LOW act!
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LOW act!
How low can you go!
Any old time TAA drivers remember who, what, when, where, and why?
I remember, but lets see who else might. (my liking of the cap in question diminshed within the last 15 years or so....
)
Any old time TAA drivers remember who, what, when, where, and why?
I remember, but lets see who else might. (my liking of the cap in question diminshed within the last 15 years or so....
)
Grandpa Aerotart
No idea who...my Dad would know him/them though...being ex TAA of that era.
As to why....well when I think back to all the similar things wot I may (or may not
) be guilty of...conducted in the same place too....among others nearby
..I think the overriding reason was...
WHY NOT!!!!!
Chuckles.
As to why....well when I think back to all the similar things wot I may (or may not
) be guilty of...conducted in the same place too....among others nearby ..I think the overriding reason was...WHY NOT!!!!!
Chuckles.
Moderate, Modest & Mild.
Nice shots, RTA.
Your question, "Now, WHO was flying? " has led me to think - from the location (PNG), and a previous "hint" of your's...."my liking of the cap in question diminshed within the last 15 years or so.." - that it might have been a previous TAA "star", "Stay Sharp" (or one of his "contempoaries", Spires.)
Your question, "Now, WHO was flying? " has led me to think - from the location (PNG), and a previous "hint" of your's...."my liking of the cap in question diminshed within the last 15 years or so.." - that it might have been a previous TAA "star", "Stay Sharp" (or one of his "contempoaries", Spires.)
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The "ghost" in the cockpit was "going finish" and beat up Lae airstrip. Peter Worley (RIP) and Peter Ivanoff (ghost) were ass't SRC and SRC Lae at the time (I Think). Good days. Any wontok's out there?
Last edited by jedda; 14th Sep 2004 at 00:21.
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The aircraft was VH-SBA ??which was being ferried Lae to Melbourne around 1971/1972 after service in the then TPNG.
The Captain was Ray B.
The F/O was John M. ( Rabaul based F/O. )
The photographs were taken by Dave H.
There was a tradition that Aircraft and/or crew "going pinis" did a fly-past however the assembled crowd of TAA pilots/hostesses/traffic officers/engineers/cargo bois ,not to mention the Ansett staff ,plus passengers and visitors in the terminal did not expect the performance that followed.
The aircraft gently took off and disappeared behind Hospital Hill.
The crowd thought that was that , and a bit weak too , when he reappeared ,with a fair head of steam up ,at dot feet past the RSL , right angles across the strip , almost dragging one wing-tip across the corrugated iron roof of the Dulux factory , scattered the betel-nut sellers at the 'Boong" ( native market ) then down to the golf course at the end of the strip beyond the roundwater ,where he proceeded to destroy any hopes of a good round by morning golfers by beating up various fairways , the seventh was always a tricky one but he handled it with aplomb. Having completed that piece of destruction he then turned his attention back to the airport. By this time he really had it wound up and headed for the terminal and hangar with the prop tips almost touching the ground. He had to lift one wing to clear a parked Ansett Twin Otter and then somehow managed to squeeze between the Terminal building and the parked DC-3 as per the photo. Most of the crowd was now on the tarmac for a better view and a considerable number dropped to the ground , me included , as decapitation become a rapid possibility. The last we saw was as he headed out over the Huon Gulf , you could almost hear his bellowing laugh but you had to feel for the F/O who had difficulty completing the pre-flight walkround after a truly gigantic night at the TAA mess.
Needless to say Capt Ray was subsequently invited for Tea and Bikkies with Capt Len M. ( Red Ned ) in Melbourne after he got hold of the photos.
Whilst this was one of the most memorable beat-ups at Lae it was surpassed by Capt Niall S. in the last TAA Electra service out of Lae , but thats another story.
The Captain was Ray B.
The F/O was John M. ( Rabaul based F/O. )
The photographs were taken by Dave H.
There was a tradition that Aircraft and/or crew "going pinis" did a fly-past however the assembled crowd of TAA pilots/hostesses/traffic officers/engineers/cargo bois ,not to mention the Ansett staff ,plus passengers and visitors in the terminal did not expect the performance that followed.
The aircraft gently took off and disappeared behind Hospital Hill.
The crowd thought that was that , and a bit weak too , when he reappeared ,with a fair head of steam up ,at dot feet past the RSL , right angles across the strip , almost dragging one wing-tip across the corrugated iron roof of the Dulux factory , scattered the betel-nut sellers at the 'Boong" ( native market ) then down to the golf course at the end of the strip beyond the roundwater ,where he proceeded to destroy any hopes of a good round by morning golfers by beating up various fairways , the seventh was always a tricky one but he handled it with aplomb. Having completed that piece of destruction he then turned his attention back to the airport. By this time he really had it wound up and headed for the terminal and hangar with the prop tips almost touching the ground. He had to lift one wing to clear a parked Ansett Twin Otter and then somehow managed to squeeze between the Terminal building and the parked DC-3 as per the photo. Most of the crowd was now on the tarmac for a better view and a considerable number dropped to the ground , me included , as decapitation become a rapid possibility. The last we saw was as he headed out over the Huon Gulf , you could almost hear his bellowing laugh but you had to feel for the F/O who had difficulty completing the pre-flight walkround after a truly gigantic night at the TAA mess.
