Unknown PNG Airstrips?
PPRuNeaholic
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tinpis... bloodey hell mate, it ain't looked THAT sleazy for the last couple of years. Ya might actually enjoy it these days! There's a relatively secure members entrance and then there's the "other" entrance. Inside, the bar is segregated off between the members and the "others" and neither side looks the way yer photo shows it any more. Still, yes, there was a time when it looked exactly like that ... around about the time I tossed in me membership... 
lurch... got the photos mate - all 26 of them!
Haven't had a chance to look at them yet but hope to have them uploaded tonight. I'll send ya the URL for a final check before I publish it here. If I find a few that will keep the "Goat Track" comp going, I'll post those, individually, while awaiting your approval of the gallery! 
If ya've got more, send them along! The more the ... errm ... more...
Meantime, here's one that Chuck got off the NASA website. The original, as you might guess after seeing this one, was taken from space. A framed copy of this photo graces a wall at Wallindi, if anyone is interested.
So, here then is a view of Rabaul from space. This was taken around the midpoint of the eruption of the twin volcanoes at Rabaul in 1994. Eeeeeeew, all that pollution!
The large area of what looks like ice, stretching from the lower left corner is, in fact, part of New Ireland. The photo was taken from the east side of New Ireland, in the approximate vicinity of Namatanai, I reckon, looking west. You can just see the southern coastline of the Gazelle Peninsula, almost, but not quite the whole way to Wide Bay.
Spectacular huh? And, get this, poor ol' Chuck was under most of that! at the time!
lurch... got the photos mate - all 26 of them!
Haven't had a chance to look at them yet but hope to have them uploaded tonight. I'll send ya the URL for a final check before I publish it here. If I find a few that will keep the "Goat Track" comp going, I'll post those, individually, while awaiting your approval of the gallery! If ya've got more, send them along! The more the ... errm ... more... Meantime, here's one that Chuck got off the NASA website. The original, as you might guess after seeing this one, was taken from space. A framed copy of this photo graces a wall at Wallindi, if anyone is interested.
So, here then is a view of Rabaul from space. This was taken around the midpoint of the eruption of the twin volcanoes at Rabaul in 1994. Eeeeeeew, all that pollution!
The large area of what looks like ice, stretching from the lower left corner is, in fact, part of New Ireland. The photo was taken from the east side of New Ireland, in the approximate vicinity of Namatanai, I reckon, looking west. You can just see the southern coastline of the Gazelle Peninsula, almost, but not quite the whole way to Wide Bay.
Spectacular huh? And, get this, poor ol' Chuck was under most of that! at the time!
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In Tarawa when Rabaul blew. Three days later my white shirts, hanging outside, were covered in volcanic ash! Must have been a big one, plus upper level winds to carry the ash that far.
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While waiting for more photos from Chuck, I figured this is an opportune time to repost the URL to Chuck's Photo Gallery. This shows, among other things, some stunning views of Rabaul, in the aftermath of the twin eruptions.
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G'day Chuck, Oz, HJ et al,
Thanks for the photos - Brings back memories of my teenage years growing up in PNG ('79 - '85). Some of your posts almost made me s**t meself - I know you guys do it tough, but jeeesssuss!!
Do any of you guys remember a strip called Masa? I believe it used to be (and maybe still is?) a bit further up the valley from Ogerenang. I ended up spending the night up there with one of the pilots and a C206 from Co-Air. We landed there at about 8 in the morning, loaded the pax and then took off again OK, but the had to go back to Masa after the valley went from CAVOK to IMC in the space of about 5 mins or less. Waited in the plane all day for it to lift again, but ended up freezing my t!t$ off in one of the villager's huts overnight.
No I wasn't working with them or even doing a check flight. It was - wait for it - Year 10 Work Experience!! LIHS arranged for me to do a week at Co-Air and a week in the tower. TZ had me working on the ticket counter for the first three days before he let me take a spare seat on the 206, and then couple of other flights in the BN2.
