Well ain't THIS gonna be fun?
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Nice one CP
a place for all us romantics, looking forward to hearing stories of those old beasties I fell in love with when I was a kid, esp Sunderlands, Daks, Hurricanes and Lancasters.
Oooh I've got all tingly
a place for all us romantics, looking forward to hearing stories of those old beasties I fell in love with when I was a kid, esp Sunderlands, Daks, Hurricanes and Lancasters.
Oooh I've got all tingly
Grandpa Aerotart
What a top idea for a forum.
As a 'young'chap(I've been 40 less than a week) I've always loved old aeroplanes.
As were most of us I would think, I virtually learnt to read on Biggles Books, my Father's books that he had been given in the 30s.
When I began learning to fly over 20 years ago my only goal in life was to find something small, aerobatic, tailwheel and turn it upside down
I achieved that with a rating in a Decathlon when I had about 40 hours total, although I had been turning C152As upside down from about hour 3 it wasn't the same. My father was telling me from the time I was in my early teens that the "silk scarfe and goggles era is over, it was damn near over when I learned to fly!!"(RAF circa 1950)
Well I've since logged about 10000hrs with 1000 hrs in Taildraggers including about 60 in Tigermoths, a few in Chippys but most in C185 in PNG where my career started in a 1961 model which was still fitted with the old barrel DG etc in 1986!
One day, with luck, I'll be based somewhere where I can fly the oldies more often, until then I'll have to be content to snatch the odd hour here and there when on leave in OZ. Although mates with DH82s/Chippys etc are getting thin on the ground I am hoping to check out in a P51 next year(damn the cost)
While I now fly a very lovely Dassault Falcon with EFIS etc etc there's nothing that beats the rumble of a tailskid on turf!
Chuckles
[ 18 December 2001: Message edited by: Chimbu chuckles ]
As a 'young'chap(I've been 40 less than a week) I've always loved old aeroplanes.
As were most of us I would think, I virtually learnt to read on Biggles Books, my Father's books that he had been given in the 30s.
When I began learning to fly over 20 years ago my only goal in life was to find something small, aerobatic, tailwheel and turn it upside down
I achieved that with a rating in a Decathlon when I had about 40 hours total, although I had been turning C152As upside down from about hour 3 it wasn't the same. My father was telling me from the time I was in my early teens that the "silk scarfe and goggles era is over, it was damn near over when I learned to fly!!"(RAF circa 1950) Well I've since logged about 10000hrs with 1000 hrs in Taildraggers including about 60 in Tigermoths, a few in Chippys but most in C185 in PNG where my career started in a 1961 model which was still fitted with the old barrel DG etc in 1986!
One day, with luck, I'll be based somewhere where I can fly the oldies more often, until then I'll have to be content to snatch the odd hour here and there when on leave in OZ. Although mates with DH82s/Chippys etc are getting thin on the ground I am hoping to check out in a P51 next year(damn the cost
)While I now fly a very lovely Dassault Falcon with EFIS etc etc there's nothing that beats the rumble of a tailskid on turf!
Chuckles
[ 18 December 2001: Message edited by: Chimbu chuckles ]
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Congratulations!! 
At last an International forum where we can gather info and exchange data on old a/c.
Well Done and a Merry Xmas <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
G'day
<img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
At last an International forum where we can gather info and exchange data on old a/c.
Well Done and a Merry Xmas <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
G'day
<img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Pilots' Pal
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At last! As one with a interest in vintage aviation and a short seven years involved with the operational restoration movement at Duxford, I am very pleased this forum has started.
It'll be great to wallow in this forum - I am increasingly disillusioned with contemporary aviation with its emphasis on commercial considerations above all else.
I'll even be polite to pilots!
It'll be great to wallow in this forum - I am increasingly disillusioned with contemporary aviation with its emphasis on commercial considerations above all else.
I'll even be polite to pilots!
Join Date: Oct 2001
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I also will read this site as old airplanes have not only been part of my life, I still earn my living flying them.
