Darwin in the 80's

[Stationair8]

One wonders what Eddie's two gifted children are doing in Darwin these days?

So Tinnpis if you have been a resident for 30 years, you would have seen a few changes and not all for the best!

[tinpis]

If after a period of thirty years you stood on the Daly st bridge and looked at the city skyline you would wonder where the hell you were..
I cant think of any changes that made the joint "better"

[CoodaShooda]

I cant think of any changes that made the joint "better"

Ummm, we got turf wickets for local cricket now tinny.

But that's about the only "better" thing I can think of.

[Slasher]

One wonders what Eddie's two gifted children are doing in Darwin these days?

When I was there Eddie Jr was the dumb bastard. The daught
had a few brains though.

Wonder what happened to Liz Wheeler? She was a rough chick
but down to earth and good for a beer or 10.

[tinpis]

All sizes | VH-SAO | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/55034803@N02/5944041803/sizes/o/in/photostream/)

That should get some of you all misty-eyed..:hmm:

[Slasher]

**** its the Biscuit! :bored:

Never flew it. I just recall now Ossie also had 2 Partamafias -
IXP(?) and....can't remember the other.

[By George]

The "Biscuit Bomber" would have to be one of the most famous of all the aircraft up there during this time. Shame no museum preservation for some of these aircraft. Never flew for Aussie but that call-sign was always in the air, never seemed to land.

[flying-spike]

Only thing that made my eyes water was the smell of the old girl.(SAO not Shirley)

[flying-spike]

IXP was a Chieftain and ECO was one of the Partenavias. He only had one when I was ther

[Gnadenburg]

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/coronatower/TOMMYMILTON-1.jpg

[Gnadenburg]

Tommy, Milton & Karl out of picture storming off and cursing somewhere the old prick.

I was after one of those Foster's t-shirts BTW.

[Kharon]

What about SAATAS - Queenairs to Ujung Padang, Bulla etc. RED the 402, RCR the 310 and EVE the little B 55, back when JH was a new start Ops Manager and the 'beer' penalty was LAW.

RIP Ian Hasslett.

Great days - top thread.

Cheers - one and all. :D

[flying-spike]

Nice piccie of JWH and the boys, you must have been there around the same time as me?

[tinpis]

Ozzy got a road named after him at least. SAO up on a stick at the GA park would have been a fitting tribute


ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/osgood.jpg/)

[tinpis]

I have put a notice for George in Where Are They Now

[flying-spike]

He would have loved that. It runs around the back of Bunnings. His favourite place to hang out when the world got too much for him.

[tinpis]

Pity some of the "Exotic" joints have gone.
Could have taken Obama for a beer or three, however a guided tour of Bagot would be an eye opener for him.

[By George]

Tinny, is the "Animal Bar" still there at Rapid Creek? They use to clean up with a fire hose after closing time. The place was always full of pilots in various stages of consciousness. Red plastic chairs and a cycone fence around the "Beer Garden", very classy joint that was.

[donderwolkje]

Most interesting read indeed. Back a little earlier than the 80's, Ozzie or SAATAS were the top end fixtures to be see at. TOV, SAO, DVY, AON (Barron, Navaho, C-337 and G.m's C-182) all shiney and new (not) . Great flying, interupted only by the odd sacking and the shiney QANTAS cadet's, who would arrive un-anounced do it all for "the experience" before they 'P....d o.f" to fly the 707's. Wouldn't have missed it for quids....
The xmas hanger piss ups were monumental in the week leading to the same event. They would lock you up and throw the key away today!!
Regards...

Puff of smoke!!!!!

[donderwolkje]

KRAFT, I missed PKY C310, rearranged during cyclone tracy.

Regards

[AussieNick]

By George: if your talking about the bar on the foreshore there, its been renames the beachfront and has been significantly cleaned up over the years :E

[tinpis]

The xmas hanger piss ups were monumental in the week leading to the same event. They would lock you up and throw the key away today!!
Regards...

