Sharpie you are correct. The 180 was a beast on an aborted landing if properly trimmed, as I remember it took a lot of strength to hold the elevator after applying power, and then getting rid of two notches of flap and furiously winding forward trim. It was a real man's aircraft.
Merpati were operating Twin Otters at the same time as TAA, as I was in the PT6 overhaul at the time. Merpati engines came to us in very good condition due operating in a benign environment, where the TAA engines were stuffed due corrosion courtesy of the short hops to Barrier Reef islands and non marinised engines. They came later as well as a compressor wash routine.
I remember Phil Allen as one of natures gentlemen. I also got a seat on a demo flight on the Twin Otter in Melbourne with Phil and was a real STOL landing and take-off.
I still maintain Twotters and still love them!!!