I have two partners in London and we specialize in the Catalina. ( I live in Canada )
In fact I just moved one from Duxford to Lee on Solent. There are some write ups in Jan. Aeroplane and Flypast. We also flew in a movie for Merimax in July this year at North Weald with another PBY.
We get to ferry all over the world, about forty countries in the past five years.
Anyhow my hangup are Catalinas, just love them.
We have a web site with pictures at.
<a href="http://www.pbyflighttraining.com" target="_blank">www.pbyflighttraining.com</a> for anyone wanting to look at what we do.
................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
I have two partners in London and we specialize in the Catalina. ( I live in Canada )
In fact I just moved one from Duxford to Lee on Solent. There are some write ups in Jan. Aeroplane and Flypast. We also flew in a movie for Merimax in July this year at North Weald with another PBY.
We get to ferry all over the world, about forty countries in the past five years.
Anyhow my hangup are Catalinas, just love them.
We have a web site with pictures at.
<a href="http://www.pbyflighttraining.com" target="_blank">www.pbyflighttraining.com</a> for anyone wanting to look at what we do.
................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
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Our apologies for the site being down so much of yesterday but the upgrade was an important part of improving the service to you all.
Pressure of work here at the Towers meant it was a long time between dreaming this forum up and getting it to you but I think it will be a great success under CP's stewardship. There have been a few fascinating registrations in the last few days and I really look forward to seeing them post here.
Pressure of work here at the Towers meant it was a long time between dreaming this forum up and getting it to you but I think it will be a great success under CP's stewardship. There have been a few fascinating registrations in the last few days and I really look forward to seeing them post here.
Thread Starter
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Already there are many little snippets that suggest some of you, like cat driver, can expand a bit - actually rather a lot by the looks of some it.
This is what people like to see.
I have done it, and I am certain it would be interesting to hear your tales.
I was also going to add that I will get to adding a bit more about flying WW1 fighters. This time the DR1 among others.
[ 20 December 2001: Message edited by: CamelPilot ]</p>
This is what people like to see.
I have done it, and I am certain it would be interesting to hear your tales.
I was also going to add that I will get to adding a bit more about flying WW1 fighters. This time the DR1 among others.
[ 20 December 2001: Message edited by: CamelPilot ]</p>
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I have been going over some of my more memorable flights in PBY's.
I don't quite know which one to write about,,,, lets see. Longest time airborne: 19.5 hours 1968...Longest flight in miles: Dakar Senegal to South America 1998,, Most terrifying: Flying during the harmatten dust storms in the Saharah 1996. Most uneasy feeling: Having Migs scrambled on us Dire Dawa Ethiopia 1999. Most interesting: Joining the mile high club in the right blister 1969. Most memorable: Living with the Tuareg's in Niger and Chad. Most frustrating: Losing an engine in Jeddah then the agony of changing the fu..... thing. Then there was the fifteen years firebombing with them ..... Hell I can just go on and on forever......
So which one do all you guys and gals want to hear about???
--------------
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
I don't quite know which one to write about,,,, lets see. Longest time airborne: 19.5 hours 1968...Longest flight in miles: Dakar Senegal to South America 1998,, Most terrifying: Flying during the harmatten dust storms in the Saharah 1996. Most uneasy feeling: Having Migs scrambled on us Dire Dawa Ethiopia 1999. Most interesting: Joining the mile high club in the right blister 1969. Most memorable: Living with the Tuareg's in Niger and Chad. Most frustrating: Losing an engine in Jeddah then the agony of changing the fu..... thing. Then there was the fifteen years firebombing with them ..... Hell I can just go on and on forever......
So which one do all you guys and gals want to hear about???
--------------
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
Cat, did you know Frank Burney or Moose Murdoch? One of my first jobs was flying the Canso as third crew with Frank and Paul Lalancette in 1966. Did the goose hunt for Austin, based in Moosonee. We also did the sked up the East coast of Hudson's Bay, as far as Cape Dorset.