Needless to say Capt Ray was subsequently invited for Tea and Bikkies with Capt Len M. ( Red Ned ) in Melbourne after he got hold of the photos.
Whilst this was one of the most memorable beat-ups at Lae it was surpassed by Capt Niall S. in the last TAA Electra service out of Lae , but thats another story.
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Personally heard him say...."I will never recruit strikebreakers" a day or two before I heard an the ABC AM programme that he had left for London to recruit....
Also famous for the Sydney SID 25 Baker One Departure "Climb to 800 ft and then go anywhere you like. It'll be the F/Os fault if you're wrong"
A really great example of a guy who never ever did quite see the forest forall the trees. makes me want to reach for the whiteout every time I see his name in my logbook
Also famous for the Sydney SID 25 Baker One Departure "Climb to 800 ft and then go anywhere you like. It'll be the F/Os fault if you're wrong"
A really great example of a guy who never ever did quite see the forest forall the trees. makes me want to reach for the whiteout every time I see his name in my logbook
Moderate, Modest & Mild.
Being an ex-Ansett rat, I knew only a few of the TAA folk, but in my pre-aviation days I went to Teacher's College with a guy whose Dad was El Partridge. Later on - after mixing with some of the TAA crew, they told me how El had passed his (eyesight) medicals with only one good eye.
Does anyone know if that was factual? I tend to believe it probably was, as I understand that it was as a result of Perspex (from the WW2 aircraft's windshields) being found in the eyes of old fighter pilots decades on, that led to the use of it (or something similar) for replacing lens affected by cataracts.
Does anyone know if that was factual? I tend to believe it probably was, as I understand that it was as a result of Perspex (from the WW2 aircraft's windshields) being found in the eyes of old fighter pilots decades on, that led to the use of it (or something similar) for replacing lens affected by cataracts.
Nunc est bibendum
Reminds me of the beat ups that a LTCOL Hammond used to do in B-52s. Flying low over ridgelines and going hammer and tong on the angle of bank. Do we recall how that one ended up? 
For those that don't know, he pranged in practising an airshow. Yeah, it's a different time to now but its interesting how by saying how 'cool' photos like that are we tacitly endorse that kind of behaviour. Another generation grows up thinking that low flying and beat ups are cool. Must remember to read that crash report of the beat up gone wrong in the top end.
For those that don't know, he pranged in practising an airshow. Yeah, it's a different time to now but its interesting how by saying how 'cool' photos like that are we tacitly endorse that kind of behaviour. Another generation grows up thinking that low flying and beat ups are cool. Must remember to read that crash report of the beat up gone wrong in the top end.
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El Partridge has passed on , a victim of 'Jack the Dancer'.
He had several tours with TAA in PNG and did some sim instructing in HKG with CX.
During his first PNG tour he had one of his many full and partial engine failures . This time it was a single engine Otter which he successfully put down into a swamp near Annanberg ( near Madang). Having gathered himself he announces to his native passenger that he can hear dogs barking so they must be near a village and proceeds to jump into the swamp and head there for help . The native pax says...Nogat...emi no dogs..emi Puk-Puks ( crocodiles ) . El also had the distinction of divorcing Jan then later remarrying her again. He was a great fellow.
Dave H was flying A300 charters New York - Miami a few years ago , returned to Australia but not sure where he is now , Fatty and/or Skinny Hawkins would probably know.
He had several tours with TAA in PNG and did some sim instructing in HKG with CX.
During his first PNG tour he had one of his many full and partial engine failures . This time it was a single engine Otter which he successfully put down into a swamp near Annanberg ( near Madang). Having gathered himself he announces to his native passenger that he can hear dogs barking so they must be near a village and proceeds to jump into the swamp and head there for help . The native pax says...Nogat...emi no dogs..emi Puk-Puks ( crocodiles ) . El also had the distinction of divorcing Jan then later remarrying her again. He was a great fellow.
Dave H was flying A300 charters New York - Miami a few years ago , returned to Australia but not sure where he is now , Fatty and/or Skinny Hawkins would probably know.
Point taken Keg
and very responsible. My final 2000hrs in GA were spent in ground effect
. I've changed now and sometimes wonder about all the close calls. So to all my old mates 'up north' sorry again, won't be running for this years Downlow Medal.
Just think, depending on the exact date 'baby hoss' was probably in his cot just a stones throw away from this photo, Dad was probably there! No wonder I turned out this way
.
and very responsible. My final 2000hrs in GA were spent in ground effect . I've changed now and sometimes wonder about all the close calls. So to all my old mates 'up north' sorry again, won't be running for this years Downlow Medal.Just think, depending on the exact date 'baby hoss' was probably in his cot just a stones throw away from this photo, Dad was probably there! No wonder I turned out this way
.