Essendon Airport 1967 [Archive]

Propstop

23rd Mar 2020, 06:31

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1040/transparency0000_e8486d1d0d39724f929012c4a6e0599eb90fdef3.jp g
Prince Philip Essendon 1967
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1628x1088/transparency0001_a9bdca2dcb8a23c8843c6e5da66e89a216c56a6a.jp g
Essendon Airport 1967
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1632x1032/transparency0002_4e68846bb8f306958ae53906cf5d07d22a4e8cbd.jp g
IL18 Transported the Russian Ballet 1967

I took a series of photos when I was an apprentice at TAA. This thread will contain several of them over time

Propstop

23rd Mar 2020, 06:33

The photos were scanned from slides so apologise for the poor quality

Turnleft080

23rd Mar 2020, 07:26

Good one Propstop. Love old photos. I note your departure off RWY26 in a L188 a few old DC-3s in the back ground where all the car dealers are now.
I also note the overhaul shops where LaManas shopping centre is located. During 1975 I use to go with my dad to the airport and watch aeroplanes.He did
his RPPL in a C150 VH-DTC at a company called Speedair which I can see the same building in Vaughan St where the security car company sits. As a 6yo
I can still hear the Ansett-ANA,TAA B727 100s DC-9-32s and F-27s with their squeaky darts. Fence lines use to be waist high and the car park was full
of Holden HQs. Thanks for the post.

Propstop

23rd Mar 2020, 07:44

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1588x972/airforce_1_arriving_essendon_1967_f5b03e0edfee6baed10e9562f7 9963e662f34ad0.jpg
Airforce 1 carrying LBJ Essendon 1967
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1480x720/usaf_c141_starlifter_essendon_1967_5afd9b0b8f88f417f1005bd23 fc2bde41cc91fff.jpg
C141 Starlifter carrying the presidential limo
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1416x832/twa_b707_essendon_1967_7498b4ee313258fe6c93facfcde74e5d9ed01 331.jpg
B707 carrying LBJ press
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1616x1028/pan_am_b707_essendon_1967_660da5242acb731f80b7812f57fe72daab 220abc.jpg
B707 carrying all the hangers-on
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1632x844/usn_c47_essendon1967_d2112de2b05b5a324e6375ecb79d04bdced049d 2.jpg
USN Attache transport
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1596x720/usaf_dc6_essendon_1967_35f637aac2a946a7e37892eb07bd7e873e172 a5e.jpg
Another of the aircraft when LBJ visited DC6B

There was a whole lot of exotic aircraft(for me at the time) visiting Essendon when LBJ flew in. Security was minimal and we were able to look over all aircraft except Airforce 1.

machtuk

23rd Mar 2020, 08:33

kaz3g

23rd Mar 2020, 08:57

I was not quite 8 yo when the Queen came on her first visit and MELBOURNE was aglow in lights. My dad and I did a night flight around the city in a DC3 (with a couple of dozen others). I seem to recall the runways were concrete then?

Allan L

23rd Mar 2020, 12:06

machtuk

23rd Mar 2020, 22:40

I may be wrong here, BUT I recall an old (departed) friend from the Essendon Airport Fire Service of the time, saying that they were training at Tulla and were on site there whilst some of LBJ's entourage of aircraft needed to go there for refueling? reloading and take-off? Or have I got the occasion wrong?

Tulla didn't officially own till 1970, LBJ arrived at EN in 1966, doubt Tulla was operational in 1966 for any operation?

Propstop

23rd Mar 2020, 22:52

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1040/c310_essendon_1967_69611c486db87ac1009f88f5302b062cadebbdce. jpg
A very nice looking 310
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1612x1064/gyrocopter_essendon_1967_3a5cec725875345f88d6607e0023d232479 113ff.jpg
A very brave man, at least it is tethered
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1596x1044/avis_aztec_essendon_1967_7095995e26f4fe80ad8e86f0554f361d77d cb81e.jpg
A brave concept by Avis. One of the pilots was a family friend

I used to enjoy wandering around the GA area as, to me, there was some very interesting aircraft

Fris B. Fairing

24th Mar 2020, 00:03

The photos were scanned from slides so apologise for the poor quality

Propstop
Don't knock slides, particularly if they are Kodachrome. That's as good as it gets.
Please keep them coming.

chimbu warrior

24th Mar 2020, 00:05

I may be wrong here, BUT I recall an old (departed) friend from the Essendon Airport Fire Service of the time, saying that they were training at Tulla and were on site there whilst some of LBJ's entourage of aircraft needed to go there for refueling? reloading and take-off? Or have I got the occasion wrong?

