TAA and the DC-9
RampDog:
VH-TJJ: Edmund Kennedy. Later renamed Hamilton Hume.
VH-TJK: Douglas Mawson.
VH-TJL: Angus McMillan.
VH-TJM: John Roe. Later renamed Robert Towns.
VH-TJN: Paul Strzelecki.
VH-TJO: William Wentworth.
VH-TJP: Charles Kingsford Smith.
VH-TJQ: John Flynn.
VH-TJR: George Bass.
VH-TJS: Peter Warburton. Later renamed Douglas Mawson.
VH-TJT: Joseph Hawdon.
VH-TJU: John Roe.
How'd I go?
EW Loco, VH-IPF was IPEC Aviation's Spirit of Endeavour. Looking at RampDog's photos, it may have been sistership to YU-ANB before IPEC got hold of her?
VH-TJJ: Edmund Kennedy. Later renamed Hamilton Hume.
VH-TJK: Douglas Mawson.
VH-TJL: Angus McMillan.
VH-TJM: John Roe. Later renamed Robert Towns.
VH-TJN: Paul Strzelecki.
VH-TJO: William Wentworth.
VH-TJP: Charles Kingsford Smith.
VH-TJQ: John Flynn.
VH-TJR: George Bass.
VH-TJS: Peter Warburton. Later renamed Douglas Mawson.
VH-TJT: Joseph Hawdon.
VH-TJU: John Roe.
How'd I go?
EW Loco, VH-IPF was IPEC Aviation's Spirit of Endeavour. Looking at RampDog's photos, it may have been sistership to YU-ANB before IPEC got hold of her?
Led Zepp you're 100% correct. You can be on my team at the next trivia night I go to. I don't think too many people would have known all those names - and in the correct order!
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Ramp Dog: "It wasn't just about business and shareholders, it had a soul and was a living, breathing family affair. I grew up in an era when you could come to work with your Dad and walk out on the tarmac no ASICs, no AFP or SNP security to hassle you, just smell the kero and avgas and talk to the people who flew and maintained the aircraft. It must have had an effect on me (my wife reckons "scarred for life"
) because I'm still out there airside sniffing the fumes)"
How well written, couldn't have put it better myself!
And then along came the super-businessmen. They changed the name to Australian, they masterminded the pilot dispute and the nepotistic politicians decimated TAA completely by having it taken over by Qantas and making it a non-entity.
Have a look at the Qantas website and see how much of their history page is (or more accurately, isn't) dedicated to TAA. An insignificant sideshow in their eyes one suspects.
It may be quaintly old-fashioned but I for one miss the days of working with folks with attitudes like your dad and working for people who deserved and got respect. Airline CEO's now are purely fixated on the bonuses, egos and decimating the employment conditions of the enemy - their staff.
Sound like an old codger don't I, but I'm not even that old!
) because I'm still out there airside sniffing the fumes)"How well written, couldn't have put it better myself!
And then along came the super-businessmen. They changed the name to Australian, they masterminded the pilot dispute and the nepotistic politicians decimated TAA completely by having it taken over by Qantas and making it a non-entity.
Have a look at the Qantas website and see how much of their history page is (or more accurately, isn't) dedicated to TAA. An insignificant sideshow in their eyes one suspects.
It may be quaintly old-fashioned but I for one miss the days of working with folks with attitudes like your dad and working for people who deserved and got respect. Airline CEO's now are purely fixated on the bonuses, egos and decimating the employment conditions of the enemy - their staff.
Sound like an old codger don't I, but I'm not even that old!
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A regret I have from my time with Australian Airlines on the DC9,was that I didn't take many photos. So,seeing we're all getting along real well,how about all you Ppruners spend the rest of today going through your old photos/slides & posting them for us all to have a laugh,cry or reminisce? Aww,come on....please....I'll be your friend.
Rampdog
I do remember Old Ollie and his models when I was an LAME in SYD during the 70s. He was one of nature's gentleman and was in an era where TAA was truly the 'Friendly Way'. I really do miss those days and the TAA family in SYD in that era.
Where I am working now there are about 4 DC9-30 doing regular passenger flights and they still look a nice aircraft.
I do remember Old Ollie and his models when I was an LAME in SYD during the 70s. He was one of nature's gentleman and was in an era where TAA was truly the 'Friendly Way'. I really do miss those days and the TAA family in SYD in that era.
Where I am working now there are about 4 DC9-30 doing regular passenger flights and they still look a nice aircraft.
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Behold the office.
Someone asked about the diesel DME. The DME is fitted above the two red lights above the altimeter.
Standard DME fitment to all TAA aircraft as long as I flew them and did not have ground speed readout.
