TAA Cessna,s in NG
Hi, I am 18-Wheelers old man. I can add a little bit more info that may help.
In 1958 I arrived in PNG, Goroka with TAL. Had been an Instructor with RAC NSW at Bankstown. Buchcanan gave me GKA the oldest 170 possible. Round tail etc, he then started getting 180's second-hand from US. GKB a good one, silver with green stripe, then GKC which was a ex float plane, all over red with black stripe .... so so. The payload on the 170 was with 2 hours fuel was 600 lb, the 180 was 800 and the 185 was 1200. Mid 1960 TAA arrived and I got a seat, was told I would be on the SE Otter.
I got an endorsement on VH SBP, a 182 that TAA had acquired new. Ivan Neale gave me the endorsement on 14th of September 1961 at Lae.
Then got an endorsement on VH SBU, a 185, on 4th of Dec 1962, both these aircraft were new. I flew the Otter every week into Southern and Western Highlands, but occasionally did charters in the two Cessna's out of Lae.
Went pinis mid 1963, so cannot offer anything after this date. I did a longer story when asked and it was put into one of the Three Balus books.
Regs Bill S