Unknown PNG Airstrips?
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shortest strip i can see in my bible is
Walihiga elev 700, lda 329, slope 3 deg
after this there is a few like selbeng, bolovip etc at about 360 m but they all have a decent slope
Yeva elev 4300, lda 388, slope 5 deg, always fun with a right hand circuit and low cloud base and kakaruk or pik on strip
getting a few photos scanned to post here, if it goes in the too hard basket i may pm someone for help
Angeles, PI....
in a dustly lil town you can find heaven on earth, dont knock it til ya tried it, gotta be better than the PO in lae on a sat nite
oh yeah, whens the annual CP's meeting in POM this year?
Walihiga elev 700, lda 329, slope 3 deg
after this there is a few like selbeng, bolovip etc at about 360 m but they all have a decent slope
Yeva elev 4300, lda 388, slope 5 deg, always fun with a right hand circuit and low cloud base and kakaruk or pik on strip
getting a few photos scanned to post here, if it goes in the too hard basket i may pm someone for help
Angeles, PI....
in a dustly lil town you can find heaven on earth, dont knock it til ya tried it, gotta be better than the PO in lae on a sat nite
oh yeah, whens the annual CP's meeting in POM this year?
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Before Kanmina was open to commercial ops it was a tad shorter at 280m. Always interesting.
Komako was only really used by SDA with the occaisonal other visitor. Before it was lengthend it was really only a porter strip.
CAA once cornered me and asked me to explain with the aid of charts how I could T/O. Can't remember what I said, kept operating in there though. I think it also was about 280m.
Komako was only really used by SDA with the occaisonal other visitor. Before it was lengthend it was really only a porter strip.
CAA once cornered me and asked me to explain with the aid of charts how I could T/O. Can't remember what I said, kept operating in there though. I think it also was about 280m.
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Sorry to butt in guys, just wondering if you could point a young buck in the right direction to get my hands on a copy of this video "Diamonds In The Sky". I have a little PNG time (wockas, not FW), trying to get back up there at the mo. Any help appreciated. Ta.
w_ocker
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w_ocker
I've got copies of both "Diamonds in the sky" and "Fly low, Land short" (Caribou Ops in PNG).
I'll see if I can get them copied (my VCR's a bit ratty) by someone.
Email me your details if you want to go ahead: [email protected]
I've got copies of both "Diamonds in the sky" and "Fly low, Land short" (Caribou Ops in PNG).
I'll see if I can get them copied (my VCR's a bit ratty) by someone.
Email me your details if you want to go ahead: [email protected]
PPRuNeaholic
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I've had e-mail from a former PNG aviator who's been lurking here for a while. Think I've managed to talk him into taking the plunge by joining but, meantime, he made the following comment on the "great photo debate"...
Regarding the pics, I managed to dig up Air Niugini's 'Best of Paradise' from 1978 and among the strips illustrated there's a 1968 shot of Wonenara and there's no doubt that it corresponds to Photo 2, all the terrain matches up, so Chuck is right. Also, as with Chuck, I flew past Omkalai many times en route between Chimbu and Karimui, and that pic doesn't look anything like Omkalai as I recall it which I'm sure ran down the top of a ridgeline whereas our Wonenara shot is in a valley.
Just as a matter of interest, he went on to say...
Just for interest, I found a few pics of a strip in Nepal that, at 12,500', is apparently the highest in the world. It's called Syangboche (pronounced "Shang-bo-shay"). I'll try to attach one that shows the rear end of a Royal Nepal Airlines PC-6 Porter flown by a Swiss pilot who is among the crowd. Unfortunately, the Porter had a fatal crash there in 1999 and Royal Nepal doesn't appear to operate Porters any more.
If you look closely, you'll see the skid marks where the Porter arrived minus tailwheel. Apparently this was the weak point on the Porters, I hope the new models have been beefed up. Air America modified theirs with an extra arm known as a "cowcatcher" to fix the problem.
GUESS THE GOAT TRACK
The same bloke provided this photo as a contender for the competition. He reckons there'll be few people able to identify it, so here are a few hints :
Regarding the pics, I managed to dig up Air Niugini's 'Best of Paradise' from 1978 and among the strips illustrated there's a 1968 shot of Wonenara and there's no doubt that it corresponds to Photo 2, all the terrain matches up, so Chuck is right. Also, as with Chuck, I flew past Omkalai many times en route between Chimbu and Karimui, and that pic doesn't look anything like Omkalai as I recall it which I'm sure ran down the top of a ridgeline whereas our Wonenara shot is in a valley.
Just as a matter of interest, he went on to say...
Just for interest, I found a few pics of a strip in Nepal that, at 12,500', is apparently the highest in the world. It's called Syangboche (pronounced "Shang-bo-shay"). I'll try to attach one that shows the rear end of a Royal Nepal Airlines PC-6 Porter flown by a Swiss pilot who is among the crowd. Unfortunately, the Porter had a fatal crash there in 1999 and Royal Nepal doesn't appear to operate Porters any more.
