TAA and the DC-9
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I suspect that boeing have designed the character out of it
Umm, I think that was McDonnel Douglas Renurpp ... the designation was MD-95 before Boeing bought McDD out, renaming the MD-95 the B717.
Cant do 300kt to 10nm, but sure can to 15!
Thread Starter
To get a slot on the DC-9 at TAA it would have been seniority based, but did you have go via the Fokker Friendship?
For an FO slot on the DC-9 what sought off experience would you have had in your logbook in the mid 1970's?
When TAA phased out the Fokker's in the early 1980's an instructor of mine went straight onto the DC-9, but another instructor got into Ansett started on the F27 Freighters.
After the war of 89, did any of Australian DC-9 crews get taken back on and retrained the B737 or B727?
For an FO slot on the DC-9 what sought off experience would you have had in your logbook in the mid 1970's?
When TAA phased out the Fokker's in the early 1980's an instructor of mine went straight onto the DC-9, but another instructor got into Ansett started on the F27 Freighters.
After the war of 89, did any of Australian DC-9 crews get taken back on and retrained the B737 or B727?
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Wiley, if you used the SCAT (which you were not surposed to) you could grease her on like a cat pis$ing on glass everytime. I reckon more pilots got heartburn from trying to eat on the little bugger, then on anything else. You could not afford to take your eyes off her for five minutes, and when nature called it was answered in record speed, especially if a fairly new F/O was in the R/H seat. Used to love "the Great Australian Air Race" for anybody who was competitive by nature, to beat AN off the blocks, was for TN pilots a rite of passage. In fact it was considered a sport (and the sledging that went with it) the LAMES would be in it too. (comm'on skipper move it, he's closing his door!) (I found out much later that bets were laid!) What great times they were.
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A bit off track, but humour me as a long time fan of Teresa's smarts, and now we have FUN as well.
I say we should launch a campaign for Teresa for next GG, and we start by setting up in a bar somewhere where WE buy all the beers and let him talk on endlessly about his great stories.
Keep em coming as you make my day, and somehow I think there are a lot yet to be told.
I say we should launch a campaign for Teresa for next GG, and we start by setting up in a bar somewhere where WE buy all the beers and let him talk on endlessly about his great stories.
Keep em coming as you make my day, and somehow I think there are a lot yet to be told.
As an ex TN LAME I have had many flights in the DC9 jumpseat. One evening going to CBR the captain was RK, (copilot NH) who said we will see how accurate the trim sheet setting was. It was a perfectly still evening and his hands hovered beside the pole on takeoff. At the correct speed the aircraft rotated and climbed away; I was quite impressed.
Every day now at work I am reminded how noisy the DC9 really is, as there are 3 or 4 operating here as passenger aircraft. They are DC9-30. A couple of months ago I nearly had to hitch a ride on one to get back to LAD.
I also have fond memories of Swissair MD-80 flights, usually seat 1A, from Zurich to Tripoli and return and the captain with an Aussie accent. They were nearly silent on takeoff, and looking back down the tube on rotation into bad weather, did they ever flex!!! (Grandpa's tales from the olden days Sonny)
Every day now at work I am reminded how noisy the DC9 really is, as there are 3 or 4 operating here as passenger aircraft. They are DC9-30. A couple of months ago I nearly had to hitch a ride on one to get back to LAD.
I also have fond memories of Swissair MD-80 flights, usually seat 1A, from Zurich to Tripoli and return and the captain with an Aussie accent. They were nearly silent on takeoff, and looking back down the tube on rotation into bad weather, did they ever flex!!! (Grandpa's tales from the olden days Sonny)
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I recall one night (of course it was dark and stormy!) following... (as was all too often the case) the TN -9 into Townsville. (You can almost guarantee the b*** cheated on his taxi call, as noted above, out of Brissie.)
As he approached his TOPD, he called for descent and was given a "When ready, descend to F250" by ATC. He aknowledged, then, after a short pause, the frequency was blasted by a very loud recorded "Haooogah!! Haooogah! Dive! Dive! Dive!", followed immediately by a very calm "Tango Juliet Alpha, left FL330."
