Was the Nomad really that bad?
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Capt Vin Rouge
next question!
"I've flown both the N22 and N24 and can honestly say it is the worst aircraft and the most dangerous I have ever flown."
I operated an N22 for three years on many different ops, quite happily as it happens, and so did many other aeroplane drivers, for much longer periods.
Some were not overly impressed, but I have never heard it described as dangerous before, and from one who has so many types, as stated on PPrune, makes me feel quite humble to have survived such a time in such a dangerous aircraft.
next question!
"I've flown both the N22 and N24 and can honestly say it is the worst aircraft and the most dangerous I have ever flown."
I operated an N22 for three years on many different ops, quite happily as it happens, and so did many other aeroplane drivers, for much longer periods.
Some were not overly impressed, but I have never heard it described as dangerous before, and from one who has so many types, as stated on PPrune, makes me feel quite humble to have survived such a time in such a dangerous aircraft.
Only flown the N22 never found it to be dangerous but definitely not the easiest or nicest type I've flown.
Take off rotation technique was interesting, to get the thing to rotate one needed to pull the control column back into your stomach until the nose started to lift and then check forward to stop over rotating. Not an aeroplane that would fly itself off the ground.
The nomad wins the prize for the hottest type I’ve flown. The ventilation system if you could call it that was as good as useless. The military POH we had a copy of set crew flight time limits based on the OAT.
The only way to get rated torque from the engines during the power check after maintenance was to do the check with the generators turned off. GAF AFM torque figures were higher than the torque figures in the Allison engine manual? Full torque was not available over 20 deg c.
The crew doors leaked in the rain. Problem was the avionics are located under the pilot’s seats. Easier to seal the floor so the avionics wouldn’t get wet and bail it out like a boat than seal the doors.
The flap/aileron/spoiler system was an engineering marvel consisting of bell cranks push rods and bungie cords. Flap 40 landing distance was impressive even though the brakes were not.
Take off rotation technique was interesting, to get the thing to rotate one needed to pull the control column back into your stomach until the nose started to lift and then check forward to stop over rotating. Not an aeroplane that would fly itself off the ground.
The nomad wins the prize for the hottest type I’ve flown. The ventilation system if you could call it that was as good as useless. The military POH we had a copy of set crew flight time limits based on the OAT.
The only way to get rated torque from the engines during the power check after maintenance was to do the check with the generators turned off. GAF AFM torque figures were higher than the torque figures in the Allison engine manual? Full torque was not available over 20 deg c.
The crew doors leaked in the rain. Problem was the avionics are located under the pilot’s seats. Easier to seal the floor so the avionics wouldn’t get wet and bail it out like a boat than seal the doors.
The flap/aileron/spoiler system was an engineering marvel consisting of bell cranks push rods and bungie cords. Flap 40 landing distance was impressive even though the brakes were not.
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Hey, They couldn't have been all that bad... they made a whole television series with em and made the flying docs look like super heros. I bet Skippy wishes he had one instead of that busted assed old B47. 
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RFDS??
Only one RFDS base used Nomads. That was broken hill.
But the publicity suggested ithe Nomad was THE RFDS aeroplane.
Broken hill was also the only RFDS base to use Beagle 206's. I think the only ones in Australia were at Broken Hill.
But the publicity suggested ithe Nomad was THE RFDS aeroplane.
Broken hill was also the only RFDS base to use Beagle 206's. I think the only ones in Australia were at Broken Hill.
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Is the one at BH a local one, or bought in for the job of corroding away at the terminal?. I remember seeing there maaaany moons ago.
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T T T T T T T
What's that skip?
T T T T T T T
Wizard your what? Arms?
T T T T T T T
You want to jump where????
Come on skip, not that again!
Oh, on the chopper, well that's OK then.
Anything about the Nomad?
T T T T T T T
Yes Skip, you can use it for your trailer. I don't know how it would get off the water either, but you can probably jump in the water and make some ripples for it.
T T T T T T
Same to you skip.
What's that skip?
T T T T T T T
Wizard your what? Arms?
T T T T T T T
You want to jump where????
Come on skip, not that again!
Oh, on the chopper, well that's OK then.
Anything about the Nomad?
T T T T T T T
Yes Skip, you can use it for your trailer. I don't know how it would get off the water either, but you can probably jump in the water and make some ripples for it.
T T T T T T
Same to you skip.
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Great aircraft!
Here's a thread with comments on the Nomad: AVCANADA • View topic - Anybody Got Any Time In A Nomad?
Here's a good photo of a Nomad: http://www.aztecnomad.com/images/ima...arge/cd004.jpg
Here's a thread with comments on the Nomad: AVCANADA • View topic - Anybody Got Any Time In A Nomad?
Here's a good photo of a Nomad: http://www.aztecnomad.com/images/ima...arge/cd004.jpg
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The Nomad on the stick at Broken Hill was not a local one at the time it was stuck on the stick out there (About 1992). The original VH-MSF (Mike Sierra Famous) went to the Gold Coast after it was at the Broken Hill RFDS Base. I think it even made a beach landing there at one stage. It was doing the runs from Cooly to Lady Elliot ... havn't seen or heard of it for a number of years now.
