The Past!
Hi, Fantome:
In February 1967 I was in Albury running the Flying School and Charter Buisness. I heard about the trip to Aeropelican in FJW to KH but had no part in it due to the above.
The first Commuter Service on the East Coast of Australia commenced on the 11th September 1967 in VH- MWD and the route was WLM - SY- CTM - TEM - CTM - SY - WLM.
In December 1968 my log book shows that we started the SY - CNK - SCONE (SCN) service. West Maitland does not show in my log book until the 1970's.
Regarding the the start of the Aeropelican service from Belmont to Sydney, we did a VIP flight on 31st May 1971, there was a verbal altercation on the Tarmac at Ansett with the Masling people. The next day, !st June 1971 we went back to Sydney and to the High Court where KH gave his affidavit and Judicial approval for the new commuter service was given and the service commenced on the 2nd June 1971.
I left Aeropelican in August 1972 to go to South East Asia on a VIP contract.
Regards
Tmb