The toy of choice at the time for boys of all ages
was the "laughing bag", which, when you pulled a string, had a maniacial cackle. Another variation had the sound of a U-Boat diving, which the TN captain used on this occasion. (ATC was highly amused, as were we.)
As he approached his TOPD, he called for descent and was given a "When ready, descend to F250" by ATC. He aknowledged, then, after a short pause, the frequency was blasted by a very loud recorded "Haooogah!! Haooogah! Dive! Dive! Dive!", followed immediately by a very calm "Tango Juliet Alpha, left FL330."
The toy of choice at the time for boys of all ages
was the "laughing bag", which, when you pulled a string, had a maniacial cackle. Another variation had the sound of a U-Boat diving, which the TN captain used on this occasion. (ATC was highly amused, as were we.)
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More stories please. Just loving this thread as I have to admit to a very soft spot for the DC-9 family including the 717. 
Best time as a pax was in one, a Swissair DC 9-32 out of Linate (Milan) for Zurich. After all the pax had been loaded there was an annoucement from the cockpit (in at least 4 languages) that 2 pax had not shown and that everyone had to disembark and identify their luggage. This was 1974 and there had been a spate of terrorist attacks in Europe.
Everyone trooped off and identified their bags and I was one of the last to reboard. No seat allocation so I got lumbered with one right down the back between the engines. However, there was a benefit to that as the aisle seat was reserved for one of the hosties (its 1974 so to heck with the PC) and she was a stunner.
As one does we got to talking as the aircraft taxied out. She had just joined the company and was on European ops before being allowed on the intercontinental flights. After the takeoff she excused herself as she had to go to work. I asked her whether coffee was being served and she said, no as it was only a 20 minute flight, but would I like one. Yes please.
The look on the other passengers faces as she walked from the forward galley with one coffee pot, one cup and saucer and a smile. She could have had me for life. Good things happen on DC-9s'.
Just loving this thread as I have to admit to a very soft spot for the DC-9 family including the 717. Best time as a pax was in one, a Swissair DC 9-32 out of Linate (Milan) for Zurich. After all the pax had been loaded there was an annoucement from the cockpit (in at least 4 languages) that 2 pax had not shown and that everyone had to disembark and identify their luggage. This was 1974 and there had been a spate of terrorist attacks in Europe.
Everyone trooped off and identified their bags and I was one of the last to reboard. No seat allocation so I got lumbered with one right down the back between the engines. However, there was a benefit to that as the aisle seat was reserved for one of the hosties (its 1974 so to heck with the PC) and she was a stunner.
As one does we got to talking as the aircraft taxied out. She had just joined the company and was on European ops before being allowed on the intercontinental flights. After the takeoff she excused herself as she had to go to work. I asked her whether coffee was being served and she said, no as it was only a 20 minute flight, but would I like one. Yes please.
The look on the other passengers faces as she walked from the forward galley with one coffee pot, one cup and saucer and a smile. She could have had me for life. Good things happen on DC-9s'.
Last edited by PLovett; 30th Dec 2008 at 09:45. Reason: Story time
Silly Old Git
Rode em lots never flew.
Recollections of Garuda/Merpati? 9 into Bali
On descent the condensation in the cabin ceiling would piss all over the front rows
Crew straight after TO cockpit door banging wide open would start sucking away on Garam Gudang clove ciggies while reading the Jakarta Post
Recollections of Garuda/Merpati? 9 into Bali
On descent the condensation in the cabin ceiling would piss all over the front rows
Crew straight after TO cockpit door banging wide open would start sucking away on Garam Gudang clove ciggies while reading the Jakarta Post
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Clearone, I think you are refering to KR, and he did make it, still a excellent pilot, and gets around in a lovely little twin. Used to be known as "Argus" as in argustuffed, which was his attitude to anybody in management. K has a great sense of humour, and if my memory serves me right, he was known for bringing a pony back to the motel we were staying in, and dressing it up in a hosties uniform, and then leaving it in their room, (they were out having a few drinks) mass hysteria followed, as they walked thru the pony poo, and strangely enough we never went back there. (In fact I think we were thrown out of a few pubs over a period of time, I think some of our singalongs were too much for some.)
