Moorabbin Taxiway History

[Mutley Eugenius]

OK here,s one for the older generation...

Does anyone remember where the defunct taxiways were at Moorabbin (or have any historical airport diagrams that would have listed them) for:

Delta
Echo
Hotel
India
Kilo

taxiways?

[djpil]

I remember runway 27. Tower told me to use it once in the ‘80s after 2 attempts with a Pitts on R31 in a roaring westerly wind, rather than go to Berwick.

[Checklist Charlie]

Strewth Dave, I remember 22 but not 27 and I was flying there in the 70's. Where was it?

CC

[djpil]

I had been flying there since the late '70s but had never heard of it. That day I told the Tower I was departing to Berwick and they said use 27. I asked where it was and they said the grass beside Lower Dandenong Rd - it worked nicely.

[runway16]

Ask MAC. They will have old layouts.

[triadic]

Ah! In the 60's it was 27 Grass - all over field. I remember once taking off almost directly toward the old tower! Then there was 11/29 which was in fact a taxiway but was used as a runway when the wind was from the SE. Does not show any more on Google. I remember being at the aero club one day and the Beach18 from FIA used 11 for take-off. It came past the aero club parking area with its tail already up! I don't recall 09 Grass as the wind was never that strong from the East. In those days it was an all over field with the runways 17/35 13/31 and 04/22. There were no runway lights, they put a flare path down for night flying. At one stage there was three N/S runways; L C R. C is now a taxiway. The threshold of 22 was back near Centre Dandy Rd long time before development in the NE corner screwed that part of the aerodrome. If I recall correctly there was a 09/27 strip up the northern end parallel with C/Dandy Rd., maybe the old TWY that runs into the development just north of the 13L threshold?
Those were the days! The Aero Club (RVAC) was very active and the old club building had heaps of personality (where the car park is now) and Ron Tyson delivered the fuel right to wherever you were parked. And Avgas was cheaper than Motor spirit!! Avgas was about 2/6 a gallon then.

[0ttoL]

Interesting stuff. Google maps still shows this maybe:
If I recall correctly there was a 09/27 strip up the northern end parallel with C/Dandy Rd., maybe the old TWY that runs into the development just north of the 13L threshold?

Google maps says its about 340m.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1029x701/screen_shot_2020_09_11_at_12_32_12_pm_4619b89201495c684e2453 776b063081377816a6.png

[By George]

On November the 3rd 1976 I had to make a gear up landing on RW27 in a Navajo (VH-MBY). One of the undercarriage door hinges failed, the broken end jamming the belly door from opening. Tried the emergency system, to no avail, and began to move into low fuel territory. I decided to leave the flaps up, close the cowl flaps and feather the left engine. With the old two bladed propellers I used the starter motor to level the blades. With just the right engine going I came into land. What caught me out was the aerodynamically clean aeroplane just wanted to float and I didn't touch down until nearly half way down. Trying to be clever nearly set me up for a fall. However, with no wheels the stopping distance is vastly improved. What really hurt the engineers, was the untouched and perfect left propeller only had ten hours left, while the bent back right one was brand new. I was not to know this of course. So yes, the runway exisited alright becaused I've mowed it.

[Mutley Eugenius]

This photo shows the 09/27 grass runway along the north edge as Centre Dandenong road. Below it is the old taxiway that used to run out to the end of the 04 runways but I don't know what taxiway it was. Anyone remember its name?https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/624x547/image_aa7366f1f7d4c3301bbe0813d65e30dc648a7454.png

[Mutley Eugenius]

The black and white photo here shows the original runways, I believe referred to as 27 and 29. I believe the 29 runway was later sealed but I don't have a shot of it. I do know that there is a tiny piece of it left as shown in the colour below as modern taxiway Alpha 3.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/878x770/image_d9e7cfdf674ab4fc070c6ee77f74ed82db08179c.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/296x119/image_4e938158ec3705d895d9b69eb2f8473ba44cf68e.png

[Office Update]

One of the sales guy's working for Ian Baillie, landed a Beech Duke down on the grass on Rwy 27 from memory...

I think it might have been the same guy that flew the Bizjets C402 into the trees in Tassie when he flew the NDB in reverse heading track (good read in the Safety Digest)

[buzzz.lightyear]

The nose gear wouldn't extend with the Duke.. VH-TEI... I saw it happen .. and VH-MBY as well..

[Mutley Eugenius]

Thats a good idea. Do you have any contact details for anyone that works there?

[Mutley Eugenius]

Ive posted a photo of it i down below

[deja vu]

I trained as a student at Moorabbin and worked there as an instructor, charter pilot etc from 1965 to 1980. I was never aware that a grass strip 09/27 existed and was available, never saw any reference to it on landing charts, never saw any airfield markings or taxiways to or from it. There ya go.

[Mutley Eugenius]

OK Thanks guys for all your help. So far I have been able to locate these taxiways from history.

But... Does aynbody know or remember where the OLD Taxiway ECHO, FOXTROT, HOTEL or INDIA were?

The new Echo and Foxtrot are made out of the old Centre runways of 31/12 and 35/17. I just would like to find out where they USED to be.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1515/untitled_4_597d28fd52e6b1b72a4ca8dc71895ce3338f87ce.jpg

[triadic]

deja, I was there about the same time in the 60's and I recall it being there, but don't recall when. I have a feeling it was in the 70's. The picture above that shows 27 Grass is in the 70's as the new RVAC clubhouse and the A frame is there and the hangars on the north side of the taxiway are there and include Tysons refueling which was at the East end. The first hangar built in that row was Bill Suhr (Peninsular Air Services) opposite CFS/FIA which is just outside the picture on the left (West) side. It will never be the same (or as good!)