If you look closely, you'll see the skid marks where the Porter arrived minus tailwheel. Apparently this was the weak point on the Porters, I hope the new models have been beefed up. Air America modified theirs with an extra arm known as a "cowcatcher" to fix the problem.
GUESS THE GOAT TRACK
The same bloke provided this photo as a contender for the competition. He reckons there'll be few people able to identify it, so here are a few hints :
- close to Goroka - Wonenara track;
- approximately 30 miles SE of Goroka;
- mission strip.
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The guy in the Porter photo is one of those living legends that you hear about. He is responsible for opening up most, if not all of the strips around that area. Met him in the Swiss HQ of a certain company a few years back when he retired after spending god-knows-how-many years living up there. Quiet unassuming sort of fellow- just adds to the legend status- and he was treated like royalty by all at said company. As was he in Nepal. He was considering writing a book at the time- sure hope he does.
Just wish i could remember his name... i am BRAIN DEAD.
Read your post again Oz, and i would hazard a guess that Royal Nepal doesn't operate Porters anymore cause no-one else is up to the task after he (is it Gunter ____?) retired!!
Can someone pls help me out with his name?!!!
Just wish i could remember his name... i am BRAIN DEAD.
Read your post again Oz, and i would hazard a guess that Royal Nepal doesn't operate Porters anymore cause no-one else is up to the task after he (is it Gunter ____?) retired!!
Can someone pls help me out with his name?!!!
Last edited by Herc Jerk; 17th Apr 2002 at 10:04.
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Chuck,
No, it's not Tarabo. It really IS easy [albeit one-way.]
This looks like a new one which wasn't there in my day. Although, we weren't allowed to fly into solely 'mission' strips; some of the commercials were considered challenging enough!
G'day
No, it's not Tarabo. It really IS easy [albeit one-way.]
This looks like a new one which wasn't there in my day. Although, we weren't allowed to fly into solely 'mission' strips; some of the commercials were considered challenging enough!
G'day
Grandpa Aerotart
About mid 87 all the 'mission' strips, which were then referred to as RLAs (Restricted Landing Areas) were opened up to all commers. What DCA actually said was they'd be either derestricted or closed........of course they didn't close any
Right about that time I was approached to do a trip into Nomane as a 'one off'. Nomane had been secret MAF business up to that point but upon arrival I was asked what we charged for pax/frieght.
We charged about 40%, from memory, less than MAF, got run off our feet doing Chimbu-Nomane shuttles to the point where it got annoying............and averaged double charter rates for the priveldge
to MAF
Not Tarabo hey.............might be Gimi then! Went there once only in 1987! But it's not on the track to Wonenara?
It is one of those strips that if you weren't told where to look(or hadn't been there a zillion times) it would be almost impossible to ID..........an absolutely typical PNG bush strip without being spectacular for any particular reason.
Chuck.
Vege.........have flown a Porter but not enough to claim anything much more than joyrider status.............would have seriously loved to have flown a grand in old SEA but she was gone when I got to Talair
Did a bunch of hours in old P2-BOX (Helio Courier)but the vast majority of my SE PNG time was 185 with some 180.
Right about that time I was approached to do a trip into Nomane as a 'one off'. Nomane had been secret MAF business up to that point but upon arrival I was asked what we charged for pax/frieght.
We charged about 40%, from memory, less than MAF, got run off our feet doing Chimbu-Nomane shuttles to the point where it got annoying............and averaged double charter rates for the priveldge
to MAF Not Tarabo hey.............might be Gimi then! Went there once only in 1987! But it's not on the track to Wonenara?
It is one of those strips that if you weren't told where to look(or hadn't been there a zillion times) it would be almost impossible to ID..........an absolutely typical PNG bush strip without being spectacular for any particular reason.
Chuck.
Vege.........have flown a Porter but not enough to claim anything much more than joyrider status.............would have seriously loved to have flown a grand in old SEA but she was gone when I got to Talair
Did a bunch of hours in old P2-BOX (Helio Courier)but the vast majority of my SE PNG time was 185 with some 180.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 17th Apr 2002 at 12:59.
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Tarabo is a good, logical guess Chuck, but sadly not correct for this place. If I hadn't been told the name, I'd have guessed the same Tarabo too.
On the subject of the Porter on the ground in Nepal at 12,500 feet, are you perhaps thinking about one with a normally aspirated engine? This ain't one of those. However, given the information that I provided, plus that volunteered by HJ, it would seem that the "hero worship" was probably very well warranted anyway!
Ooops... just as well I checked for new postings before clicking the "Submit Reply" button. No, mate, my information is that it isn't Okapa either. This one is probably a tad unfair, so I won't let it go much longer before I give the answer that I was given when I received the photo.
HJ... that's the trouble with all you "Alistairs"... yer all the bloodey same! I got yer photos but haven't yet had a chance to look at them, let alone post them. Suspect there'll be a few that will need to wait until the current "goat track guess" is resolved.