LBJ visited again for Harold Holt's funeral and his B707 landed at Tullamarine.Construction at Tullamarine was obviously still in progress.

I only discovered this when I stayed at the Mantra hotel at Tullamarine, where they have a series of old photos on the wall near the elevators.

John Eacott

24th Mar 2020, 00:24

I believe when Johnston's 707 landed on 26 it cracked the Rwy?
in the 60's us kids used to cross the paddocks to the Nth and leave our bikes with the car parking guy at his little station. Then we would wander round the GA planes to the Nth of the Northen finger unaccompanied! Sometimes the safety officer would stop us to say look but don't touch! The observation deck was like going to heaven for small boys starry eyed, ah the good old days -:)

When the car park was opened and no fees involved, I scored a bunch of the steel posts that corralled the cars into the exit lane and used them for a three tier retaining wall. That was about 1984, and the retaining wall is still standing :cool:

The terminal building was always busy; Skybird Aviation, GeeBees, night club at weekends, viewing area always open, little or no issues getting out onto the apron which was always full of GA. You could open up with a pump action shottie these days and be unlikely to hit anything with wings :(

Propstop

24th Mar 2020, 00:25

The slides are a mixture of Kodachrome and Ektachrome but unfortunately, like me, have deteriorated with age. I will continue to post some more later on.

Allan L

24th Mar 2020, 01:36

Tulla didn't officially own till 1970, LBJ arrived at EN in 1966, doubt Tulla was operational in 1966 for any operation?

Yep LBJ in 1966 and then late Dec 67 for Harold Holt funeral.

The E-W runway had been completed early '67 and was being used for training from about April onwards.

In fact QANTAS had made application (January '67) to use the E-W runway for commercial flights as of the 1st April '67, but this was rejected as DCA felt it would slow the completion of the N-S runway and construction of terminal buildings etc. They applied again (May '67) requesting to commence international flights at Tulla in April of '68, but again were rejected as it would hinder the completion of the terminals etc.

Edit to add: Not sure when the N-S runway was completed, but in Feb '67 the timetable was for completion of it and over 9 miles of taxiway by the end of that year.

aroa

24th Mar 2020, 04:18

Top thread. Great pix. Love all that earlier, freer days stuff.
I'll have to dig out some... have one of the Dart powered Handley Page 'Herald' visiting for possible sales.

growahead

24th Mar 2020, 08:01

The C310 was WRG. It went missing between Broken Hill and Mildura in 1973. There was an extensive search that lasted about 7 days, and found under a tree. I think the opinion was that it got caught in a CB. Very unhappy ending.

machtuk

24th Mar 2020, 10:00

Yep LBJ in 1966 and then late Dec 67 for Harold Holt funeral.

The E-W runway had been completed early '67 and was being used for training from about April onwards.

In fact QANTAS had made application (January '67) to use the E-W runway for commercial flights as of the 1st April '67, but this was rejected as DCA felt it would slow the completion of the N-S runway and construction of terminal buildings etc. They applied again (May '67) requesting to commence international flights at Tulla in April of '68, but again were rejected as it would hinder the completion of the terminals etc.

Edit to add: Not sure when the N-S runway was completed, but in Feb '67 the timetable was for completion of it and over 9 miles of taxiway by the end of that year.