Indeed ...if we had been caught booked and sentenced, most would have only just now been eligible for parole :}

[Trent 972]

By George: if your talking about the bar on the foreshore there, its been renames the beachfront and has been significantly cleaned up over the years
No more 'Rage in the Cage' :sad:
What do you do after church now?
Darwhine has lost its Sunday Arvo couth and culture.

[tinpis]

Well some fellas fly around early on Sundees in their Harvard and Tiger Moth.That would never happen before 4 pm in the old days I tell ya.

[troppo]

I'm gonna be in Darwhine on Sunday. Where is the best place to party?

[tinpis]

Still here.:E http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Northern_Territory_Legislative_Assembly.jpg/300px-Northern_Territory_Legislative_Assembly.jpg

[troppo]

sheesh, you got a flash house tin. how many bars inside?

[tinpis]

PM me when yer about to step out. We may find an old stubby :hmm:

[Avion]

Great stories brings back so many memories of wonderful and scary people.

I recall overnighting in ELC and sleeping in the back of the DC3 as the accommodation was trashed, the onboard bar (read esky) had a bottle of scotch in it!!! dont tell me they didnt expect us to overnight, being a dry mission the DC3 would have been locked up and we would still be serving time for the alcohol :*

Tim (the torch) Anderson (C310 up in smoke while refuelling :E:E)
Busby
Michael Wyatt - did he really give up flying and take up in a band??
Jonno Ashford
Marcia Delaney(kick arse loader)
Greg Finn

anyone seen them?

[tinpis]

Michael Wyatt

Swamp Jockeys..

The group's central figure Mandawuy Yunupingu and clansman Witiyana Marika were originally part of the rock band The Swamp Jockeys with non-aboriginals ...

They have revivals(?) from time to time down at the Railway..

[tinpis]

Pity GA never paid. Nice relaxed life even if nothing worked and the sunvisor fell down.

Cessna 310 Landing at Darwin Airport - YouTube

[bekolblockage]

Great thread guys. Can't believe I hadn't seen it before. Only stumbled across it because of the Cyclone Tracy one.

Tinpis, that pic of SAO certainly did make me misty-eyed. What eventually happened to her?

Grew up as a teen in Darwin in the 70's and used to work for Ossie during school holidays to pay for flying lessons-helping (maybe not, more like hindering) the engineers with any crap jobs around the hangar- spark plug cleaning, wheel bearing greasing, general gofer, plus polishing his Pitts (Any idea how many cans of Repo it took to polish a Pitts!!! VH-KIT wasn't it?)

As many have said, amazing to see how often Ossie woud sack his pilots/engineers on a Friday and take them back on Monday.

Back a little earlier than the 80's, Ozzie or SAATAS were the top end fixtures to be see at. TOV, SAO, DVY, AON (Barron, Navaho, C-337 and G.m's C-182) all shiney and new (not) . Great flying, interupted only by the odd sacking and the shiney QANTAS cadet's, who would arrive un-anounced do it all for "the experience" before they 'P....d o.f" to fly the 707's. Wouldn't have missed it for quids....
The xmas hanger piss ups were monumental in the week leading to the same event. They would lock you up and throw the key away today!!


All the aircraft I recall donderwolkje.
Plus he bought the original ECO, PA32 just before Tracy and that ended up in the port engine of the F227 from recollection.
I recall one young hopeful turning up for a test ride with Ossie and landing it with the handbrake on, taking the brand new tyres down to the canvas. You could hear Ossie coming all the way down the apron telling the guy he'd never get a job with him as long as his ass pointed towards the ground.

PKY C310 spent over a year stuck in the back of the hangar being stripped and repainted. How many layers of paint were on that thing???

Between cleaning spark plugs etc I was lucky enough to go on a few flights with some of the guys.

