S-58T in Australia ?

[aseanaero]

I received an email today from a friend of mine in the USA asking whether I knew of an S-58T operating in Australia ?

Supposedly it was rebuilt from a 58T that was damaged by fire in 1997/98

I checked the CASA register and lots of S-76 and S-92s but no S-58Ts

Are there any operating in Oz ?

[Nigel Osborn]

Relying on my old fading memory, I don't think a S58T ever operated in Oz due to the restrictions put on by CAA. They did operate in PNG but only allowed to carry freight as it didn't have 2 independant fuel systems, so I'm told.
The S58 & Wessex 60 did operate here but many years ago. The Wessex Mk2 were going to come here from NZ but their CAA stopped it.
Now to find out if my memory is right!!:ok:

[heli1]

So where did those Wessex go ????

[Thai Pom]

Last 58T's I saw in this part of the world were Indonesian Registered operated by Airfast I believe.

[aseanaero]

My response to my American friend was someone was probably misidentifying a Wessex as an S58T in a museum somewhere :)

[aseanaero]

Last 58T's I saw in this part of the world were Indonesian Registered operated by Airfast I believe

A lot of the Indo 58Ts were written off in accidents I've searched around trying to buy engines and major components for US buyers but anything remaining was sold off or scrapped long ago

PK-OBN (1) Sikorsky S.58DT 58-1492 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1980

PK-OAD Sikorsky S.58ET 58-601 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1974 CofA expired

PK-OAF Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1129 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1974

PK-OAO Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1071 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1973 W/O nr Ujung Pandang, Sulawesi

PK-OBF Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1527 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1979

PK-OBL Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1612 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT Missing in Java Sea nr Masalembu Island

PK-OBM Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1663 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT W/O in Irian Jaya

PK-OBO Sikorsky S.58ET 58- 721 Airfast
Svs Indonesia PT 1980 Dismantled at Seletar 97

PK-OBS Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1111 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1980 W/O nr Tabang, East Kalimantan: found 5/8/94

PK-OBT Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1098 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1980 W/O at Kutai-Kelawit, East Kalimantan

PK-UHN Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1126 Natl Utility Helicopters PT 1973 W/O nr Karimun-Achmadyani AAF: hit sea

PK-UHW Sikorsky S.58ET 58-374 Natl Utility Helicopters PT 1974 W/O in Thailand

PK-UHY Sikorsky S.58ET 58-1612 Natl Utility Helicopters PT 1974

PK-OBL

PK-OBX Sikorsky S.58T 58-1093 Airfast Svs Indonesia PT 1981 Canx

PK-UHV Sikorsky S.58T 58-1101 Natl Utility Helicopters PT 1973 W/O at Muara Tewe

7 out of 16 helis on the register written off is a pretty high accident rate (44%)

I do occassionally run across some smaller S58T components (when we buy surplus mixed spares packages) with Air Asia Taiwan (Air America) tags on it !

[aseanaero]

So where did those Wessex go ????


Sold to an undisclosed buyer and still in storage (but in different locations than previously) in NZ and the UK.

There was talk of them being operated in Africa but they are all overdue for 48 month major inspections and getting approval for restricted commercial ops even in Africa doesn't seem to be that easy.

The biggest problem for the Wessex now is getting good engines. The mountains of surplus Gnome engines have migrated to the USA for tractor pulls and racing boats and there's no shop that can overhaul them anymore.

The fun part of that project was I did get to start one (under supervision) , sitting up in that cockpit was like a helicopter version of a B747.

-

[spinwing]

Mmmmm ...

The last S58T that I saw in Australia was on Thursday Island (refuelling) and then departing towards PNG .... I think sometime around September of 1979.

It was in Airfast (Indonesia) colours and was being ferried by one John Bayfuss (?) to someplace in Indonesia..... but I cannot for the life of me remember why?

I think also that Helitrans (Australia) in Cairns operated 58Ts for sometime but again cannot remember the details though I remember seeing them there at the airport (so many years ago).

I was also told of a Super Frelon which was in Australia (for operations in PNG) in the very early 70's but had some problems again with the then DCA re helipad requirements.

I do know that my (Oz) Senior Commercial Helicopter exams had in them quite a few questions based on S58t operations and that was in 1982! so I assume they (the 58Ts) were on the Australian register at some time.

Cheers :ok:

[Nigel Osborn]

I'm fairly certain the S58T didn't get onto the Oz register for some stupid CAA technical requirements. Helicopter Utilities had one in their Mascot hangar which I was going to fly on the strength of having 1035 hours on the Wessex Mk5! In about 1969 or 1970 it went to PNG, not too sure what rego. Eventually Airfast had several in Indonesia which were steadily crashed! Gladstone had a S58 which could outperform the S58T until that too crashed on the runway! The Super Frelon did a good job in Kiunga I think it was.... they built a massive pad for it.

[spinwing]

Mmmm...

Hi Nigel ... I think you could well be right about the 58T not having been on the Oz register ... and I cannot remember what reg the Helitrans machines were on ...

Was not Wally Watkins and Alain Le Lec flying the Super F (AS321) on that Kiunga job ... I know they were both very knowledgeable about the a/c and Wally knew all there was to know about the 58T ... a long time ago !!!


:uhoh:

[John Eacott]

Wally and Alain: there's a couple of names that I haven't heard for a long time!

