the hang of 'em, you will be in the handiest ride you can find in those conditions
Have fun
PS there used to be a bloody good Chinee cafe down near the waterfront in Sentani. They had the only cold beer in the joint them day, As the night wore on and the piss flowed, the place would mysteriously fill with young wimmen. I never did figure that out.
In the olden days early 70,s I used to do the odd trip in to Sentani in a 402 repatriating naughty boys that had crossed the border into PNG
There were several piston Porters there then and a few Helio Couriers (nice)
I flew both the Turbo Porters you refer to in PNG. They were, as the saying goes, as much fun as you can have with your clothes on up in those mountains
I hope you can find someone to show you the ropes because they got quite a repetoire, and when you get the hang of 'em, you will be in the handiest ride you can find in those conditions
Have fun
PS there used to be a bloody good Chinee cafe down near the waterfront in Sentani. They had the only cold beer in the joint them day, As the night wore on and the piss flowed, the place would mysteriously fill with young wimmen. I never did figure that out.
Chuck. I don't recall the piston Porter being dented. I think it flew 39 hours only with our spare zero time Queenair IGO-540 piston engine before the engine failed. I think engine cooling was an issue? Junior then wanted to convert it to a PT6 but the cost was $100,000 - big dollars in those days - and it never happened.
The last prang I recall was in the turbine Porter when Max was endorsing a pilot in the Highlands (Karimui??), ground looped the aircraft and removing one main leg.
The problems were more than the prangs and ground loops, it was the economics. Despite the Wau loading technique (when the bags of coffee are loaded to the roof the aircraft is at MTOW!) - from memory - the aircraft civil MTOW was 4,800 pounds in Australia, whilst the military operated to 6,108 pounds MTOW and I think the US military operated the Garrett powered Fairchild built aircraft to 7,000 pounds MTOW.
At 2,800 pounds empty, 4,800 pounds MTOW, the higher turbine fuel burn, slow cruise speed, accident record (and resistance to SE aircraft) the Porter simply did not carry enough payload to make money. The revenue/tonne/kilometer yield at legal weights was well below comparable aircraft.
Also, an incident occurred one Saturday afternoon when, after more than a few Brownies, a well known Lae pilot clad only in shorts and thongs "borrowed" the Porter to "give the finger" to the Nadzab tower staff and fled to Goroka, after which DCA kept a very close eye on the Porter and refused to consider any increase in MTOW.
The last prang I recall was in the turbine Porter when Max was endorsing a pilot in the Highlands (Karimui??), ground looped the aircraft and removing one main leg.
The problems were more than the prangs and ground loops, it was the economics. Despite the Wau loading technique (when the bags of coffee are loaded to the roof the aircraft is at MTOW!) - from memory - the aircraft civil MTOW was 4,800 pounds in Australia, whilst the military operated to 6,108 pounds MTOW and I think the US military operated the Garrett powered Fairchild built aircraft to 7,000 pounds MTOW.
At 2,800 pounds empty, 4,800 pounds MTOW, the higher turbine fuel burn, slow cruise speed, accident record (and resistance to SE aircraft) the Porter simply did not carry enough payload to make money. The revenue/tonne/kilometer yield at legal weights was well below comparable aircraft.
Also, an incident occurred one Saturday afternoon when, after more than a few Brownies, a well known Lae pilot clad only in shorts and thongs "borrowed" the Porter to "give the finger" to the Nadzab tower staff and fled to Goroka, after which DCA kept a very close eye on the Porter and refused to consider any increase in MTOW.
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All I can recall of the Talair Turbine Porter was that there were a few places in the Kabwum valley that only the Porter could land at, they were even too short for a C206. So Trader P. Booth used to fly the weekly flight into these places and set up his mobile trade store on the tailplane selling bush essentials like batteries, torch bulbs, matches, mobile phone cards (just joking) etc.. The departure time to return to Lae was a function of all the stock being depleted, all sold at a premium of course to pay for the special skills required to get the goods delivered.
The only guys that I recall being rated on the Porter were Trader Booth, Max Parker and Max Lincoln. It is certainly an impressive STOL aircraft and beautiful to watch when operated at its limits.
The only guys that I recall being rated on the Porter were Trader Booth, Max Parker and Max Lincoln. It is certainly an impressive STOL aircraft and beautiful to watch when operated at its limits.
G'Day High 6. Macair endorsed a number of pilots on the aircraft, some of whom later worked for Talair. When the Porter was based at Lae/Wau, further Talair pilots were endorsed, perhaps after you left? I am not sure but think the pilot Max was endorsing during the final ground loop at Karimui (?) may post here and I was waiting for a comment........ 
Ahhh, the Trader - "in flight service" was selling cheap watches and pens. And his Sepik trade stores, flying in stock on Government charters.....
Amendment:
In retrospect, I may be wrong. I think the pilot may have been a Kiwi name of Peter. Top guy, top operator - he was later with me in Tonga.
Just found this:
PC-8 Twin Porter
Twin-engined version flown in 1967, but not subsequently developed.
The mind boggles..... More noise, less payload! Dornier also unsuccessfully tried the same thing.
Ahhh, the Trader - "in flight service" was selling cheap watches and pens. And his Sepik trade stores, flying in stock on Government charters.....
Amendment:
"...may post here and I was waiting for a comment..."
Just found this:
PC-8 Twin Porter
Twin-engined version flown in 1967, but not subsequently developed.
The mind boggles..... More noise, less payload! Dornier also unsuccessfully tried the same thing.
Last edited by Torres; 15th Aug 2009 at 23:06.