Racking my brain to think of some of the pilots' names- nearly 40 years ago!!
Max L- (Ironically I later flew the Heron with him for Airlines of Tassie)
Pat ? - He flew TOV mostly. Remember him flying 6 Baron's full of beer to Bathurst Is one Xmas. Went on one of the runs with him in formation with the 337 DVY flown by Peter ?. Went with Peter once and he showed me how half the instrument panel would come out in your lap if given a bit of a nudge. Bit like your sun visor Tinpis.
Geoff (Jeff?) - Flew SAO but went on to fly the Freeport 227 later. Recall going up with him when he was trying to prove the gear was taking 2 minutes to come down. None of the engineers wanted to go up in it it seemed!
A very young Phil G (changed his surname later?) flew the Cherokee 6. Saw him on DC9s at TAA some years later.

Wally was the Chief engineer?
And I remember engineer Richard was a really great guy but heard he was a terrible victim of the cyclone. Anyone know for sure?
Was Liz the female refueller? She was definitely one of the boys. Was Liz Wally's daughter??

Yes, Xmas eve hangar pissups were memorable, although '74 was a pretty quiet affair with everyone wanting to get home due to the approaching wx. Never seen the sky so black in Darwin in the middle of the day when we knocked off work. A few beers around the pool table in the hangar was all I can recall that year.

Great memories guys.

[Flying Binghi]

Swamp Jockeys..

They musta had a good grafiti artist in their crew at the time because i remembers "swamp jockys" being painted on numerous walls, bus stops, etc...:}



.

[donderwolkje]

Max Loffell
Pat O'Donahue
Geoff Burgess
Peter Newman

Not sure about the spelling, but you get the drift..
Regards

[bekolblockage]

Thanks donderwolkje :ok:

Pretty sure Max is still in Launy.
Any ideas what happened to the other guys?
How about the engineers? Any news about Richard? My family flew out only 3 days after the cyclone and I've only been back once on an overnight since then.

Great memories.

[donderwolkje]

Geoff and Peter are at Virgin, Pat I havent seen for a long long time, since Malaysia days. Max Who knows!!!!!
Regards.........

[tinpis]

There was a Mark....?? at Ossies? Indonesian missus as I recall? And a Dave McC....ck last seen (Hawaii? )trying to circumvent Yanky residency laws for a job with Continental??

[Pinky the pilot]

engineer Richard

What was his surname?

[bekolblockage]

Quote:
engineer Richard

What was his surname?

Racking my brain to think. Long time ago!

I had the impression Liz the refueller was his sister. She was married I thought, so different surname.

[donderwolkje]

Are you thinking of Neil Prichard by chance????

Regards
PM sent

[HIALS]

What a great thread.

I flew SAO, IXP and recently saw the carcass of IXA at Bankstown. Got sacked by Ozzie every day for several weeks for refusing to boost his profits by flying over-loaded. I remember the Dolphin, Dix, the strippers on Thursday at the Winnellie pub, and got hosed out of the cage bar once or twice.

Where is Greg Finn? And Ed Allen? And Denis Salter? And Mark Diamond?

I just can't believe that Karl is still alive at MGD. That's fu@&ing unbelievable - he was a crotchety old fart 25 years ago.

[BSD]

Wow, just stumbled across this site here in dear old Albion, where it is hosing it down with rain. We like our droughts wet over here!

Never worked in Darwin, but transitted many a time in the early-mid eighties, and once in '78 in a TMAC CL-44.

Had mates that worked there, one Owen Jackson already mentioned. Knew Mary O'Brian too; she taught me to fly, I did my first 30 hours with her on a Chipmunk. Flew with Owen in WA both in our first flying job.

Royal Brunei days were most fun. We'd be the last flight in for a night stop. Murray, if I recall, Ansett station manager, would keep the Ansett lounge open. Straight in there after landing for a swift, cold one whilst the nights plans were developed! Twice a week, Thursday's and Saturday's.

The RBA traveller's friend; a chilled six-pack in a mini eskie for the passengers when the airline went dry. What a laugh.

Happy days.

BSD.