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TN used to operate a service LST OOL nonstop seasonally, which was particularly well populated at the start of the May school holidays.
The most amusing thing about full ships of 99 psgrs on this run was the traffic staff going through the cabin pre departure and handing every passenger a missing baggage form, as all was generally offloaded and sent via MEL.
We had one F28-4000 nonstop DPO OOL in early May, and no offloads even with 1000kgs of live crayfish in locker 5. Right on MBRW though, and we all watched her (EWD) leave.
Lasting memory of the TN DC9's was TJL on the round Aus run in the Coral Islander rig chucking a turbine and going U/S at PHE.TN556/557 I think - please correct me if I am wrong. Shambles Planning pulled an F27QC out of MEL base and chucked a P & W JT8D onto a pallet and sent it off cross country. It went via every straight stretch of hot mix with a refueller and when they got there they discovered they had sent a turbine that was U/S as well. Operation was duplicated and the F27's passed somewhere over Central Australia.
About a week after TJL reentered service, someone from Fawlty Towers Franklin St noticed that the stylised couple hand in hand on the fin had developed genitalia.
TJL was sent to the paint shop to cure the anhedral flap imbalance and nobody was ever nailed for it.
Loved the DC9 Super 30s as they were known after their refit at TN.
Best all
EWL
The most amusing thing about full ships of 99 psgrs on this run was the traffic staff going through the cabin pre departure and handing every passenger a missing baggage form, as all was generally offloaded and sent via MEL.
We had one F28-4000 nonstop DPO OOL in early May, and no offloads even with 1000kgs of live crayfish in locker 5. Right on MBRW though, and we all watched her (EWD) leave.
Lasting memory of the TN DC9's was TJL on the round Aus run in the Coral Islander rig chucking a turbine and going U/S at PHE.TN556/557 I think - please correct me if I am wrong. Shambles Planning pulled an F27QC out of MEL base and chucked a P & W JT8D onto a pallet and sent it off cross country. It went via every straight stretch of hot mix with a refueller and when they got there they discovered they had sent a turbine that was U/S as well. Operation was duplicated and the F27's passed somewhere over Central Australia.
About a week after TJL reentered service, someone from Fawlty Towers Franklin St noticed that the stylised couple hand in hand on the fin had developed genitalia.
TJL was sent to the paint shop to cure the anhedral flap imbalance and nobody was ever nailed for it.
Loved the DC9 Super 30s as they were known after their refit at TN.
Best all
EWL
More stories please
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Rivets
Genex mentioned AN's marketing of the demise of the DC9 and introduction of the 737.
Yes, they encased the DC9 rivets in clear polymer (I think it was) and gave them to clients and journos (including my father, who was a journo at the time) as paperweights. There was a blurb (with the new Ansett logo) about the rivets now being redundant or something with their conversion to an "all Boeing" fleet.
I recall that paperweight being on my desk at home (as a schoolboy) for years - think my dad might still have it.
As I remember it, none of the press could understand why Ansett carried on so much about a plane that didn't seem to do anything better than anything else in their fleet - I think they were far more interested in what the hosties
were wearing!
Yes, they encased the DC9 rivets in clear polymer (I think it was) and gave them to clients and journos (including my father, who was a journo at the time) as paperweights. There was a blurb (with the new Ansett logo) about the rivets now being redundant or something with their conversion to an "all Boeing" fleet.
I recall that paperweight being on my desk at home (as a schoolboy) for years - think my dad might still have it.
As I remember it, none of the press could understand why Ansett carried on so much about a plane that didn't seem to do anything better than anything else in their fleet - I think they were far more interested in what the hosties
were wearing!
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I can recall the TN DC9s having decals of various companies, such as Coca Cola, whilst being used on promotional trips or transport to/from conferences. A nice little earner for the company.
Does anyone have any photographs?