[aseanaero]

Super F (AS321)

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp97/r_adrie/terlantar01.jpg

This Super Frelon airframe is on an air base in West Java looking more like Noah's Ark than a helicopter

[heli1]

Assume the Frelon airframe in java is the former Pertamina ship ...PK-PEf ,which before that was in OZ Don't suppose it still has the instrument panel in it ? Looking at the picture it might have and I know the Heli Museum are looking for one....they don't want the instruments ...just the panel !
They have a bunch of Gnomes too.

[aseanaero]

Assume the Frelon airframe in java is the former Pertamina ship ...PK-PEf

Paint job looks like Pelita Air Service (Pertamina)

Looking at the picture it might have and I know the Heli Museum are looking for one....they don't want the instruments ...just the panel

I'll see what I can do

-

[spinwing]

Mmmm....


That's the one .... Perf1 3 Engines in 1967 ... :eek:

[Brian Abraham]

The Airfast 58 that went down in Darwin Harbour early 70's following the loss of a tail rotor was it a Wessex or 58T? Jed Hart pilot.

[Nigel Osborn]

Yes, Jed did go down in Darwin, so that must have been the only Oz registered 58T.
I don't think Wally flew the Frelon, being ex-US Marine & an ex-Sikorski test pilot, I doubt if he flew a "foreign" machine! Alain & Frank Hillier certainly flew the Frelon, don't remember the others.

[spinwing]

Mmm ...

Ha Nigel ...

Yes I know what you mean .... However I flew quite a few hours with him in the PUMA and he always kept telling me how much Sikorsky had helped Sud Aviation with the design of the Frelon and the old 330!

So .... :confused:

[topendtorque]

Darwin.?
didn't a 62 go down in darwin as well, during autos, "you've got it, no you've got it!!"

also wasn't Alain at the controls of a standard 58 that got a bit of vibe in Darwin upon landing and ended up spread all over the flat. I remember with quite some affection his entertaining stories of the frelon and his life in the navy.
other names, not simmler?? or something similar. no pun intended, a top DC3 pilot I think. super ted was another name, was he on the 61 also???

i think it was Hillier who was captain who flew the 61 back to darwin on the eve of Tracy. A very highly respected gentleman by us down in the sticks. He would turn up ANYWHERE with a spare set of sticks in his pocket and state that NOW was a good time for a check ride.

[spinwing]

Mmmm ....


Yes .... Froggy Navy and "Sunderlands" seems to come to mind! (whats left of it) ....


;)

[captk]

Not exactly sure but I think the Helitrans S58T's were PNG registered. I was at the Turama River base in PNG mid 70's and seem to remember that they had 2 x S58T models and one S58 C model there contracted to Oilsearch (bit foggy on the number of machines). They must have been able to carry passengers because they used them for crew changes as well as slinging drill rigs and heavy equipment around. The C model was very rarely flown or didnt fly much when I was there anyway. They had some Jetrangers and a Lama there as well, some of which were Australian registered. Must have been around the time of PNG indepence with the mix of PNG and Oz registered machines!
Wally Watkins, Wayne Knight, Rick Howell, Blair Weaver, Tony Silver are some of the names that come to mind. Peter Manktello was there as well in the early days! There were others but I can't remember them all. I owe a debt of gratitude to those Helitrans guys at Turama River who inspired and encouraged me to go on and get my helicopter licence that led to a great career that I would'nt have changed for anything.

[spinwing]

Mmmm

How about some other names .... Arthur Blundell, Ron Trumbell, Andy Perry, Randy Mains ....


:eek:

[captk]

The old brain cells are working hard to remember all those names but some of it is coming back now!! I seem to recall Vic Barkell and Laddie Hendley flying at Turama River as well for a short while but that may have been before the S58's arrived.

[topendtorque]

Arfa? yep.
I think I remember him, 12K hours, twelve inches of pony tail, 12 kids, an drum roll,12 prangs? that the one????:ok: I certainly remember one of his prangs where his passenger reckoned that he was about three yards out and running afore he remembered the seat belt. M/R blades were by this time about three feet long. A Grenadier Gaurdsman, is that correct?

The good old '47, can't beat them.

John Hurrell was another who would, -- 'turn up' -- with spare sticks and 'just love to go checking', very highly respected.

Also from that era, Ernie Howlett, got his 20k'th hour in our prescence, (i think about 1973) 2 of which were rotary, at that time, of his 18 f/w. he had flown with Frank Minjoy in super sabres in RCAF, then a LOT of Catalina time doing magnetic work on the Ganges, after first starting work as an underground Leccy in Mt Isa mines in the fifties. Is he still around?? must dig up all my old copies of 'Airfast News' mags.

[spinwing]

Mmmm ...

Toppy ...

You forgot "Arfur's" (nicotine stained) fingernails just a bit shorter than his hair ... as I remember .... yep thats the one (thank God there was only one ... Ha Ha!).


:}

[peter manktelow]

wow...this thread bought back memories...

Nigel...how the hell are you ?

Is Frank Hillier still alive ? I had an email from DSW (not the Dave Whyte of Turama River fame but the Dave Whyte of OHAL) Anyhow Dave was trying to make contact with Frank without success.

Also anyone know where Phil Smith is these days ?

I am still ""languishing"" in U Tapao , Thailand. Just did a stint down the Antarctic.....

sorry , this is getting off thread.

I left Helitrans just before the S58's arrived. Dumb decision. It cud have been fun flying the 58 altho having come off Wessex 31B's in the Navy , I was none too interested at the time. Wud have got me in to M/E a bit earlier.

Cheers to all

Peter

[P2bleed]

Peter,
I am afraid Frank passed away sme years ago and Phil is still in the middle east flying B777 and 'Buses.
Regards