[flying-spike]

That would be Spud Riley, Japanese missus. He has been with Air New Guinea for yonks.

[tinpis]

BSD

On 10 October 1985 one of the company's (Pelair)Westwind aircraft crashed into the sea off Sydney after departing Sydney

Owen Jackson along with Ian "Luigi" Hasket on board.RIP.
Both well known to the Inn keepers and hosteleries of Darwin

[BSD]

Tinpis,

I didn't know Luigi, but Owen had been a very good mate. Their loss was a stupid tragedy that should never have happened.

Most of our night-stops Darwin night-stops in RBA days we stayed at the Travelodge, but almost always ended up at the casino. Always a laugh down there.

Went for ride out to Narbalek in the 3-30 with Owen once when I was there for a couple of days.

BSD.

[Stationair8]

Who used to do the Mu-2 endorsements for Amman?

[Warm Ballast]

This c1989 - as pax on the Nomad we flew into Tindall on a photo task. Don't remember the name of the Pilot pictured but I do remember she wanted a photo of the said event. Maybe one of the Darwin old hands might pass it onto her.
http://i46.tinypic.com/w7bqe1.jpg

[Tee Emm]

You could hear Ossie coming all the way down the apron telling the guy he'd never get a job with him as long as his ass pointed towards the ground.

Who the hell is this "Ossie" character that everyone here is lauding like he is the gun operator up north. Sacking people left and right then making an utter idiot of himself by not noticing a park brake was on and stripping the tyres because of that and then blaming the young new pilot - this "Ossie" bloke sounds like a first class bogan:ok:

[flying-spike]

I worked for Ossie for a bit over 4 years and would like to think that I got to know him fairly well. For most of that time I was his chief pilot. Yes, he did throw a wobbly every now and then and yes he did fly off the handle every now and then and sack a pilot only to take him back the next week. Occasionally he would be frothing at the mouth with rage but it didn't take long before the gentleman within rose to the surface.

Despite all of that he had a bucket load of experience and gave many a young pilot an opportunity. You might have had to start working in the engine shop or out at Maningrida but you got a start and he always kept his word when he said you would be flying RPT soon.

He was generous to fault in some ways (I think that was to make up for Shirley) and would step in to give a hand when he could.

I left in unhappy circumstances, quite bitter and disappointed but Ossie and Shirley still rang to congratulate my wife and I on the birth of our first son.

To see the way they both ended their days was very sad. The territory is worse off for their passing and if I were you, and thank god I am not, I would be very careful not to judge people you have not even met based on the colorful stories you read on PPRUNE.

[glen beard]

I don't use alias's when i state something because i feel i have nothing to hide by using MY name.This is my first post on Pprune.

I have no idea who Tee Emm is but,i can assure you that your insinuation that Ossie Osgood was a bogan deeply upsets me.
A few facts for you and anyone else who cares to read this regarding Ossie & Shirley -

I sold parts to Arnhem Air Charter back in the late 70's/ early 80's and got to know the Osgoods pretty well.

When Cyclone Tracy hit Ossie moved as many people as he possibly could out of Darwin - i think to Katherine, at no charge to those concerned.To my knowledge that included family of staff & incapacitated locals who were worried about the result of the cyclone.I don't know whether he ever put an invoice into the gov't,but knowing Ossie,i would very much doubt it.
He also opened his hangar as a shelter & from memory had upward of 500 people shelter there.
Have a look at the Tracy Museum at Fannie Bay & see Ossie's aircraft destroyed - why- because he reckoned saving lives was more important than saving his own beloved fleet.Does that sound like a bogan to you?

Regarding making him out as a bully or whatever,Ossie used to work on "the old system".You want a job,i want a pilot,engineer,whatever.He expected everyone who did work for him to do a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.And if you didn't ,then beware.

I stayed with the Osgoods & was privileged to help them celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary & 21st anniversary of the foundation of Arnhem & can assure you ,that even though Ossie was a teetotaller when i knew him,had one of the greatest nights of my life,shared with 2 great people who had an ongoing passion to improve aviation in the NT.