Anyway thanks again for the stories, and keep the photos coming!
Thanks for the photos - Brings back memories of my teenage years growing up in PNG ('79 - '85). Some of your posts almost made me s**t meself - I know you guys do it tough, but jeeesssuss!!
Do any of you guys remember a strip called Masa? I believe it used to be (and maybe still is?) a bit further up the valley from Ogerenang. I ended up spending the night up there with one of the pilots and a C206 from Co-Air. We landed there at about 8 in the morning, loaded the pax and then took off again OK, but the had to go back to Masa after the valley went from CAVOK to IMC in the space of about 5 mins or less. Waited in the plane all day for it to lift again, but ended up freezing my t!t$ off in one of the villager's huts overnight.
No I wasn't working with them or even doing a check flight. It was - wait for it - Year 10 Work Experience!! LIHS arranged for me to do a week at Co-Air and a week in the tower. TZ had me working on the ticket counter for the first three days before he let me take a spare seat on the 206, and then couple of other flights in the BN2.
Anyway thanks again for the stories, and keep the photos coming!
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Vege heavily disguised spying on BRA while wetting a line on Arovo Island.
Rabaul volcano chuffin up smoke in the background.
Bougainville turned to sh!te not long after this was taken.Arovo
Rabaul volcano chuffin up smoke in the background.
Bougainville turned to sh!te not long after this was taken.Arovo
Last edited by Capt Vegemite; 25th Apr 2002 at 23:54.
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Vege ... not a bad little spot was Arovo. I last hit Kieta just after the lads burnt the Terminal (Loose interpretation) down.
That was when the Phantom and his missus ran the Pub.
I was in MNL when the Volcano Blew and on the return leg, the Purser woke me up to tell me the Skipper wanted to see me on the flight deck. We were just coming up to the Northern Tip of the Cape York peninsula, and the Volcanic Ash was refracting in the very early dawn light. The colours were the most incredibly beautiful I have ever seen before or since, and we just sat in silence looking at it. Nature at it's most awesome.
That was when the Phantom and his missus ran the Pub.
I was in MNL when the Volcano Blew and on the return leg, the Purser woke me up to tell me the Skipper wanted to see me on the flight deck. We were just coming up to the Northern Tip of the Cape York peninsula, and the Volcanic Ash was refracting in the very early dawn light. The colours were the most incredibly beautiful I have ever seen before or since, and we just sat in silence looking at it. Nature at it's most awesome.
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The Coconut Revolution
For those who are in Aus and have access to National Geographic channel, they are running a doco called "The Coconut Revolution" which is about Jonas Ona and the BRA... bit of wool but not a bad flick, especially for someone like me who never got over that way.
HJ
HJ
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Very interesting reading you guys! Makes my 'adventures' in PNG as a relatively short timer (18 months all up) look very tame.
I worked for Douglas for the last nine months of it's existance and quite a few stories could be told there. Then later for Simbu/North Coast but that's another story. However I do have quite a number of photos of various strips which may be of interest but no way of posting them myself as I don't have my own computer and have to use the local library. If someone wants to post a few for inclusion in the collection I can have a friend e-mail them.
Can someone possibly assist?
Cheers,
Pinky.
I worked for Douglas for the last nine months of it's existance and quite a few stories could be told there. Then later for Simbu/North Coast but that's another story. However I do have quite a number of photos of various strips which may be of interest but no way of posting them myself as I don't have my own computer and have to use the local library. If someone wants to post a few for inclusion in the collection I can have a friend e-mail them.
Can someone possibly assist?
Cheers,
Pinky.
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HJ... shhhh, keep it under yer hat, but the bloke's name is actually Francis Ona!
Hey everyone, I now have a green light from our good mate lurch, to display his collection. He's informed me that he has a few more that he might send, but the quality is pretty poor. Serveshim right for not having the windows of the balus cleaned before take-off!
Anyway, here are the photos to date in the album bilong Lurch. You might want to bookmark this site, as he may well produce more photos for your viewing pleasure.
