Britten Norman Islander Question

[eagleskinner]

Where to post this question? I have chosen here, simply because it's history. This Islander was shot down by Guerilla gunfire over Papua New Guinea in January 1990 and was last known to be rotting away at Wakunai airstrip on PNG. P2BAY or VHBAY

The thing is guys, does anyone know what the logo on the fin depicts?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/CBris/Various%203/whodis.jpg

The original imnage is on airliners.net

Photos: Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/MountainAir/Britten-Norman-BN-2A-26-Islander/1160806/M/)

[Kitbag]

I did think it was possibly an early variant of Mountainairs current logo with the red bleached outby sunlight ? The aircraft had been sat for 16 years between shootdown and the photo being taken. Despite the name on the side of the fuselage, however, the accident report states that it was operated by North Soloman Air Services of which I can find no trace with a 3 min Google search so I cannot suggest if it has merged or been subsumed by another company

[eagleskinner]

Kitbag, would that be the multi-coloured stripey "three mountains" logo? Blue orange yellow white?

I know that if I paint this for the flight sim people, I can simply paint a smudge, but to be accurate, you have to know the original state so that you can weather it.

[Kitbag]

That was certainly my original thought, here it is for everyone else: http://www.mountainair.co.nz/data/images/mountianair-pilots.jpg

and that would fit with the current cheat line style, but there are 20 years between your Islander and their Cessna 172 and 206 today. I can find no other images depicting Mountainair or North Soloman Ar Services. Perhaps somebody in that neck of the woods could help?

[eagleskinner]

That is the problem with so called knowledge these days - it stops before the internet (occasionally)

Maybe we have a reader down-under who is still "steam driven" and remembers... either the incident or the plane.

P.S. Why do I ask? because of my hobby - I "paint" airplanes for the Microsoft Flight Simulator. Even such "wrecks". Oh I have even done some designs for real world owners as well - it's all the same. Anyway, it would appeal to my warped sense of humour to make a wreck like this Islander airworthy again - even if "only" in the simulator.

[mauswara]

EagleS,There is a dedicated PNG thread on Downunder where someone will have the info you seek re: the Islander in Question.Bouganville (or North Solomons) Province is to the east of PNG's main island.In 1988'89 a civil war broke out (try google or Wik for history) P2-BA- were a/c of the "Bougair" Fleet.(2 x Islander + 1 x Aztec I think at that time??)I'm not sure what the tail symbol is,could be a provincial Govt.symbol perhaps? Probably ground sabotage rather than a "shoot down"good luck re;your quest.

[tail wheel]

I think you will find P2-BAY belonged to Bougainville Air Services (or "Bougair") and I'm sure it wasn't "shot down".

Bougainville Air Service was owned by the Bougainville Provincial Government (or as the rebels preferred, the North Solomons Provincal Government). Don't know why it has "Mountainair" markings?

It is a long time ago but from memory they had a Shorts Skyvan and two Islanders. I think the rebels set fire to one of the Islander on the ground at Kieta (or maybe Arawa?) on Bougainville Island during the Bougainville revolt, probably 20 odd years ago. I've seen a photo of the aircraft with fire damage - I don't think it happened at Wakunai?

The photo on airliners.net doesn't look like either Wakunai or Kieta, although the terrain behind may be Kieta? :confused:

Apinun mauswara. I don't recall an Aztec but you may well be correct. I think they started operations with C185s? Mi lusim ting ting! :{

I don't recall the Skyvan ever flying as it sat at Kieta for a long time with parts missing. They sent a guy overseas to buy a Twin Otter but forgot to give him a photo, so he came back with a Skyvan. :}

Last time I saw the Skyvan in the early 1980s, it was being painted with a brush and house paint at Kieta! The Islanders operated to airstrips on Bougainville, between Kieta and Buka. Bougainville Air Services owned the Arawa town airstrip - and threatened to block the strip with logs when we took a Twin Otter in there during the early 1980s.

Here is some Bougair references:

P2-BAC (http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900299-0)

P2-BAB (http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19890321-1)

Bougair (http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%200467.html)

Skyvan P2-BAC (http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/png/kieta/1982/kieta-airport-skyvan.html)

Listing of PNG charter and airline operators. (http://www.airlinehistory.co.uk/RestofWorld/Papua%20New%20Guinea/Airlines.asp)

Ask your questions on THIS (http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-general-aviation-questions/152566-png-ples-bilong-tok-tok-148.html) thread. I'm sure someone will remember. I seem to recall OzExpat may have photos of the Islander - send him a PM. Or High 6 may have operated F-28s into Kieta for Air Niugini and may remember.

[tail wheel]

mates rates posted this:

MAF sold the commercial operation of the airline on Bougainville to Bougainville Development Corporation.I flew for them in 1976 and Bougainville Air Services was already under the control of BDC.The 2 185's were P2-BAF and BAM.

and

Yes they had 2 Islanders P2-BAC and P2-BAY as I recall.

In THIS (http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-general-aviation-questions/337283-taa-cessna-180s-png-8.html) thread.

He should be able to answer your questions about Bougair and P2-BAY. (Bougainville Development Corp was the business arm of the Bougainville Provincial Government).


LATER:
Now I am curious...........

There is an accident report HERE (http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900124-0) which states:

Shot down. Also reported to have been set on fire by rebels after landing.
The airplane was later seen at Tabubil (TBG) in 2006 as P2-BAY (MountainAir) in deteriorted state. This occurrence may have happened at Tabubil to P2-BAY or VH-BAY was repaired after the 1990 occurrence.

Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Wakunai Airport (WKN)

I think the Islander that was set on fire was completely gutted, center section and wings destroyed?

I guess P2-BAY may have been "re-born" after an accident at Wakunai? The photo may have been taken at Tabubil? Tabubil is a l-o-o-o-n-g way from Kieta or Wakunai, must be at least 800 nm - or a week in an Islander! :E

Or P2-BAY in the photo may have been a totally different aircraft with recycled registration?

[sankamap]

I flew in all the Bougair Islanders and the Skyvan many times as a passenger between 1979 and 1990. The incident at Wakunai was in January 1990. The Islander I was in left Wakunai 15 to 30 minutes before the second plane. After we left the next plane landed and a BRA rebels arrived, ordered everyone out and set it on fire. Newsapers reported on it and had photos I think. Have seen pics of it on the net probably taken by a chopper pilot. PNGDF Iroquois picked up the pilot and passengers. My flight was from Nissan to Arawa and also just missed a shootup just before we landed in Buka. 2 near misses within an hour.

I can't remember the regos but the fire left the Islander beyond repair. This photo is not at Wakunai as there were no high fences there and the area looks very different. It has a caption saying Tabubil. The BRA were targeting Bougainville Development Corporation which had become unpopular due to a controversial politically motivated share deal.

The Skyvan had various nicknames due to its appearance but it did most definitely fly and was featured in PNGs first full-length feature film Tukana starring Albert Toro filmed in 1980. There is footage in the plane mid flight and of it landing at Buin. I remember the very high and large open cabin and rear cargo ramp.

Bougair's last chief pilot Isaiah Moroko from Buka passed away last year. The rego may have been recycled or this may be the other Islander that I was in on the day. The Bougair logo was a stylised head wearing an Upé initiation hat.

Here is a photo of the Bougair Islander P2 BAY.
BOUGAIR Parked on Runway at Piva North (Piva Unclie) (http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/png/piva_uncle/1982/piva-uncle-bougair-landed.html)