View Full Version : Flinders Island Airlines Beech 18
Stationair8
19th Aug 2016, 05:50
Having a look at another website at some old photos from the late 50's through to the early 80's, including some shots of the FIA Beech 18's.
It shows VH-FIA in an overall red paint scheme, did they only operate one or was there another one in the fleet?
I can only recall seeing it once at a Point Cook Airshow in 1973-5, but never saw it at YMMB.
When was the Beech 18 retired from the FIA fleet?
PLovett
19th Aug 2016, 06:31
I remember seeing it at YMMB back in the late 60s' (68 or 69) as I got to crawl through it while it was sitting in a hangar. I think there was 2 of them but the memory is not what it was.
Stationair8
19th Aug 2016, 06:53
No doubt you had a valid ASIC card while crawling through the B18?
Jabawocky
19th Aug 2016, 07:28
I went to buy or at least price up a new tractor on Tuesday, the sales guy happened to supply YCAB aero club machines and he in his younger days worked down that way on said Beech 18's.
He had that glowing fond memories look on his face. Except he said the operator hated spending money on maintenance and all they did was do lots of Ohh **** maintenance asa result. Not sure if it was the same operator or not but how many could there be?
donderwolkje
19th Aug 2016, 07:47
FIE and FID Beech D18E and Beech D18S
Cheers..
emeritus
19th Aug 2016, 12:58
" oh **** maintenance "
That was not the policy/ philosophy when I was a "driver " with FIA back in '63.
Was not endorsed on FID but did a bit of flying in it. A real pilots aircraft.:ok:
Emeritus
PLovett
19th Aug 2016, 15:09
No doubt you had a valid ASIC card while crawling through the B18?
Don't be silly. Back then they'd let you crawl over their latest Electra or B727. All you had to say was that you were a pilot from the aero club and all the ginger beers would say was, "don't touch anything". ASICs', what the hell are they?
Rotor Work
20th Aug 2016, 05:56
Link to Geoff Goodall site
Regards R W
http://www.goodall.com.au/beech18-production/images/Beech-D18S-FID%20red.htm
http://www.goodall.com.au/beech18-production/beech18-part-2.pdf
http://www.goodall.com.au/beech18-production/images/Beech-D18S-FIE.htm
Stationair8
30th Aug 2016, 07:28
No one got any more info on the Beech 18's?
Flying Binghi
30th Aug 2016, 11:04
Hmmm... I had a look-see through FIE when it were red and parked at Bankstown late last century. Got some hard photos some-where.
I seems to recall these machines getting mentioned in threads before. Search perhaps..?
:cool:
.
Jabawocky
1st Sep 2016, 22:57
" oh **** maintenance "
That was not the policy/ philosophy when I was a "driver " with FIA back in '63.
Was not endorsed on FID but did a bit of flying in it. A real pilots aircraft.
Emeritus
You were at least 20 years ahead of the time period I think. Tractor man was probably not born until shortly after or so...
emeritus
2nd Sep 2016, 08:02
As I understand, Alan Rea sold out and retired in 1975, so presumably things went south after that.
Emeritus.
Emeritus
1975 sounds about right. I attended a football game with Alan and a mutual friend in the 80's.
Ps. You may be interested to know that Alan and John Porter were great mates in latter years.
Bill Hanrahan spoke at Alan's funeral.
Stationair8
3rd Sep 2016, 00:18
Didn't Fred Blake, own a share in FIA?
emeritus
3rd Sep 2016, 09:24
B772
Never realised Alan n John were mates. Flew with John a few times on Viscounts when a 1/2 bar sprog f/o. A real gentleman and a pleasure to work with.
Have I heard correctly that BH is no longer with us ?
Emeritus
Emeritus
Alan Rea and John Porter went on many trips together due to their common interests including a British Airways Concorde crossing of the Atlantic.
Sad to say Bill H passed away over 9 years ago on 30 July 2007 from a heart attack on the Western Ring Road. Bill was on his way to a QF sim job either at Airport West or Mascot.
In about 2005 I believe Bill overbalanced and fell from a balcony he was constructing at his Hanrahan Vineyard in the Yarra Valley. This caused some considerable damage and I do not think Bill ever fully recovered.
You would know his partner as the blonde Bev Cowley; ex AN Cabin Manager
http://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/286094-vale-captain-bill-hanrahan.html
Hanrahan (http://hanrahan.com.au/)
Hanrahan Vineyard - (http://wineyarravalley.com.au/winery/hanrahan-vineyard/)
With the passing of Bill, Fred Boomsma and Nick Warner (Airbus) the 3 pilots on the first A320 delivery to Aust. have all passed on.
Dora-9
3rd Sep 2016, 19:12
B772 - thanks for posting that. Like Emeritus, I was unaware of Bill's passing. While he had is detractors (which management pilot didn't?) I always found him very pleasant to deal with, a gentleman in fact. RIP Bill.
Dora-9
3rd Sep 2016, 19:27
VH-FIE seen at the Antique Aeroplane Association's annual fly-in at Narandera, April 2006. The gent in the doorway is Bill Mailer.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Blithering/IMG_1879%20-%20Copy_zps4pg9cenj.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Blithering/media/IMG_1879%20-%20Copy_zps4pg9cenj.jpg.html)
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a144/Blithering/IMG_1878%20-%20Copy_zps65d2uo7x.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Blithering/media/IMG_1878%20-%20Copy_zps65d2uo7x.jpg.html)
Traffic_Is_Er_Was
6th Sep 2016, 02:49
I knew I had one somewhere. Mangalore Air Show, early 80's.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm327/andylitt/IMG_20160906_0002.jpg