I bought the book "Tall Tales of the South Pacific" by John Laming and it's fantastic.

I highly recommend it to anyone.

with the emphasis on "Tall".

Knowing John very well over many decades, I suggest not the case ...

The original B737-200 of Air Nauru, C2-RN3, had a freight door, forward on the port side, but it wasn't for freight! The aircraft was fully fitted out for pax but when the island chief travelled a 'royal suite' was loaded in via fork lift truck, hence the freight door!


Known John a long time too and I agree with John Tullamarine.

I lived up there at the time the photo was taken that Centaurus posted. Dad was flying for the outfit. I remember a similar shot of the 727 doing a flyby at almost half the height of that 737. They had a simple yet attractive livery then.

Many memories of the place, but the fondest one, as a 5yr old, was the Lego shop. Then the cheapest in the world. My kids are about to inherit crate loads of the stuff!

You may have mis-quoted the title. The correct title is "Tall Tails (as in aircraft tails) of the South Pacific":ok:

While it is true the freighter version RN3 had a large freighter door up front, it was not of course primarily for President Hammer De Roburt's armchair suite. During the specifications plans for the fleet it was obvious the remoteness of Nauru and the need to bring in urgently needed perishables and general freight, required a freight capable type which also carried passengers. The floor was strengthened but rollers were not installed because that would have increased the empty weight of RN3 which was already about one tonne heavier than the other 737's in the fleet.

Besides the normal cargo holds, freight including passenger bags would be sometimes be loaded in the cabin with the passengers seat configuration changed as needed. Load and trim sheets were done manually.
I am sure every Air Nauru pilot from the early years of the operation has dined out on a story or ten to tell. It is such a pity few got around to recording their experiences for posterity. At least some have recorded their stories in Pprune pages which is a good thing.

The photo of the 737 doing the low run along the runway at Nauru was taken from the balcony of the flight service control tower situated less than 100 metres from the runway. Judging by the shadow of the aircraft on the runway the 737 was about 50 feet high. It is hard to envisage a Boeing 727-100 flying along the same runway at half that height.:eek: A trick of the memory perhaps or a little embellishment - or combination of both?

I know exactly what you mean. I well recall the kindly Nauruan lady with such a lovely well spoken voice who ran the Lego shop from her house at the bottom of the road that curved up into Menen Terrace. My daughter (now 38) was about seven years old at the time, and still talks with great affection of the Lego lady

Almost back to the old Airline with a fleet of five Boeings

Fleet is 3 Boeing 737-300s, where did you get the idea it is now 5?

But back in 1983 their fleet was 7 aircraft. 2 727s and 5 737s.
See History at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Airline

I like this comment:

I have it as 4 aircraft

VH-INU
VH-PNI
VH-NLK
VH-VLI (Freighter)

I have heard that NLK and INU will go early next year and be replaced by 2 NZ 733's.

I have it at five ,all the above plus VH-ONU and one more to come so Jarden you are wrong 5 not 3 and I did say almost !!!!!!!!!

VH-INU flew its last load of PAX today. Ferry FLT to Alice Springs this (1st Aug) Friday to be decommissioned.

x2 more PAX aircraft (EX: Air NZ) will be arriving soon.

VH-VLI (freighter) will enter into service on the 1st of August. This will coincide with the new trading name of Nauru Airline from this day also.

A/C fleet will be x5 by end of this year.

Five by the end of the year so not 5 now feenix

Five now Jarden VH-INU (still on register till it is replaced by a new VH-INU), VH-NLK,VH-PNI, VH-VLI and VH-ONU That makes five now and in the future. Don't believe everything you read on Wiki it has more rumours than this site. VH-INU has not done its last pax flight yet and the ANZ aircraft are already owned by the Airline so at this point there is actually six if you want to get technical.


"where did you get the idea it is now 5?" From facts from the people who know and not Wiki

OK thanks Feenix for the full detailed reply.

You may find this thread interesting:

Our Airline To Rebrand As Nauru Airlines — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net

There is also a mention of a possible 737-700 coming!

Country has been broke, Airline has been broke, there is no industry other than the immigration camp and given that there are virtually no new arrivals that little earner has a use by date not too far into the future.

What is it about small countries that they have to have an airline that bleeds. They should have just one or two aircraft running hard and earning (or at least minimal subsidisation).

I have said for donkey's years that they should all stop the pi**ing contest and combine and collectively have aircraft and maintenance facilities stationed at opposite ends of the Routes and criss-cross between these Ports on a daily or some other scheduled basis. They should also subscribe to a common set of Aviation Regulations similar to that which the PASO has tried to achieve. With competent management and oversight to provide the necessary good governance, this would bring about a more profitable solution for all, and the ADB, UN, World Bank, and other substantial contributors would get more value for money, and the Region would be far better off overall in terms of regular air services.

Food for thought. Ya all have a good day now. TBE.

d_c: "They should have just one or two aircraft running hard and earning (or at least minimal subsidisation). "

And what - miss out on the revenue that is to be had because you can't cope with the demand? The entire fleet is "running hard", why else would it have been increased other than to cope with the current work to be had? Do you know anything about economies of scale and amortisation?

What "subsidisation"? Our Airline (sorry, Nauru Airlines as of today) pays a healthy annual dividend to the Nauruan Government as it happens.


Yes, circumstances will change in time and it is then that management should react and respond accordingly, it's what airlines do. Energy Crisis, SARS, GFC are a couple of examples where airlines had to react to changed circumstances. My intel is that NA management is acutely aware of future considerations and are planning accordingly.



Big E: "I have said for donkey's years that they should all stop the pi**ing contest and combine and collectively have aircraft and maintenance facilities stationed at opposite ends of the Routes and criss-cross between these Ports on a daily or some other scheduled basis"

And from where, exactly, do you think the concept of Our Airline stems? Fine ideal and enthusiastically supported by several other Pacific Nations - until it came to putting the money in!!! Individual agendas by the various countries make this ideal virtually impossible to achieve. It's a Pacific thing - those who have worked there will understand.




.

Finished John's book Tall Tails ( sorry about earlier ) and it indeed was good reading.

Thanks John.

p.s. Is he still around Melbourne?

Good on Air Nauru for moving forward and expanding. Sure, they've had a few ups and downs (not uncommon in this industry), but continue to look for new opportunities.

I'd guess that they are making more money than Qantas and Virgin combined.

p.s. Is he still around Melbourne?

Indeed ... I'm sure a PM enquiry to him regarding a coffee would produce appropriate results