Thanks for the info Alan -:)
as a side note I started with Mobil Oil at the JUHI depot in 1980 ten years after Tulla opened, the whole fuel system was behind the eight ball from day one as when the drome was drawn up the hydrants & gates where designed around the B707/ DC8's of the day, the 'Jumbo jets' where not originally catered for! At the international gates every second gate was decommissioned after a while, the hydrants where repositioned, much overtime was gained, oh the rorts where plentiful...lolol

Okihara

25th Mar 2020, 00:14

Spectacular pictures and anecdotes. Thanks for sharing.

DeRated

25th Mar 2020, 00:26

Thanks for the info Alan -:)
as a side note I started with Mobil Oil at the JUHI depot in 1980 ten years after Tulla opened, the whole fuel system was behind the eight ball from day one as when the drome was drawn up the hydrants & gates where designed around the B707/ DC8's of the day, the 'Jumbo jets' where not originally catered for! At the international gates every second gate was decommissioned after a while, the hydrants where repositioned, much overtime was gained, oh the rorts where plentiful...lolol

I worked for Mobiloil during 1970 at Essendon and drove an avgas tanker from Essendon to Tulla to begin operations there. That was around January 1971.

As you said re the JUHI fiasco - we were testing one of the first mobile hydrants trucks - designed in a hurry for the increased flow rates - couldn't get it to work. QANTAS were training with 707s, BOAC VC10s had started schedules along with some other internationals.

Propstop

25th Mar 2020, 01:13

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x904/dca_f27_essendon_1967_71ac00dee1362ba3bee4d60046c4ccde23486d c3.jpg
DCA F27 used for airways calibration amongst other things
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1620x1068/dca_hs_125_essendon_1967_c99c0fae0617ff39143420565fab203eaa2 f9c71.jpg
HS 125 A few days after this photo was taken it got a belly rub from a runway
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1632x904/an_carvair_essendon_1967_5f3b4d4636319fbd5435f2f4f6d0d77686d c9b2c.jpg
Carvair, the piston engined jumbo

I am in lockdown at home and, as a captive audience, being made to catch up on things I have been 'too busy to do'. Have managed to sneak away and post some more items. These are very fond memories of a nicer period in aviation.
I feel for each and every one of you who have been stood down, or simply made redundant with nowhere to go. If it will help please PM me, aviation is just one big family and I am a good listener. Stay safe!

oicur12.again

25th Mar 2020, 03:17

Fantastic stuff, I spent my early aviation years hanging around EN in the mid eighties.
VH-CAO, I recall that sporting a black and silver paint job many years after this pic was taken.
And regarding ML in the early days, my dad landed a 727 there before it was officially open when they arrived back from PH and EN was fogged in.
Love the pics and appreciate the time taken to upload them, thanks

machtuk

25th Mar 2020, 04:09

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1325/image_7c7151fcdb748b6404fccca49269ea2003cb172f.jpeg
Around 60 Yrs ago during a public day at EN, cute kid -)
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1600/image_b80317bbd986255d152fa796ef55a9ef55ed45eb.jpeg
Late 70's, that's my 420 G Jag in the background!

Propstop

25th Mar 2020, 05:22

Fantastic, keep the pics coming. This old fart is loving remembering the good old days.

machtuk

25th Mar 2020, 05:26

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1379/image_6c4c91f992f58a8de79c73dec0312c56a87ae340.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x2000/image_8b7e768de75fa9da2a7bffb4a8a21bc68a4668e5.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1861x1393/image_47893c5075025cd57476860ca7856ff5a46001dd.jpeg

machtuk

25th Mar 2020, 05:29

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1994x1358/image_154a050aa8f070b9eec755331457a855e87f0342.jpeg
Note the PBY in the background!

CaptainMidnight

25th Mar 2020, 08:34

From my wandering around EN early 1979:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x600/cbr001_af5db7888a3c7e895bcfe3caf658dcdff55c149c.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x600/lr35001_6f8b78711ccc4c52ca16a4daef0c50cdccf4e272.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x600/merlin001_81f0a2566132a5f482802d5e261dc2ccb4b697db.jpg

machtuk

25th Mar 2020, 10:28

Ah VH TLJ, my fav was the 35 Lears, nice to fly, a gentlemans aeroplane -)

Ascend Charlie

25th Mar 2020, 10:29

machtuk

25th Mar 2020, 10:40

Machtuck, I really enjoyed flying the Aerocommanders, even if their body would flex on rotation and the seat would run backwards on its rails!

