'tw' as 'runts' says there where 2 operators back then with the old Pommy ergonomic monsters (Doves). Ted Rudge (Rudge Air) whom found out how they don't fly with one donk failed & the flaps still hanging out ( so I heard) near 20 yrs ago now he had the original Gypsy Queens donks in his. I was flying VH ABM that very night he crashed, my Mob Ph (house brick back then) went nuts when my family & friends found out that a Dove had crashed at EN.
The other operator Maloney Aviation (also various other trading names) operated the 'Penguin Express" & had VH NBM & VH ABM, both Riley conversions. We used to squeeeeze 11 pax in them, the Japanese tourists (mostly newlyweds)where tiny so they fitted well:-)
'Dan' am also sorry to hear of yr dads passing, hopefully he's in a better place now.
The Doves where already operating when I came to fly them so I don't really recall to many people whom worked for Maurice floating around back then sorry.
I remember Maurice's son Rowan (may he rest in peace, poor kid lost his life way too early) hanging around the office helping out where he could & the times that Maurice would give each pax a glass of champers prior to boarding for the Penguin flight (drink to sooth the nerves, if they only knew!
) then what was left over un-drunk which was a fair bit due the Japs not really drinking that awful $2 bottle of so called bubbly Maurice poured the rest back in the bottles & they went back in the fridge for 2moro nights poor buggers, amazing how a stir with a finger brought the bubbles back to life
One night coming back late into EN with the usual load of Japanese onboard I had a young girl up front with me (control column removed) whom whilst we where orbiting over the CBD (which was usual as part of the tour) snapped her camera complete with large external flash as she leaned right across me to get the City lights, of course at that very instant the auto pilot failed, ME!!! Talk about couldn't see a thing for a couple of minutes!!
Also it was customary to still do the city orbit at night on the way home even in IMC, Maurice said they paid for it so we had to do it otherwise they would have wanted a discount & that word never existed in Maurices mind
Good job ATC told us we where right over the CBD then I/we did a large slow rate one turn till the old ADF needle was pointing back to EN, orbit complete, jobs done lets land this sucker!:-0)
........................oh the many stories, am sure us old codgers have plenty buried deep down in out feeble minds
Wmk2