Blast from the Past: MMA

[Skystar320]

I've been going through my old books, reading the history on MMA [then Ansett WA]

Anyone old enough to share their thoughts on the sounds of a once great airline?

[Capn Bloggs]

Go to your library and borrow Capt Reg Adkins' book "I Flew For MMA". Once you pick it up, you won't put it down until you've finished it. It's one of the definitive "history of MMA" books around.

Can you imagine what a blast it must have been for those old guys: start off as a DC-3 FO doing 10 sectors a day in the 50s with hardly any navaids or radar, then turbine F-27s, finishing as a captain on the F-28 after 30 years. They saw it all. :D

[mauswara]

You can pretty well see All of W.A. from 30,000' in about 30 mins Bloggs.All the "Terrain" is UNDERGROUND"

[bentleg]

MacRoberston Miller Airlines, affectionately known when I was a kid as Mickey Mouse Airlines.

They ran services all over WA.

[hoss]

bloggs, you'll get more pocket money if you say go and BUY not borrow. an absolute must read, infact pilots shouldn't be allowed in WA airspace without proof of having read it.

love reading that book and the memories that it invokes of my time in WA as a young and impressionable kimberley pilot.

:)

[Fred Gassit]

The book lists somewhere all the destinations MMA flew to. Many of those places still have the big airstrips in place.
I cant help feeling nostalgic for a time when the rural sector (subsidised or otherwise) was a little more alive.

[Minosavy Masta]

Yep MMA with its 5 F28s in the late 70s was a Hoot to fly for...had the pleasure of a break from "Paradise"...whilst doing my F28 endorsement and Line training prior to the Pocket Rocket starting Ops in "Paradise".....only 2 ILSs in the network in those days....so lots of Non Precision Approaches from High Overhead....great machine and great people ....and Great Airline...;)

[greybeard]

Sure was a great place to learn your "trade", for me from DC-3 to F-28 until the late 80's.
Early days, 11 sectors in a DC-3, 3 crew, lots of handling, great station runs, later in the Otter was similar, single Pilot in those times with a "hairy chested" loader for company.
Flew with Reg on many occasions, always fun I felt, great other guys as well, good mentors in the main.
There were of course the "others", FRED and FREDA for a start???

I feel that the grounding obtained kept me alive in other places visited around the world in later years of adventures.
Some of the old guard are still around, well into their late 80's and early 90's in one case. The old Chief Engineer, Frank Colquone(spelling?) turned 100 earlier this month, usual letters from Queen etc, and great to see.

:ok:

[Howard Hughes]

Go to your library and borrow Capt Reg Adkins' book "I Flew For MMA". start off as a DC-3 FO doing 10 sectors a day in the 50s with hardly any navaids or radar,
I met him once flogging his book at a shopping centre in Darwin. He told me a great story about loading/unloading (hanging) meat directly into the DC-3 for transport, in between the morning and afternoon passenger flights...:ok:

[Fred Gassit]

Frank Colquhoun wrote a book as well, called Cockpit and Spanner, limited print I think but I've seen it in lots of WA libraries.

[Hornet306]

Went to Lloyd Butcher's funeral last year, his wife June is continuing their great work at Kanyana Wildlife Hospital that Lloyd and June set up when Lloyd retired from MMA. He did a great job helping introduce the F27 and F28 onto the line. I reckon my hearing is shot from walking next to that line of F28s going to Morning shift in the old Tower in the 70s and 80s. Nothing like the crackle of an F28 on take-off on a cold Perth winter morning! (Except maybe a B727-100).

[Minosavy Masta]

Ahhhhhh that "CRACKLE".....The Yanks now refer to it as the sound of freedom.....twas Marvelous ,and inspired many a youngster to put up with insurmountable Odds..to achieve their ambitions.....I can understand the push to quieten down the RPT Jets...but seems the Curfew shackles on the industry still seem to be based on the DBs expected on those cold morning take offs eh?.....its a bloody shame our Defence Gurus opt to continue with the Pissy 9 to inspire {NOT} our next generation of Aviators....what with No more Flight Deck visits in day to day ops....and the sound of freedom..now just an occassional Sigh...and the insane rush to reach the Bottom in terms of Wages and Conditions in the Industry.....sheeeeesh its no wonder Kids nowdays dont look at Aviation with a gleam in their eye.

[Stationair8]

Reg's book is a very enjoyable read and gives one a very good insight into the development of MMA, airline operations in WA, the AFAP involvement in getting better conditions for the pilots, the hard yard's involved for the pilots in transitioning into the F27 and F28 and the difficlties operating in remote parts of WA.

The good old F28 must have been a hoot to fly.

Had a jumpseat ride in a F28 into Darwin in the early 90's, the captain casually replied we will maintain 270 knots until 5 dme.

[tinpis]

Had a jumpseat ride in a F28 into Darwin in the early 90's, the captain casually replied we will maintain 270 knots until 5 dme.

The rules had well and truly sunk in by the 90's :E

[FGD135]

Reg's book is a very enjoyable read and ...


Hear, hear.

... and BUY not borrow. an absolute must read, infact pilots shouldn't be allowed in WA airspace without proof of having read it.

My copy was given to me as a birthday present. Either way, one of my most valuable books. Another one is "Sugarbird Lady".

[MMA_Historicflight]

Hey all, I am currently trying to get VH-BPN (ex VH-MML) and bring her back to Perth (Oh and back into the air to). Here is the link to the thread in the appropriate area
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/375638-mma-dc-3-vh-mml.html

I to have the "I flew for MMA" and its a great read. I have also read Frank's book who I must meet and tell him about the project. My Great uncle worked at MMA and a few of the people I work with and there are some great stories to be told.

[hoss]

can i put my name on the list to fly copilot with you on MML. how about an Air Beef flight out of glenroy. or at least something out of derby.

:)

[puff]

I did a jumpseat ride in a F28 years ago and was blown away with it. Turning final onto the ILS doing about 270kts the Captain turned around and said watch this (F/O flying) - out came the speedbrake - speed bleed off, all stabalised and landed took the first high speed into BNE. After landing his comment was -'try that in a 737'! Never seen a more effective speedbrake on an jet in my life - it was like driving on the freeway and pulling on a handbrake in a car.

Awesome machine in it's day - would have been a great first jet to cut your teeth on.

[Minosavy Masta]

Yep...300 Knots at 10 DME straight in on the ILS....AND STABLE BY 1500FT...but that was in the days when you could ;)