Grandpa Aerotart
Did you fly Cats with Brian McCook along the Nile a few years ago? He was like a second father to me in PNG. His first job was flying Cats in the Pacific for the RNZAF in the dying days of WW2.
He flew Albatros for Coneco based out of Seletar for while too. He was a principle for a proposed operation in the Gulf of Thailand in the early 90s but Thai shareholders staged a bit of a coup and took it over. I was going to fly PBY5As for them.
He started giving me my floating hull endorsement in a Grumman Widgeon on Rabaul Harbour but circumstances conspired against us and I didn't finish it <img src="frown.gif" border="0">
Lovely old bloke, now retired in Brisbane, Australia, with failing health unfortunately.
Ref the stories, start wherever You weren't John Goodmans 'stunt double' in Always were you <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Chuck.
He flew Albatros for Coneco based out of Seletar for while too. He was a principle for a proposed operation in the Gulf of Thailand in the early 90s but Thai shareholders staged a bit of a coup and took it over. I was going to fly PBY5As for them.
He started giving me my floating hull endorsement in a Grumman Widgeon on Rabaul Harbour but circumstances conspired against us and I didn't finish it <img src="frown.gif" border="0">
Lovely old bloke, now retired in Brisbane, Australia, with failing health unfortunately.
Ref the stories, start wherever
You weren't John Goodmans 'stunt double' in Always were you <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> Chuck.
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Pigboat:
Moose Murdock checked me out on the DC3 and The PBY at Austin Airways in 1967, I then flew for him when he bought his first waterbomber CF-HHR. ( It is in Holland now )
Chimbu:
I did not fly on that Nile thing, however I flew that airplane CF-JCV for Austin And Air Caledonia we did the last flight of a PBY in commercial service in Canada on the West Coast of B.C. in 1986. It then went to Africa and is now in New Zealand.
No I did not fly the Super Cat in Always, however I did fly the same one for the Flying Fireman waterbombing.
................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
Moose Murdock checked me out on the DC3 and The PBY at Austin Airways in 1967, I then flew for him when he bought his first waterbomber CF-HHR. ( It is in Holland now )
Chimbu:
I did not fly on that Nile thing, however I flew that airplane CF-JCV for Austin And Air Caledonia we did the last flight of a PBY in commercial service in Canada on the West Coast of B.C. in 1986. It then went to Africa and is now in New Zealand.
No I did not fly the Super Cat in Always, however I did fly the same one for the Flying Fireman waterbombing.
................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
Guess there's a lot of guys out there that knew Moose. Last time I saw him musta been twenty years ago in YYT. He'd just arrived from Lajes with CRR, I believe it was, on one engine. His son Leigh still lives here.
I did a model of JCV, in Austin colours ca 1965, for Bill Casselman awhile back. Bill used to be a demo pilot for Canadair, on the 215 and 415, now working for Soradis.
Two quick questions. Whatever happened to CF-AAD, and do you know the reg of the one Buffalo lost this last season in Inuvik. Was it PQM?
Would you drop me an e-mail? I'm looking for info on the interior layout of the waterbomber. I've just started a new PBY model and could use some feedback.
Tks.
I did a model of JCV, in Austin colours ca 1965, for Bill Casselman awhile back. Bill used to be a demo pilot for Canadair, on the 215 and 415, now working for Soradis.
Two quick questions. Whatever happened to CF-AAD, and do you know the reg of the one Buffalo lost this last season in Inuvik. Was it PQM?
Would you drop me an e-mail? I'm looking for info on the interior layout of the waterbomber. I've just started a new PBY model and could use some feedback.
Tks.
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Hi again Pigboat:
First: C-FCRR has been owned by Franklin Devaux since 1995 and I have been flying it for him for the past five years, we have been all around Africa with it. We also flew the Aeropostale mail route from Toulouse France to Santiago Chile with it and then did a winter of flying in Brazil, it is now back in Paris. I believe we will be doing an around the world trip with it next year.
