The way we were - Ansett, TAA, Qantas
Anyone remember these? Imagine this happening today!!!!
I have a website dedicated to many of the Airlines referenced in the thread
Had a squizz at it dac 25. Good work. The EWA F27 pictured at Norfolk Island looks like it could be VH-EWN. When you start the audio you get six minutes of the Darts winding up to 10,000 RPM. But at least no hearing loss or the ingestion of great wafts of kerosene.
still , very nostalgic
and oh . . those NLK overnights!
p.s. the kids leaning on the fence in that photo . . . .. we were leaning on that self same very high security barricade one day to watch a SAFEAIR Argosy from NZ landing on RWY22 coming in fast to touch down between us and the terminal. That Whistling Wheelbarrow had very hot brakes after she was stopped , turned around and taxied back up to the terminal.
Last edited by Fantome; 17th May 2015 at 04:44.
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AHHH yes the Ansett Christmas pudding.
As a young sprog with AN in the late eighties I recall a jump seat ride on a "whispering T Jet" early January and the conversation went something like this.
F/O: Hey Bob did you eat that pudding we got for Christmas
Capt: Yeah we had on Christmas day....bloody beautiful.
F/O: Really?..... mine tasted like s..t, had one mouthful and tossed it!
Capt: No we devoured ours, how long did you cook it ?.
F/O: COOK IT ?.
One of priceless memories
As a young sprog with AN in the late eighties I recall a jump seat ride on a "whispering T Jet" early January and the conversation went something like this.
F/O: Hey Bob did you eat that pudding we got for Christmas
Capt: Yeah we had on Christmas day....bloody beautiful.
F/O: Really?..... mine tasted like s..t, had one mouthful and tossed it!
Capt: No we devoured ours, how long did you cook it ?.
F/O: COOK IT ?.
One of priceless memories
Last edited by Thumbs up; 5th May 2015 at 09:29.
The way we were, the milk run around the stations on the DC3,from the Isa stopping at each place with a strip,,trying to get home for Xmas from Julia creek,, lots of kids flying,, plane full, Fo arranged for 2 little uns to sit together and gave me their seat on the F27.
Working in Saudi,, very very premmy baby arrived in England,, at Xmas time, planes completely packed,, on wait list in Bahrein, plane was loading,, I spoke to the cabin boss and he said get on and put me in the otherwise empty top deck of the 747 for the trip to LHR,, had an ATC card and would backtrack a 1000 miles to get on a QF flight, rather than BA or some of the other grubby airlines.
All that was over 40 years ago
The rot started when rice biscuits were introduced, and cabin staff refused to give one a cognac and insisted on disgusting Tolley, while Singapore, QF's major competitor, would give you double shots and champagne if you were polite, and tuck you up in a blanket. Quiet nice as anyone who has worked in Saudi will know. Frequent flyer priveleges were slowly reduced and then charged for. One got to know the crews so much so, that on a flight LHR /Barhrein I gave up my seat to a cabin steward who was pissed out of his mind and hid him under my jacket, while I drank at the back, much to the chagrin on the flight services director dressed in his Beijing tram drivers uniform who was looking for him.
Today I really do backtrack 1000 miles to avoid the regimented grim cabin of QF and enjoy Emirates who sometimes give me an unasked-for upgrade and are unfailingly polite and helpful rather like the boys and girls on the 707, and ealry 747 flights
I know that nostalgia is not what it used to be, but they were golden years before the effing bean counters took over all our individualistic endeavours.
Working in Saudi,, very very premmy baby arrived in England,, at Xmas time, planes completely packed,, on wait list in Bahrein, plane was loading,, I spoke to the cabin boss and he said get on and put me in the otherwise empty top deck of the 747 for the trip to LHR,, had an ATC card and would backtrack a 1000 miles to get on a QF flight, rather than BA or some of the other grubby airlines.
All that was over 40 years ago
The rot started when rice biscuits were introduced, and cabin staff refused to give one a cognac and insisted on disgusting Tolley, while Singapore, QF's major competitor, would give you double shots and champagne if you were polite, and tuck you up in a blanket. Quiet nice as anyone who has worked in Saudi will know. Frequent flyer priveleges were slowly reduced and then charged for. One got to know the crews so much so, that on a flight LHR /Barhrein I gave up my seat to a cabin steward who was pissed out of his mind and hid him under my jacket, while I drank at the back, much to the chagrin on the flight services director dressed in his Beijing tram drivers uniform who was looking for him.