With regards to sacking pilots,again,i know he was hard on them,and possibly went overboard a few times but it was a wake-up call to quite a few novices who most probably turned out to be better for the experience.It was like a game i reckon.
One day he sacked a pilot in front of me.As the guy walked out the office he turned & said "see you tomorrow". The next day he went on a charter for Ossie,along with a fairly stern warning about turning up late for an RPT.Seemed pretty fair to me.

NT aviation lost a great identity when he finally pulled stumps,but,a fitting reminder of what the territory thought of his imput into GA in the Territory is the road near the airport called "Osgood Drive" near Bunnings ,from memory.Does that indicate he was a bogan.
I suggest Tee Emm puts an apology on this site to the Osgood family

[flying-spike]

I can only echo your words. Man up Tee Emm and post an apology.

[DarwinEscapee]

...Darwin had the lot back in the day, before the Southern Wowsers Brigade of Political Correctness moved up and ruined everything.

Does no one remember Fannies? Or Boobies? (greasy all night servo/takeaway in Ludmilla). Does no one remember the routine?

We'd start out at Fannies, then head to The Don (first 'casino' Darwin ever had) til it closed at 2am, then we'd crawl round to Dix to finish the night off at 6am (when it closed). I can't tell you the number of times I'd go home from Dix, have a shower, get changed, and then head straight to work...

Miss those magic days.

[DarwinEscapee]

I remember John Spellman - The Wine Bar, right? (my parents haunt, that was).

But The Queen Mother was my fave. I'll never forget the morning he rolled up in my parents driveway in some convertible, at 6am, wearing a royal red 'robe' and carrying a sceptre, calling out to me to, 'Wakey, Wakey, my dear girl! It's Regatta Day!"

My dad woke up spitting chips until he saw who it was, then he was all hypocritical smiles and gushes.

I wonder if the Queen Mum's still around?

[By George]

The female pilot in the Nomad picture looks like Kamma Lynn. Great pilot, now a 777 Capt with EK in DXB. She use to roll her own cigs and stay the distance with the boys at the bar. Top girl and a real character.

[ANCIENT]

I worked for Doug Muir in 64 when Ossie was Chief Pilot. Can only agree with all Glen says. On arrival in Darwin I was booked into the old Arafura Hostel in Parap, more like a jail than anything this young bloke had seen. Ossie and Shirley decided it was not the place for a 19 yo so moved me in to be part of the family until Doug moved the business to Perth and took me with him.
He was a character but always had the welfare of his staff in mind.
From starting out flying Austers around the Top End in the 50s to operating RPT he leaves a big legacy.

[500N]

Not a pilot but spent some time in Darwin and surrounds around '81
and then late '90's onwards as well.

Recognised a few of the names in the OP's post.


DarwinEscapee
Agree, with you re the Southern PC brigade, Darwin has change a lot
and some of it not for the better !

[Stationair8]

Can anyone remember the name of the guy that owned the older model C210 (FWN?) and Cherokee that was based at Jabiru?

[Big Girl 727]

Bob Buchanan?

[Stationair8]

Thanks for that info!

[weighman]

Wow, what a nostalgic blast from the past. Was in Katherine from 81-86 and Alice 87-89 working for Tillair. Great to hear the names and stories.
Might add some myself in the future.

[caa]

There is a new Old Darwin! Tiger Moth, Yak 52, Harvard, AN2 and Pitts S2B -:D long live the old days!

[Stationair8]

When did the Nabarlek mine run shutdown?

Did Pelair run out there seven days a week on the shuttle or just Monday -Friday?

[fujii]

That would be Nabarlek and there.