CF-AAD crashed in Great Whale River in Sept. or Oct. of 1972 it was a complete loss, fortunately there were no fatalities.
The machine that crashed last summer in the N.W.T. was an ex. NFLD waterbomber C-FNJE. To bad as it was a good machine, we used it for crew training in Oshawa in I believe 1997.
.................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
First: C-FCRR has been owned by Franklin Devaux since 1995 and I have been flying it for him for the past five years, we have been all around Africa with it. We also flew the Aeropostale mail route from Toulouse France to Santiago Chile with it and then did a winter of flying in Brazil, it is now back in Paris. I believe we will be doing an around the world trip with it next year.
CF-AAD crashed in Great Whale River in Sept. or Oct. of 1972 it was a complete loss, fortunately there were no fatalities.
The machine that crashed last summer in the N.W.T. was an ex. NFLD waterbomber C-FNJE. To bad as it was a good machine, we used it for crew training in Oshawa in I believe 1997.
.................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
Are there still PBYs, Catalinas or Cansos based at Gander? I'm sure I remember seeing them sitting aboooooot on the ground there, eh?
BEagle, no the Newfoundland Forest Service got rid of their Cansos some years ago and replaced them with the CL-215. They were acquired by various operators, notably Buffalo Airways in Yellowknife. The hangars, off to the east of R22, are still being used to store the 215's over the winter. There is one on static display at a downtown location, as well as a CF101 Voodoo and a Lockheed Ventura. That's abooot it.
Cat thanks for the info.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: pigboat ]</p>
Cat thanks for the info.
[ 23 December 2001: Message edited by: pigboat ]</p>
Thread Starter
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I am chuffed to bits that this forum, since the 17th of December, has managed to infect so many with the urge to start so many interesting threads. We knew, of course, that it would be a winner but I don't think we realised that there would be such enthusiasm.
It's Great! Keep it going. While we are at it can we have some of the stories that you MUST be dying to tell. There is obviously a whole bunch of people just waiting to hear.
It's Great! Keep it going. While we are at it can we have some of the stories that you MUST be dying to tell. There is obviously a whole bunch of people just waiting to hear.
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Foxmoth
you might be interested in this. Got a 1929 DH Gipsy Moth Price List and DH Gipsy engine "price list of spare parts and tools" dated nov 1928,,,
both from the DE HAVILLAND AICRAFT CO. LTD Stag lane Aerodrome Edgware MDDX
Telephone Edware 0171 (Eight lines) {must have been busy <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> } Telegrams and Cables HAVILLAND-Phone-Edgware.
Snifters on prices,,,
Gipsy moth Landplane (wooden Construction) £675 0s 0d Ex works ready for flight
Gipsy moth Seaplane (Fuselage of metal) will set you back a heady £960 0s 0d Ex works dismantled and ready for packaging.
Also special flying kit for those "out of Africa moments" Tropical Topee Helmet (fitted headphones) £1 5s 0d Please state size when ordering.
8 KLG sparking plugs 15 shillings what price today I wonder?
Good forum chaps
Sandy S
you might be interested in this. Got a 1929 DH Gipsy Moth Price List and DH Gipsy engine "price list of spare parts and tools" dated nov 1928,,,
both from the DE HAVILLAND AICRAFT CO. LTD Stag lane Aerodrome Edgware MDDX
Telephone Edware 0171 (Eight lines) {must have been busy <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> } Telegrams and Cables HAVILLAND-Phone-Edgware.
Snifters on prices,,,
Gipsy moth Landplane (wooden Construction) £675 0s 0d Ex works ready for flight
Gipsy moth Seaplane (Fuselage of metal) will set you back a heady £960 0s 0d Ex works dismantled and ready for packaging.
Also special flying kit for those "out of Africa moments" Tropical Topee Helmet (fitted headphones) £1 5s 0d Please state size when ordering.
8 KLG sparking plugs 15 shillings what price today I wonder?
Good forum chaps
Sandy S