I remember "Doris" doing some pretty interesting flying displays in it.
I remember "Doris" doing some pretty interesting flying displays in it.
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The Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service used N24's.
They were impracticle for the job particulary in Alice Springs. (May have been better in Darwin). Underpowered and rode turbulence like a dog. Those tiny helicopter engines required compressor washes every day in Central Australia. All take offs were turbine temperature limited.
The feeling at the time was that pressurised Beech Kingair would have been more suitable, but the Government of the day were paying so they forced the decision. After all, they couldn't sell them to anyone. Why not give them away.
The predecessor, the DH104 did a much better job in central australia, but was getting long in the tooth and needed replacing.
The N24 reminded me of the saying, An elephant is a horse designed by a committee. I reckon it was designed by a committee.
They were impracticle for the job particulary in Alice Springs. (May have been better in Darwin). Underpowered and rode turbulence like a dog. Those tiny helicopter engines required compressor washes every day in Central Australia. All take offs were turbine temperature limited.
The feeling at the time was that pressurised Beech Kingair would have been more suitable, but the Government of the day were paying so they forced the decision. After all, they couldn't sell them to anyone. Why not give them away.
The predecessor, the DH104 did a much better job in central australia, but was getting long in the tooth and needed replacing.
The N24 reminded me of the saying, An elephant is a horse designed by a committee. I reckon it was designed by a committee.
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Arrived early 1978 as I recall. Pilots were endorsed by David Wiltshire of TAA who oversaw the introduction.
NT got self Government that year so I think someone else took over the operation later. Possibly Air North.
Up to self government in 1978 the commonwealth health department funded the operation and TAA had the contract. TAA pilots and engineers were seconded to Darwin, Alice Springs and Gove.
After self government the NT government took it over.
NT got self Government that year so I think someone else took over the operation later. Possibly Air North.
Up to self government in 1978 the commonwealth health department funded the operation and TAA had the contract. TAA pilots and engineers were seconded to Darwin, Alice Springs and Gove.
After self government the NT government took it over.
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Clinics
The Nomads of NTAMS in Alice Springs only did routine clinic flights and appeared to be a training operation for TAA f/o's who were due for upgrade. They got command time in the Nomads.
Th RFDS did the emergency evacuations in Barons and Chieftains.
When TAA stopped doing the clinics, the RFDS did them.
Th RFDS did the emergency evacuations in Barons and Chieftains.
When TAA stopped doing the clinics, the RFDS did them.
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Interesting times
I remember following an NTAMS Nomad to a comunity in Northeren SA on a cloudy day. Visual nav was dificult and was all we had. (no GPS then) I decided to ask the Nomad pilot ahead of me what the weather was like at his location. I first asked where he was.
He replied " I have no idea. Of course I am on track" He managed to find the community and land but when I got there it had clouded over again. He told me when he heard me fly over and I managed to find a hole in the cloud a bit to the south, descended through it and tracked back to the community.
Interesting times.
He replied " I have no idea. Of course I am on track" He managed to find the community and land but when I got there it had clouded over again. He told me when he heard me fly over and I managed to find a hole in the cloud a bit to the south, descended through it and tracked back to the community.
Interesting times.
Silly Old Git
Must have been Connellans post 78?
No Nomads in Alice post 80 anyway it was then an Ansett contract.
Anyways, to the original question was it a bad thing?
I dont really think you coud say it was ALL bad, a simpler twin to operate would be hard to find
Good seeing as now there are going to be young Neddies with 500 hours stuck on twins .
It certainly has a nice boxy cabin and buggered if I found it hot even in the most ****house climate in world, Darwhine at this time of year.
No Nomads in Alice post 80 anyway it was then an Ansett contract.
Anyways, to the original question was it a bad thing?
I dont really think you coud say it was ALL bad, a simpler twin to operate would be hard to find
Good seeing as now there are going to be young Neddies with 500 hours stuck on twins .
It certainly has a nice boxy cabin and buggered if I found it hot even in the most ****house climate in world, Darwhine at this time of year.
Last edited by tinpis; 13th Jan 2009 at 03:43.
MSF was last seen working for an Aerial Survey company in Malaysia. Still same colours.
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I only ever flew the N22 but thought it was a great bus - but only on short sectors. The seat couldn't be moved and could get as hot as hell up front but it was fun to fly and could land and pull up within a few lengths of itself - from memory at fairly low weights you could cross the fence at around 45 - 50 KIAS and it would only require beta to pull up pretty quickly.
I remember the guy who endorsed me saying that "Flying the Nomad is like f**king your sister.....your up there but your not real proud of it." I think a few people who've flown it feel that way.
I remember the guy who endorsed me saying that "Flying the Nomad is like f**king your sister.....your up there but your not real proud of it." I think a few people who've flown it feel that way.