[Beefcurtains]

A few more names
Jeff James local windsurf salesman
Faulkner boys George ???? Refuellers
Tony Hicks Air Frontier
Ron Hart Police Airwing
Steve Jones Pelair
Tas Chris Perkins and John Lawrie
Trevor and Margie James Pheonix Aviation
Scott Werleman Nt Police now Airnorth
Rob Guerrara Bolla
Ed Keane three greens
Ex Air France pilot who put an airbus into bush tried to get a job with Ammans
Devo

[gea007]

Lots of names, planes and places recognised here from the 80's ......

I did my first 2500 hours in and around Darwin in the 80's. I did the RAC casual pilot thing to get that magic first 500 hours JH said I needed for my first job with Air North! Then it became 1,000 hours with an instrument rating ....... Ossie gave me my first FULL time job at Maningrida and notched up about 800 hours in that Baron TOV (it had 15,000 hours on it then and had the old reverse sense DG and BIG black and white AH) and about 800 hours in ECO over 20 months! Got to know Karl pretty well and I believe he has past away now. I was on the good side with Karl one week and the off-side the next. He told me he had a steel plate in his skull from his war would, which would explain some of his mood swings. I got to respect Ossie over that time and really saw some pilots come through with some strange attitudes that really gave him the reputation for sacking guys. I got sacked regularly it seems but I never got told by the man himself. Got to admit, we were young and probably cost him some serious money over the time! Saw some crazy airstrips and even got to land on Cape Wessel Island in the Baron! It was like landing on a ball!

I even did some time in Maningrida with MGPA in the part banana they had.

I remember being told that Ossie gave food parcels to the NTAC pilots that went on strike, probably to keep them out of the air longer but hey, would some food parcels keep guys on strike? No doubt gave him a smile though.

I do remember all those names of pubs, fast food places named after the genetalia: DIX, BOOBIES, FANNIES .......

Wasn't around for Air Frontier but my instructor for my PPL was a Tony Hicks! Same person maybe? He was an instructor at RACWA in the late 70's.

All good memories so keep it coming everyone!:)

[CUthen]

Would love to hear what you have been upto!

[CUthen]

I have many photo's of my AirNorth days which I shall post when I have time. Many are of the social occasions, the Russian visit, VH-MMA, the people I worked with, could go on. Stories behind every photo.

[Hempy]

Beef,
'Pierre the Plane Crasher'...I believe he flew A320's for Ansett after '89....
Penny H became an AN 747 F/O, now a very experienced ATC

[Howabout]

Does anyone know what became of Jim Hilder? I imagine that he may have departed the fix by now, but maybe not, although he would probably be in his eighties.

Ex-RAAF Meteor pilot in Korea, flew for TAA, and spent part of that stint on loan with the NT Medical Service on the old Herons out of DAR in the 60s. He was a close mate of my old man who worked for AWA out of the old terminal building. His wife, Kath, and my mum were great friends back in the DAR of old (when Smith St wasn't a mall!)

He joined SAATAS around 65/66.

Next time I saw him (79/81) he was flying the DAK for Connair. He then departed and went to PNG with Air Niugini and I understand that he was there for a few years. I think he was known as 'Jumbo' to the Air Niugini guys.

The last contact I had was when I bumped into him in the Green Room and that must have been around 96. I was on a work visit and went for a few afternoon beers on my lonesome out of nostalgia. Cowboy was still doing the rounds!

However, DAR just wasn't the same - it had lost something from the old days.

Anyway, if anyone can fill in the blanks as regards Jim and Kath I'd really appreciate it.

[Pindan warrior]

Jim was Ops Manager at Paspaley Mallard Ops in Darwin for a few years, heard he retired a year or so back.

[SmoothCriminal]

"HowAbout"., pls check PM with regards JH

Smoothie....:ok:

[JuiceBox25]

Was really bored and had a look at my old video's I uploaded on Youtube, Ended up here! That was a bumpy wet flight! :ok:

[Centaurus]

I think Jim Hilder flew Lincolns for a while in the RAAF and vaguely recall he was at East Sale either with School of Air Navigation or Air Armament School circa 1953-5. Long time ago of course, and I could be wrong.