Barely avoided an accident one day in Inverell, lucky the pax behind me gave me a shove to get back in reach of the controls.

wow! You where lucky!
funny I used to overhaul the Lyc IO540 E1B5's on the AC500's in the 70's (the one in the photo I overhauled both engines, poor pilots...lolol) and years latter I ended up flying them -)

mendi63

25th Mar 2020, 20:44

machtuk, thanks for sharing the photo of the Mk31 Bristol "Frightener" which was either ADL or TBB. I spend thousands of hours working on those two aircraft albeit at Archerfield in the 60's.

40years

26th Mar 2020, 09:27

I was working in Essendon Tower then. I can see the rear end of my bronze Chrysler Centura in the car park. :O

Global Aviator

26th Mar 2020, 10:48

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1596x1044/avis_aztec_essendon_1967_7095995e26f4fe80ad8e86f0554f361d77d cb81e.jpg
A brave concept by Avis. One of the pilots was a family friend

Was AVIS ahead of the times? Was this the first UberAir? :)

By George

26th Mar 2020, 12:03

The Bristol freighter is VH-ADL nicknamed 'Adolf' by the crews at the time(Ex Pakistan Airforce). In the background is the Survey Catalina VH-EXG. One of the Air Express Captains John Edwards flew both at various times. VH-TBB was one of the first Air Express freighters to reach fatigue life, by memory based on landings. It ended up on the fire dump at Tullamarine.

machtuk

26th Mar 2020, 12:12

I recall talking to the drivers of the PBY in the Kate 70's that looked like a flying clothes line! 😂 The drivers said that if they landed on the water it would sink!👍

nonsense

26th Mar 2020, 14:17

My family emigrated to Australia from the UK in September 1968, flying into Essendon from New Zealand.
Our flight arrived three hours late and customs and immigration had departed for the night, so a plane load of passengers simply disembarked and vanished into the Melbourne night without any record of our arrival, something which was to cause me considerable hassles in the early 1990s when I had to prove Australian residency to enrol at university!

triadic

26th Mar 2020, 14:52

Ahhh... EXG. I did my endorsement with Wes Guy at Execs along with Stan Tayler. Did survey work in all states and there are lots of stories to tell of that time! Remember we were working out of Broken Hill when Gough got the sack in Nov 75. One had to keep your arms in and the windows shut during start as if the wind was right it was possible to get a cup full of oil in your lap from the lower cylinder. It had been modified for water bombing and the 1830's were replaced with Wright 2600's (2603 to be exact!) One arm out the same window could reach the prop tip, not that anyone tried...! Yes, it had many holes and would have sunk, but it was 'land only'. Will dig up some pics. Great thread

triadic

27th Mar 2020, 06:55

PBY5 Super Canso VH-EXG, based at Essendon operated by Executive Air Services.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x463/cat_exg_ph_6_85_gg_kom_250358f9c14ec6dc2d2626aa9a31122b68d47 3ab.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x427/cat_exg_1nose_ph_6_85_kom_2a9ce2c9f8c44ed64ee73aac5d48408fff 8a7a30.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x418/cat_exg_mtisa_9_79_tkoff_bd_kom_a1d1ec2db0189960f0a981ed8921 a767bd8ef599.jpg
Departing Mt Isa

Ex FSO GRIFFO

27th Mar 2020, 08:13

Re 'EXG'...... Capt John Edwards was 'based at Kal for a period of a coupla months or so, early 80's, doing his surveys.

On one engine start one fine morning, there was a resounding 'THWAK' from the No 1 Engine just after 'start'.

Thankfully, John called on the radio with a 'simple request'......The prop wash had removed his cap when he opened the side window and leaned out to clean the windscreen,,,,,,
Thankfully there was no 'tissue' inside it.....and YEP...He did ask that we pick up his cap as it was his favorite...!

More like his 'favorite' favorite after that.....

Hope you're reading this John.

ALL the BEST!