F3... while you haven't been able to identify it, yer on the right track digger!
On the subject of the Porter on the ground in Nepal at 12,500 feet, are you perhaps thinking about one with a normally aspirated engine? This ain't one of those. However, given the information that I provided, plus that volunteered by HJ, it would seem that the "hero worship" was probably very well warranted anyway!
Ooops... just as well I checked for new postings before clicking the "Submit Reply" button. No, mate, my information is that it isn't Okapa either. This one is probably a tad unfair, so I won't let it go much longer before I give the answer that I was given when I received the photo.
HJ... that's the trouble with all you "Alistairs"... yer all the bloodey same!
I got yer photos but haven't yet had a chance to look at them, let alone post them. Suspect there'll be a few that will need to wait until the current "goat track guess" is resolved. F3... while you haven't been able to identify it, yer on the right track digger!
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Hey OZ, I don't suppose you have a high res. copy of that second photo, I reckon it'd look great as a windows background!
By the way fella's, I have to say this is one of the best threads I've seen yet on PPRuNe... keep it up!!! It's great to see these pic's and hear the stories.... would love to add my own one day. Something to look forward to.
cheers
By the way fella's, I have to say this is one of the best threads I've seen yet on PPRuNe... keep it up!!! It's great to see these pic's and hear the stories.... would love to add my own one day. Something to look forward to.
cheers
Grandpa Aerotart
I realised it was a turbine porter oz!!......from what the chaps who flew TALs piston Porter tell me 1250' was a high strip
I have added a smilie to convey my true intent with the statement re THINKING ABOUT........I was thinking more about the kids in the photo whose parents mustn't have thought about the risks of SE in that terrain......perhaps I'm showing my age.......and single parent status
I look out the window in awe when arriving/departing Kathmandu.................... and I'm in a Falcon!!!
Chuck.
I have added a smilie to convey my true intent with the statement re THINKING ABOUT........I was thinking more about the kids in the photo whose parents mustn't have thought about the risks of SE in that terrain......perhaps I'm showing my age.......and single parent status
I look out the window in awe when arriving/departing Kathmandu.................... and I'm in a Falcon!!!
Chuck.
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Sorry strewth but what you see is all I've got. It isn't even my photo. But don't sweat it ... I've just perused the ones that HJ sent me and I can promise you that there's a few really classic and breathtaking views. It's a tad late to upload them now so that little task must await another opportunity, but it won't be long in coming.
Chuck... damn mate, I left the grinning smilie off me comment about the piston Porter. Here it is now ...
I just got thru telling someone else that I figure we're all far too old for all that sh*t these days. To go into all those places, we all had to be young, mad and to some extent, bulletproof. There's no denying the fun of doing it, the sense of achievement derived from beating the elements AND the strip conditions, or even that well known job of washing out the grundies...
Like you, mate, I'm showing me age when I say that I'm sure I couldn't do the same things now.
Chuck... damn mate, I left the grinning smilie off me comment about the piston Porter. Here it is now ...
I just got thru telling someone else that I figure we're all far too old for all that sh*t these days. To go into all those places, we all had to be young, mad and to some extent, bulletproof. There's no denying the fun of doing it, the sense of achievement derived from beating the elements AND the strip conditions, or even that well known job of washing out the grundies...
Like you, mate, I'm showing me age
when I say that I'm sure I couldn't do the same things now.
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a little ditty...
There was a young man named Penance
Who proved to be quite a menace...
He went to the PO
Picked up TO
and p!ssed off the local TENANTS.
Next day the **** hit the fan
Into the office went our young man
Milesy's thong said "waaa..."
Thieley said "aaahhhhh...."
"aah.. PENANCE, you're the 206 MAN!!!"
OWYAGOINNNN?!!!!!!
Who proved to be quite a menace...
He went to the PO
Picked up TO
and p!ssed off the local TENANTS.
Next day the **** hit the fan
Into the office went our young man
Milesy's thong said "waaa..."
Thieley said "aaahhhhh...."
"aah.. PENANCE, you're the 206 MAN!!!"
OWYAGOINNNN?!!!!!!
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A very young vege leans on either CMS or GKI for support prior to goin out and scaring himself stupid.
Photo 1970 gues the airstrip?
Hint favourite boozer not far away.185
Hmmm musta been paid got new watch.
Photo 1970 gues the airstrip?
Hint favourite boozer not far away.185
Hmmm musta been paid got new watch.
Grandpa Aerotart
Hey vege.....did you fly in black face very often?
"Mammy...how I luv ya, how I luv ya,my dear old mammy"
Or was ya lying face down in something(one) before work that morning?
And yeah the Goroka Dero Club wasn't a bad boozer....even when I got there 17 years later
Chuckles
"Mammy...how I luv ya, how I luv ya,my dear old mammy"
Or was ya lying face down in something(one) before work that morning?
And yeah the Goroka Dero Club wasn't a bad boozer....even when I got there 17 years later
Chuckles