[pithblot]

Before OzRunways there was DR.
Before GPS: compass, clock & airspeed.
'Computers' didn't need power and couldn't do addition or subtraction

Remember how good it felt to find Lake Evella in the dry season smoke, Tanami Mine with no Nav Aids?

I thought about putting this article in another forum for the Newbies to enjoy, but I don't think they would understand, since DR today is more removed in getting from A to B than Celestial Nav or Pressure Pattern Flying was for me in the 80s. And that's a good thing; I use my iPad almost every day when I fly and wouldn't change it for the world.

So, for sentimental reasons, an article about Visual Navigation by the late Neil Williams (http://steemrok.com/nw%20san/nw%20vis%20nav).

Pithblot

[tinpis]

Christ the 80's?
I is still here if you havent been back stand on Daley bridge and have a look at the skyline ...see if you can figure where you are...
Look at the REEL ESTATE PRICES
They had a recession last month for 30 days now they is back on a boom roll
You heard it here:ok:

Hows it goin cooda?

[Stationair8]

Where you been hiding Tinpis?


If only we knew then what we know now Tinpis, we would all be laughing!

[Pinky the pilot]

Yeah, Tinpis; Where's ya been hiding?:D

[Nondigul]

G'day Tinpis
I wrote you a post on Ples Belong Tok Tok didn't see a reply.


Yes I had a Falcon GT Shaker in Mendi (not a HO) I only took it there because I had been transferred the with Public Works Dept to work with the Aus Army Engineering unit which had just come from Vietnam. Nowhere to drive it as you say.
They were the days eh mate!!
Good to see you in action again.


Nondigul

[optin]

Handrail and Rob Grant work(ed) together in ATC - Rob is also a great pilot and in the 70's he flew me to inspect every govt. structure everywhere in the topend, every 3mths, in John Gabriel's cessna210, and he always got us to borroloola from groote on a wednesday night in time for a meal at the pub so we could watch the weekly pictures outside the school with all and sundry.


I'd love to catchup with Rob, if any of you know his email, mine is [email protected] thanks, David

[gundy123]

Gundy is alive and well and is probably plotting another closing down sale (http://maps.google.com.au/maps/place?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Sjf&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&prmd=ivnscm&resnum=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=806&bih=581&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=antiques+coconut+grove&fb=1&gl=au&hq=antiques&hnear=0x2cc093a65bce50ab:0x50217a82a247ea0,Coconut+Grove+NT&cid=9774690136297302455) as we speak :hmm:

Hi Gundy here !!

[Band a Lot]

Darwin at that time would be Brenda at CASA, think she has left now but what a nice person she always was.

[Annette Bell]

tinpis

Mr Spellman - I seem to recall he had a mate 'The Queen Mother of Darwin'
Peter Morgan?
OMG I remember Peter Morgan...yes Queen mother!! Last I saw him was 4am in the morning passed out on Mindel beach 🤣

[Annette Bell]

Darwin at that time would be Brenda at CASA, think she has left now but what a nice person she always was.
You mean Brenda Thompson??

[Stationair8]

Ted Smith Aerostar 601B VH-IXA, I noticed photograph of this aircraft on airhistory.net adorned with Arnhem Air Charter titles. The photo was taken in 1980 at Essendon airport, the airframe was first put on the Australian register in 1978.
Look liked it had been repainted into Arnhem Air’s colour scheme.
Anyone know what Arnhem Air Charter used the aircraft for?

[triadic]

Ozzie operated IXA out of DRW during the 80's on charter ops. Not sure when it came to DRW but was there for some time. He also had a P68 IXD? as well as the biscuit SAO (PA31)
Still on the register to a NSW address.

[baronn59]

He would only let one pilot fly IXA his name escapes me, it may have been Louie.