Does anyone have any photographs?
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A young Genex with a brand new drivers licence was driving the lovely Dot Macfarlane home from an evening church youth group function in North Essendon one evening in Essendon when we decided to visit Essendon Airport, maybe 2200 ish. It was apparent to Dot I fear that while I had designs on her (yes Genex is only human....but the designs remained way unfulfilled) my real interest in life was the thought of seeing a brand new DC-9. We walked thru the terminal, out the front (was that Bay 1?) opened the gate in the fence and walked up the stairs of a '9, all powered up. It was the coolest thing a young Genex had ever seen. I still remember the multi-coloured FD-108. Next time I saw something as wonderful was my first view of the 777 cockpit.
Within a year of the Essendon visit, I was privileged to sit on the flight deck on a DC-9 going into Adelaide as Reg (Ike) Eisenhauer checked Nev Grady. I've never been so spellbound. 5 years later flew them for 4 happy years as an F/O then another 11 years got my initial command on the '9. Final check at Avalon with Alan Coleman then MEL-BNE-TSV-CNS-BNE-SYD-OOL-SY over two days of the worst weather (SYD-OOL-SYD) I had ever seen for my line check with Keith Duncan.
TAA was responsible for much of the avionics spec of the DC-9-30. Remember the sheer capabilities of the TAA Engineering School and Technical Services then? Ross Brandy lives somewhere near me and I see him from time to time.....he was very instrumental in developing the '9 from a sheet of options to the real thing.
Someone else can relate what a stock-standard, SOP driven wonderful fleet and operation Eddie Clark, Don Winch and Bill Maloney etc built. What I learned then kept Genex alive in many foreign climes for many many years.
Sigh.........never again.
Within a year of the Essendon visit, I was privileged to sit on the flight deck on a DC-9 going into Adelaide as Reg (Ike) Eisenhauer checked Nev Grady. I've never been so spellbound. 5 years later flew them for 4 happy years as an F/O then another 11 years got my initial command on the '9. Final check at Avalon with Alan Coleman then MEL-BNE-TSV-CNS-BNE-SYD-OOL-SY over two days of the worst weather (SYD-OOL-SYD) I had ever seen for my line check with Keith Duncan.
TAA was responsible for much of the avionics spec of the DC-9-30. Remember the sheer capabilities of the TAA Engineering School and Technical Services then? Ross Brandy lives somewhere near me and I see him from time to time.....he was very instrumental in developing the '9 from a sheet of options to the real thing.
Someone else can relate what a stock-standard, SOP driven wonderful fleet and operation Eddie Clark, Don Winch and Bill Maloney etc built. What I learned then kept Genex alive in many foreign climes for many many years.
Sigh.........never again.
I have fond memories of many jumpseat flights in the DC-9s (and B727s) during my ATC training.
I don't know how accurate it is, but this link provides a comparison of the DC-9 with the B717. (Some readers here will know the author)
I don't know how accurate it is, but this link provides a comparison of the DC-9 with the B717. (Some readers here will know the author)
Remember the sheer capabilities of the TAA Engineering School and Technical Services then?
Whenever you asked a question, the answer to which you did not need to know, he would always answer "and it works real fine".
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I didn’t know that the 9 had two jump seats until I went to dispatch a full flight some years ago,to my surprise there were 4 on the flight deck ,a F/A on staff travel was sitting behind the Capt on his Nav bag !!!,you may remember this great character “FF” ,I think he was driving Tug boats on the Brisbane river last time I heard of him..
“The Aircraft is full and so is the Captain”
“The Aircraft is full and so is the Captain”
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Greetings,fellow fliers. I'm a 1st time poster,long time reader. I,too,was a DC9 pilot with Australian Airlines. For you youngens,we flew those excellent aeroplanes all over Australia with ADF,VOR & DME. No GPS in those days. If the Cooyong NDB was U/s,we had to use a lot of cross bearings to keep on track to Melbourne. The DME had no ground speed readout,so to know how fast we were going,we would see how far we went in 36seconds & the multiply by 10. Ahhh,the memories!!