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
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If my memory is correct, Jim paid either $8,500 or $9,500 for that C185.
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Jim Sinclair
It saddens me to advise Jim Sinclair passes away at mid night last night, 8 October 2017 at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Jim suffered from influenza compounded by pneumonia and other issues.
Jim wrote many books predominantly about aviation in PNG, including "Wings of Gold", the "Balus" trilogy, "Sepik Pilot" etc.
He is survived by wife Jan.
Jim wrote many books predominantly about aviation in PNG, including "Wings of Gold", the "Balus" trilogy, "Sepik Pilot" etc.
He is survived by wife Jan.
Join Date: Sep 2000
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That is a loss!
As a non-aviator, Jim has created more aviation history in his writings, collected more names and places than we knew and keeps our memories alive of that wonderful place.
I shall shuffle his numerous books to the front shelf and touch them fondly for they contain the best years of my life.
Thank you Jim.
As a non-aviator, Jim has created more aviation history in his writings, collected more names and places than we knew and keeps our memories alive of that wonderful place.
I shall shuffle his numerous books to the front shelf and touch them fondly for they contain the best years of my life.
Thank you Jim.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Sorry to hear about Jims passing Great PNG aviation books I lost all my 3 volumes of Balus following the Rabaul eruption September 1994 ash & water damage after my house collaped.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
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RIP Jim Sinclair.
Still remember seeing back in 91/91, all three volumes of Balus for sale at ridiculously cheap prices at a business not far from Jacksons. I dithered at purchasing them back then!
Since then I managed to track down and buy volumes 2 and 3 at prices that whilst were a bit more than I would have paid back then, were still quite reasonable. Found a special edition of Volume 3, personally signed by Jim, and paid a pittance for it really.
Try getting volume 1 though:
The last one I located was through some rare books mob. And they wanted nearly $800.
No, that is not a misprint!
As for Sepik Pilot and the others....good luck! Hint; have deep pockets!
Still remember seeing back in 91/91, all three volumes of Balus for sale at ridiculously cheap prices at a business not far from Jacksons. I dithered at purchasing them back then!
Since then I managed to track down and buy volumes 2 and 3 at prices that whilst were a bit more than I would have paid back then, were still quite reasonable. Found a special edition of Volume 3, personally signed by Jim, and paid a pittance for it really.
Try getting volume 1 though:
The last one I located was through some rare books mob. And they wanted nearly $800.No, that is not a misprint!
As for Sepik Pilot and the others....good luck! Hint; have deep pockets!
Not wanting to devalue Jim's wonderful books but ABE Books prices for Vol 1 start at US$136 and you can buy all three volumes for US$448.
Worth every cent.
RIP Jim
Worth every cent.
RIP Jim
Moderator
"Sepik Pilot" often comes up on EBay and there is one listed on EBay now. I see Jim's "Cape York to Coolangatta" also listed and only $12.50, really great value.
There are two or three authors with the same name:
https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...clair&_sacat=0
There are two or three authors with the same name:
https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...clair&_sacat=0
Join Date: Jun 2003
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It was sad to hear of the passing of Jim Sinclair and on behalf of the PNG national pilot community I sincerely thank him for his faithful recording of the history of aviation in the "best place to fly" in the world.
I treasure my 3 volumes of Balus, they are irreplaceable and capture the best years of aviation in PNG, a time when many of us were so young and fearless!! Tenkyu tru!!
Bamahuta Jim, may you RIP
I treasure my 3 volumes of Balus, they are irreplaceable and capture the best years of aviation in PNG, a time when many of us were so young and fearless!! Tenkyu tru!!
Bamahuta Jim, may you RIP
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Middle Kingdom - what a read. Just for old times I looked at (now falling apart) log book, did my first flight with TAL VH-GKI on 2/10/1966 and last one in VH-GKN on 5/09/1967. Jim's "Middle Kingdom" has some amazing photo's, many fond memories there. I would like to thank you Jim for preserving and reinforcing these thoughts - God Bless you my friend.
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Bob Offner
Posted on Facebook this morning that Bob Offner lost his battle with brain cancer and passed away in the Philippines.
All very sad. Bob was a good guy.
The Talair crew will remember Bob working for the airline.
All very sad. Bob was a good guy.
The Talair crew will remember Bob working for the airline.
Moderator
Hi Fris
Are you talking about this Port side crew door?
I seem to recall most of the DC3s in PNG had this Port side crew door?
Are you talking about this Port side crew door?
I seem to recall most of the DC3s in PNG had this Port side crew door?
Tail Wheel
No this one:
The internal cockpit door has been offset to port. I gather it was unique to some of the TAA Sunbird DC-3s but I've yet to find a definitive explanation of why. I'm assuming it was to permit loading heavy cargo on the floor between the side-saddle seats and not have it obstruct the cockpit door.
Rgds
No this one:
The internal cockpit door has been offset to port. I gather it was unique to some of the TAA Sunbird DC-3s but I've yet to find a definitive explanation of why. I'm assuming it was to permit loading heavy cargo on the floor between the side-saddle seats and not have it obstruct the cockpit door.
Rgds
Moderator
Fris. Interesting but I don't remember. I wonder whether the door was offset to enable cargo/baggage to be loaded in a separate compartment behind the cockpit, similar to the F-27? That would have been useful after DCA prohibited cargo (and natives) on the floor, covered by a net, between the passengers in side saddle seats.
I often wondered why the KNILM DC3's and DC5's had the main passenger and cargo door on the starboard side, rather than the normal port side. The DC3 VH-CXC at Bamaga (originally ex KLM/KNILM) has the passenger/cargo door on the Starboard side.
I often wondered why the KNILM DC3's and DC5's had the main passenger and cargo door on the starboard side, rather than the normal port side. The DC3 VH-CXC at Bamaga (originally ex KLM/KNILM) has the passenger/cargo door on the Starboard side.
TW
I understand that KLM specified a right hand door because of the way they traditionally parked their aircraft at the terminal. Similar for American Airlines I believe. QAM's VH-ANR was built for KLM and it originally had the right hand door but post-war ANA moved the door to the other side for fleet commonality.
Rgds
I understand that KLM specified a right hand door because of the way they traditionally parked their aircraft at the terminal. Similar for American Airlines I believe. QAM's VH-ANR was built for KLM and it originally had the right hand door but post-war ANA moved the door to the other side for fleet commonality.
Rgds
I remember Bob, from my Talair days. I think he may have bought my pride and joy MGB when I went pinis. RIP Mate.
DC-3 Door
All the Pax. DC-3's that I flew in PNG with Ansett APNG, based Rabaul, had the L/H front door, which was used to load the Pax. baggage.
Rab - Kia - Wai - Kia - Bui and return after an overnight. Also, Rab - Kvg - Rab
also through the Highlands, the Highlands held one's complete attention.
I did around 900 hours in the Gooney Bird, a great airplane to fly.
Apinun,
AA
Rab - Kia - Wai - Kia - Bui and return after an overnight. Also, Rab - Kvg - Rab
also through the Highlands, the Highlands held one's complete attention.
I did around 900 hours in the Gooney Bird, a great airplane to fly.
Apinun,
AA