The very last photo in the collection is a bit of a mystery, even to the author. All guesses gratefully entertained! I think we can safely make lurch the adjudicator for that one because, I'm sure, if someone puts the right name to the place, it'll jog his memory... 
Anyway, I figure it's a legitimate entry in the "Guess the goat track" competition. So, all you experts out there, let's be hearing form you ... personally I can't even imagine where this strip would be! 
Veg... I haven't seen Sharpie in an age but will try to find out. With any luck he may very lurk here from time to time, but I don't think he has anything like the same access that he used to have.
Pinky... e-mail them to me and I'll see they get the same treatment as for everyone else who's sent photos to me by e-mail. Check out the photos in lurch's gallery, to get an idea of how I handle them.
Hey everyone, I now have a green light from our good mate lurch, to display his collection. He's informed me that he has a few more that he might send, but the quality is pretty poor. Serveshim right for not having the windows of the balus cleaned before take-off!
Anyway, here are the photos to date in the album bilong Lurch. You might want to bookmark this site, as he may well produce more photos for your viewing pleasure.
The very last photo in the collection is a bit of a mystery, even to the author. All guesses gratefully entertained!
I think we can safely make lurch the adjudicator for that one because, I'm sure, if someone puts the right name to the place, it'll jog his memory... Anyway, I figure it's a legitimate entry in the "Guess the goat track" competition. So, all you experts out there, let's be hearing form you ... personally I can't even imagine where this strip would be!
Veg... I haven't seen Sharpie in an age but will try to find out. With any luck he may very lurk here from time to time, but I don't think he has anything like the same access that he used to have.
Pinky... e-mail them to me and I'll see they get the same treatment as for everyone else who's sent photos to me by e-mail. Check out the photos in lurch's gallery, to get an idea of how I handle them.
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Agreed, Kianteba, looking downhill (southwards).
Lurch great piccies, and good job on staying around... self taught couldn't have been easy
Chuckles did that email succeed?
And thanks for pulling my ear Oz ... bit of a brain f@rt and i had mixed up two rebels leaders from different sides of the world
sure they wouldn't appreciate it but then its too late for Jonas anyway...
Baron email coming your way soon. After that work experience why the hell you wanna be a piloto??
HJ
Lurch great piccies, and good job on staying around... self taught couldn't have been easy
Chuckles did that email succeed?
And thanks for pulling my ear Oz
... bit of a brain f@rt and i had mixed up two rebels leaders from different sides of the world sure they wouldn't appreciate it but then its too late for Jonas anyway...Baron email coming your way soon. After that work experience why the hell you wanna be a piloto??
HJ
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Kianteba huh? You blokes need a challenge!
You blokes are too bloodey clever by harf ... does someone have a pic that might provide a bigger challenge? Please...!
HJ has just sent couple extra photos to me and I've now added them to his gallery. There's one there that Chuck has been asking about ... no, mate, not Tep Tep...
Anyway, to save you having to go diving for the URL coz you didn't bookmark it in the first place this is the link to his photo gallery.
I'd offer up some of the strange ones I've been to but you've all already seen them before coz I posted the URLs a while back. So now we need someone to come up with a few more really great goat tracks !
HJ has just sent couple extra photos to me and I've now added them to his gallery. There's one there that Chuck has been asking about ... no, mate, not Tep Tep...
Anyway, to save you having to go diving for the URL coz you didn't bookmark it in the first place
this is the link to his photo gallery.I'd offer up some of the strange ones I've been to but you've all already seen them before coz I posted the URLs a while back. So now we need someone to come up with a few more really great goat tracks !
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I just had an e-mail reminding me that none of our resident (or even non-resident ) experts have done their jobs here! The timely reminder, from a bloke who is still yet to take the plunge and register, said that TWO of the photos in Alistair's collection remain unresolved.
Check them out now and give us yer considered opinions...
First unknown
Second unknown
Let the guesses commence! We probably need Alistair to adjudicate the answers...