Today I really do backtrack 1000 miles to avoid the regimented grim cabin of QF and enjoy Emirates who sometimes give me an unasked-for upgrade and are unfailingly polite and helpful rather like the boys and girls on the 707, and ealry 747 flights
I know that nostalgia is not what it used to be, but they were golden years before the effing bean counters took over all our individualistic endeavours.
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Who could forget the back lounge of the Electra and the DC4?
Flying was fun in Oz in those days and enjoyable and one got dressed up for it. If one's TAA 727 went tits up one was put on the next AN without auctions or arguments. If the flight was cancelled you'd be booked into a livable pub at no cost. Only a small handful of unkempt bogans on any given flight in cattle class. Minimum of PAs by the hostesses (not 'flight attendants'....hosties had panache) and the PAs weren't loud.
The only real dangerous blight on the then high standard airline system were those Viscount 700s. After Winton dad banned us from flying on them.
And I met Susan Jones on one AN flight!
Flying was fun in Oz in those days and enjoyable and one got dressed up for it. If one's TAA 727 went tits up one was put on the next AN without auctions or arguments. If the flight was cancelled you'd be booked into a livable pub at no cost. Only a small handful of unkempt bogans on any given flight in cattle class. Minimum of PAs by the hostesses (not 'flight attendants'....hosties had panache) and the PAs weren't loud.
The only real dangerous blight on the then high standard airline system were those Viscount 700s. After Winton dad banned us from flying on them.
And I met Susan Jones on one AN flight!
. .. .. . and? ? . .. . . ..
say you knew anyone prominent from that era . .. Susan who?
like Malcolm who?
like Spike who or Marty who? roll eyes.. say time you looked back for the greats mate
say you knew anyone prominent from that era . .. Susan who?
like Malcolm who?
like Spike who or Marty who? roll eyes.. say time you looked back for the greats mate
Last edited by Fantome; 17th May 2015 at 04:47.
TAA wanted glamour too in its promotions -
who was their model hostie (she gets a mention in Ian Sabey's book. Sabey was TAA public relations. He recruited Norah?? for the promo)
who was their model hostie (she gets a mention in Ian Sabey's book. Sabey was TAA public relations. He recruited Norah?? for the promo)
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Getting dressed up for a flight ? Those were the days.
You wore a suit particularly for international flights. My first international flight was on Qantas going to Vancouver in January 1969. I dressed in a grey wool suit and arrived to freezing weather and snow. Had cold weather clothes in my stowed luggage, but not on board.
Inflight service was great, even in economy, and no plastic cutlery there. Food was good and booze was great. Smokers were catered for (I was a smoker then).
No aerobridges then, so you disembarked via airstairs, but if it was raining, an umbrella was provided.
You felt special then.
You wore a suit particularly for international flights. My first international flight was on Qantas going to Vancouver in January 1969. I dressed in a grey wool suit and arrived to freezing weather and snow. Had cold weather clothes in my stowed luggage, but not on board.
Inflight service was great, even in economy, and no plastic cutlery there. Food was good and booze was great. Smokers were catered for (I was a smoker then).
No aerobridges then, so you disembarked via airstairs, but if it was raining, an umbrella was provided.
You felt special then.
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Yes dad would dress up in a tieless suit if we were down the back and I recall I'd be in my best shirt and shorts with long socks and shoes. People took pride in appearance when flying as airline passengers back in those days. Not like now.
It was a visit inside the cockpit of the first airliner I flew in, a DC3, that made me want to become a pilot more than ever. The young Captain (who much later line-trained me on the DC9) let me stay for the landing!
Kids probably went on to join the Industry, never going to happen today.
wayoutwest...
Very nearly correct, 1968-1996 with various Airlines around the world and after that I was a coach driver on National Express services in the UK.
Very nearly correct, 1968-1996 with various Airlines around the world and after that I was a coach driver on National Express services in the UK.
Last edited by pppdrive; 6th May 2015 at 11:51. Reason: spelling
He was a BIG lad to say the least, a special seat and seat back had to be made to fit him in the DC-3 seat and have room to get under the control column.
Jase skipped the Diesel as he couldn't fit. 3 holer proved a roomy fit for him
He was also described by his intimates as "a tired man"
He'd dead-head home to Lismore at least once a month and go straight to bed . . for three days!
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EWN was also considerably heavier and seldom did NLK after Papa and Quebec entered the equation.