[halas]

Not Warren? 🤣

halas

[deja vu]

Darwin in the old days, just a big country town before Cyclone Tracy. Joined SATAAS in 1970 as " duty pilot- hangar rat", Arnhem Air Charter ( Ossie had just lost a C402 at Gove) were there and a few Connellan twin Bonanzas, Aeromedical Doves crewed by TAA f/os on secondment and of course the Aero club.
Best pub in town was the Darwin Hotel where airline crews overnighted, the Parap pub was a bit of a blood house and 'The Dolphin" at the end of Bagot Road, turn left to Nightcliff and there was nothing beyond that. Loved it, but eventually got sacked because my girlfriend had moved into the flat provided by the company, albeit at my expense.
Went back in 1980 to fly Nomads for Northern Airlines, absolutely hated it then, shopping malls at Rapid creek full of tattooed bogans, same all over. Wasn't there long enough to get to know anyone very well but my good old Darwin days were well gone.

Its good that we all see things differently I guess

[deja vu]

OMG I remember Peter Morgan...yes Queen mother!! Last I saw him was 4am in the morning passed out on Mindel beach 🤣
Would that be the same Annette Bell who trained at YMMB in Victa 115 MLQ in the 1970s ?

[baronn59]

No that name does not come to mind

[Global Aviator]

Jim Hilder I remember flying with him in the 90’s, think he did an endorsement on something for me, the grey matter is thinking.

Brenda certainly got things done, as did the FOI’s at the time, I recall Adrian Crombie & Ron Beech, can’t remember the name of the guy who ran it.

IXA was with Aerocharter for a long time, if I’m correct on the rego, it lost a wing down near Port Keats very sadly.

Back when B727’s, 767’s, 747’s were regulars for domestic and international. Well wide body domestic is back, QF A330’s.

Passing through Darwin the old GA aircraft boneyard certainly rattles memories.

[NRU74]

[QUOTE=deja vu;11072474]Darwin in the old days, just a big country town before Cyclone Tracy.
Best pub in town was the Darwin Hotel /QUOTE]

Remember it , although I thought it was called 'Motel' - there was a large sign at the side of the entrance that said 'Clean singlets must be worn ' !

[olderairhead]

Would that be the same Annette Bell who trained at YMMB in Victa 115 MLQ in the 1970s ?

Annette lives in regional Victoria not WA so not her andha correction it was MQL.

[georgetw]

My last flight with MMA was with Jim Hilder 13 Dec 1966. The best captain I flew with around the Kimberleys

[deja vu]

Annette lives in regional Victoria not WA so not her andha correction it was MQL.

My mistake, thanks. I flew with Annette in MQL for her TIF 2 August 1970. Say hello.

[pithblot]

I recall one young hopeful front up to the old Air North office next to the Aero Club on the airport Southern Side. Like the rest of us when looking for a job, he came with resume in-hand and was putting his best foot forward. The room was full of pilots, Dave Cooper & Cathy U were manning the Daily Ops Sheets, and JLH would have been within earshot from his adjacent office.

All eyes were on the newby, and the room fell silent when he asked,

”Is the Chief Pilot ‘round?” to which one wag replied, yes, quite.

”Well can I see him please?”

No, said the wag, he’s not here.


They were great times, thanks for the memories, one and all.
Happy Australia Day !

PS
IDD, if you are still with us, all the best :)

[Weary]

I can't believe this thread is still going ! :ok:
I can vividly remember the day I got my first flying job with Airnorth. A bit like the story above - I walked into the old Airnorth office clutching a CV, Cathy behind the desk, and JLH around the corner in his office.
The usual cool exchange of oh-not-another-one small talk etc, when IBJ suddenly appears and asks me if I have a pen (embarrassingly, I didn't).
" Ha ! - whoever heard of a pilot without a pen!? " says he.
Figuring it was Game Over already, I replied "I had to pawn it for food !"
Next thing I know I was given instructions to report to Geoff Browne in Katherine.
Frieght boy on probation ! :D

[olderairhead]

Memory fade, who was the CFI at Arnhem Air Flight Training when It began in the 80's?