) experts have done their jobs here! The timely reminder, from a bloke who is still yet to take the plunge and register, said that TWO of the photos in Alistair's collection remain unresolved.Check them out now and give us yer considered opinions...
First unknown
Second unknown
Let the guesses commence! We probably need Alistair to adjudicate the answers...
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*****(ie.. oh darn it), i haven't a clue! But what-the-hell i open my big mouth at the risk of inserting my foot
Guess #1- in the Mongie valley further 'round the corner from Tobou... can't remember the name...
Guess #2- How'dya Bang Go?
And nah, i'm not putting money on either!
HJ
<editted because i have a foul mouth...>
Guess #1- in the Mongie valley further 'round the corner from Tobou... can't remember the name...
Guess #2- How'dya Bang Go?
And nah, i'm not putting money on either!
HJ
<editted because i have a foul mouth...>
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Good photties Chimbu,must be a buggah to lose all yer kit like that.
Real daredevil scuba diver I see.
Is Rabaul back together again or did they build new town away from it?
Real daredevil scuba diver I see.
Is Rabaul back together again or did they build new town away from it?
Grandpa Aerotart
Photo 1`MIGHT be Pindiu in the Monghi Valley.........WHAT IS TOBOU........there wasn't a Tobou in the Monghi in 89?
There was Siwea, Lenghbati, Masa,Makini, Mindik, Pindiu, Ognerang and Nomanengneng under coonstruction
I rather suspect Photo two is Teterbedi which is behind Mount Lamington.
Vege those portions of Rabaul which were destroyed, i.e. from the airport right through Malay Town and on up to the Hamamas Hotel and around the waterfront almost to the wreck wharf have not been rebuilt. The exceptions being the Travelodge, Kaivuna and Hamamas Hotels. Nowhere that was destroyed is insurable anymore.
My house was in Malay Town on Vulcan Ave opposite Tee C Wee st.......the lump in the ash in front of my place is a car and my boat is on the bottom of the harbour somewhere off the Rabaul Yacht Club jetty.......what really hurts though is losing a life time of photo albums and all my autographed copies of the Balus books. My diving gear was saved because I'd been diving all day on the sunday and so when we evacuated on very early monday morning they were at hand as I went out my front door.
For some unknown reason I grabbed my logbooks and my daughters photo albums but left mine behind
The scuba diving on the WW2 wrecks in Rabaul was soooooo good.........in fact I'm the last person to dive the Hakai Maru and probably the Kensin Maru as well.......on the Sunday afternoon...we had 3 or 4 earthquakes while we were inside the Hakai and a couple of rippers while on the deco stops
Chuckles.
There was Siwea, Lenghbati, Masa,Makini, Mindik, Pindiu, Ognerang and Nomanengneng under coonstruction
I rather suspect Photo two is Teterbedi which is behind Mount Lamington.
Vege those portions of Rabaul which were destroyed, i.e. from the airport right through Malay Town and on up to the Hamamas Hotel and around the waterfront almost to the wreck wharf have not been rebuilt. The exceptions being the Travelodge, Kaivuna and Hamamas Hotels. Nowhere that was destroyed is insurable anymore.
My house was in Malay Town on Vulcan Ave opposite Tee C Wee st.......the lump in the ash in front of my place is a car and my boat is on the bottom of the harbour somewhere off the Rabaul Yacht Club jetty.......what really hurts though is losing a life time of photo albums and all my autographed copies of the Balus books. My diving gear was saved because I'd been diving all day on the sunday and so when we evacuated on very early monday morning they were at hand as I went out my front door.
For some unknown reason I grabbed my logbooks and my daughters photo albums but left mine behind
The scuba diving on the WW2 wrecks in Rabaul was soooooo good.........in fact I'm the last person to dive the Hakai Maru and probably the Kensin Maru as well.......on the Sunday afternoon...we had 3 or 4 earthquakes while we were inside the Hakai and a couple of rippers while on the deco stops
Chuckles.