The latter 2 had the rear pair of passenger windows closer together on at least one side.
I think Papa is still poodling around with CSIRO.
Best all
EWL
The latter 2 had the rear pair of passenger windows closer together on at least one side.
I think Papa is still poodling around with CSIRO.
Best all
EWL
EWN and EWO were both ex-Sterling (Denmark)
here is the EWO history - thanks RN Smith - Aussieairliners.com
here is the EWO history - thanks RN Smith - Aussieairliners.com
Entered onto Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-FPI - April 9, 1970
Registered to Fokker NV
First flown as PH-FPI - April 13, 1970
Delivered new to Sterling Airways - June 10, 1970
Entered onto Danish Aircraft Register as OY-STN - June 10, 1970
Cancelled from Dutch Aircraft Register - June 10, 1970
Leased to the United Nations as OY-STN - January 18 to May 31, 1973
Sold to East West Airlines - September 12, 1973
Arrived Tamworth at conclusion of delivery flight in full Sterling livery - November 14, 1973
Overhauled and repainted at Tamworth
Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EWN - December 19, 1973
Registered to East West Airlines Ltd
Aircraft named 'The Sunshine Coast'
Operated first East West revenue service - Sydney-Port Macquarie - December 21, 1973
Registered to East West Airlines (Operations) Ltd - March 9, 1977
Withdrawn from service and stored Tamworth - October 11, 1983.
Sold to Fokker
Departed Tamworth on delivery flight to Holland - October 17, 1983
Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - October 28, 1983
Placed in storage at Ypenburg
Entered onto Dutch Aircraft Register as PH-EXF - May 10, 1984
Cancelled from Dutch Aircraft Register - June 7, 1984
Sold to Aircraft Finance & Trading for lease to MVA - June 9, 1984
Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N271FA - June 9, 1984
Departed Amsterdam on delivery flight to U.S.A. - June 9, 1984
Leased to Air Wisconsin following merger with M.V.A. - May 17, 1985
Returned to Aircraft Finance & Trading - November 1985
Leased to Mesaba Airlines as N271FA - March 1986 to July 1993
Leased to Mahalo Air - August 6, 1993
Aircraft was reregistered as N981MA
Departed California on delivery flight to Honolulu - September 22, 1993
Sold to Mahalo Air - February 4, 1994
Reregistered N981MA - February 24, 1994
Aircraft was named ' The Honu'
Withdrawn from service and stored Honolulu Airport - May 1, 1994
Mahalo Air was declared bankrupt - May 31, 1994
Sold to Air 1st Aviation Co. Inc - October 29, 1996
Registered to Air 1st Aviation Co. Inc - December 5, 1996
Ferried to Mena, Arizona for storage - December 1996
Converted to freighter configuration by Reeb Air - January 1998
Cancelled from U.S. Aircraft Register - March 27, 1998
Entered onto German Aircraft Register as D-ACCS
Sold to Sky Team GmbH - trading as ECCS Air Cargo Service - April 8, 1998
Entered service with SkyTeam on Frankfurt-Coventry route - April 20, 1998
Withdrawn from service and stored when SkyTeam ceased operations - June 2002
Stored at Karlsruhe-Baden Baden, Germany
Scrapping commenced - December 2004
when one of the two arrived overhead Tamworth with a Dutch or Danish ferry pilot at the helm, he was still unusually high. When asked why by one of the EWA drivers who had heard the very late final descent clearance, the ferry joe said 'Oh .. . . I looked at the atlas to see what is your highest mountain and decided I would play it safe and not go below ten thousand feet till I had your runways in sight."
Apologies if this has already been posted. I haven't read the whole thread:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5t5aE0iW4o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5t5aE0iW4o
I get the potential upset it might cause, I didn't post for that reason AT ALL. It is from the Australian National Film Archives and whatever you think about the people, it is a fascinating insight into cost of living, what it was like seeing Australia from a US perspective and also (even if partly scripted) what people thought of operating RPT in Australia nearly 30 years ago. I well know and understand the hurt that was caused, but much like WWII, can't we just see it as a dark chapter in history and enjoy a snapshot of commercial aviation 30 years ago?
And let's not overlook the great fashion tips! Some of which are still to be witnessed in full taffeta technicolour in airline bars around the world...
And let's not overlook the great fashion tips! Some of which are still to be witnessed in full taffeta technicolour in airline bars around the world...