Note the splendid ergonomic design with every control or switch falling to hand. Unlike the Diesel's replacement which was an ergonomic nightmare. In fact things didn't improve until the NG Boeing 737 came along.
Note too, the radio altimeter fitment next to the A/H so this picture must have been pre '83. At top right, the 'flip up', slider, mechanical checklists. By far the simplest and most 'idiot proof' I've used.
The speed brake handle is next to the thrust levers and these devices actually worked on the Diesel. Unlike the 737, on which the deployment of the speedbrake did nothing much except shake the airframe and illuminate a green light.
Wonder who the hostie was? Keen to be 'in the frame' it would appear.
Note the forward airstairs. Inspired fitment on the Diesel. Regretably, someone in Tulla top-floor mahogony row decided against them for the B737. Maybe by then, accountants were starting to make equipment decisions. We had one GM who was an accountant.
Chimbu
Last edited by chimbu; 13th Feb 2009 at 08:01.
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DC9 date and place
Around mid 1984, but unsure of the location. Have to ask my vice-presidential running mate (MW), who snapped me. He might remember.
UPDATE- Second pic taken in May 1984 at Gove. The routing was Cairns- Gove- Darwin.
UPDATE- Second pic taken in May 1984 at Gove. The routing was Cairns- Gove- Darwin.
Last edited by chimbu; 14th Feb 2009 at 07:06.
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Whoever is interested in writing a book speak to Glichfield, already a author, and a TAA legend, he is the man with most knowledge. (He is going to kill me for this) this bloke could land a 747 on a aircraft carrier if need be, he knows everybody and makes the rest of us look like baby ducks when it comes to flying. Try to sign him up.
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There was a story a long time ago about Glichfield ( ex RAN Fleet Air Arm ) enroute Lae-Rabaul in a TN DC3 , sighting the British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes heading for SEATO exercises in the Bismarck Sea.
To the horror of his F/O ( possibly Mardling ), and the vessel , he performed a missed approach then cleared out due to too many Buccaneers in the circuit.
May not be entirely correct but made a great talking point in the old TAA mess in Lae.
To the horror of his F/O ( possibly Mardling ), and the vessel , he performed a missed approach then cleared out due to too many Buccaneers in the circuit.
May not be entirely correct but made a great talking point in the old TAA mess in Lae.
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All this DC9 talk is just SO nostalgic for me, albeit with the "other mob".
One of the finest Aircraft ever built.
I still remember as an Apprentice in the late 1960s being part of the Crew that met and towed away at Essendon the very first DC9 into Australia, VH-CZB.
It was also the first Airframe Course I did.
Of course have some scary memories too, like coming within inches of running out of runway on takeoff from Honiara with a load of Tuna.
I know you Pilots would see it a lot, but one of my nicest inflight memories is one day years ago while in the jumpseat of a DC9 from CNS to BNE, ROK Control asked us our DME distance ROK, then asked another Company DC9 the same thing, when I asked the Captain what that was for he just said keep watching closely out the front, what a sight 2 DC9s passing each other, it was all over in seconds.
One of the finest Aircraft ever built.
I still remember as an Apprentice in the late 1960s being part of the Crew that met and towed away at Essendon the very first DC9 into Australia, VH-CZB.
It was also the first Airframe Course I did.
Of course have some scary memories too, like coming within inches of running out of runway on takeoff from Honiara with a load of Tuna.
I know you Pilots would see it a lot, but one of my nicest inflight memories is one day years ago while in the jumpseat of a DC9 from CNS to BNE, ROK Control asked us our DME distance ROK, then asked another Company DC9 the same thing, when I asked the Captain what that was for he just said keep watching closely out the front, what a sight 2 DC9s passing each other, it was all over in seconds.
Not your normal airplane photo, but full of memories. Took this in '83 - at Tulla where TN "Diesel Drivers" and "Diesel Mechanics" learnt how the "beast" worked.
Another flight deck shot with the indespensable ARG on the clip in front of GB's hand. Also you can see the VAN-5 (was it!) DME channel selector (on 10 for Rocky) and the readout above the altimeter.
I used to always carry around a little 110 camera (later went hi tech with a 35mm) in the bottom of my Nav bag - managed to get a number of photos - although most are still in a box waiting to be scanned - one day!!!!
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Great memories Givelda,thanks. Instead of getting all these amazing stories & photos put into a book,let's use this thread as an Electronic Book. That way everyone can keep adding stories & photos for years. Everyone could encourage fellow aviation personel to contribute. So,PLEASE dig out the photos,the old nav bag & log books,so we can all share the good old days.