PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok

[sundaun]

Matt Dwyer

Sorry to hear it. Bin up thar a long time. IAN (illness,accident or natural causes F.B.??)

[frigatebird]

In his sleep.
Had a good collection of photos of the Highlands and other strips.

[chainsaw]

Had a good collection of photos of the Highlands and other strips.

Matthew also had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Highlands and other PNG territory, as well as all of the strips located in all of the areas he operated. He was a true professional, a very nice guy to deal with. I'd venture to say that Matt had forgotten more than most of us who've operated in PNG will ever know (apologies Tinpis, CC, Pinky etc), but I reckon Matt will be a very hard act to follow!

JM needs to tidy-up his hangar but!

[tinpis]

Always sad to hear of the demise of a good hand
Cant say I recall Matt, what years are we talking about?

[Captain Nomad]

Well that wasn't expected so soon...

Indeed, a big loss for PNG aviation. Sorry to hear of another gone although it is nice to know that it wasn't a loss through an aviation accident...

[mendi63]

Cant say I recall Matt, what years are we talking about?

He flew with Talair from the mid 80's until their demise when he joined South West Air when they purchased P2-RDL (now P2-SWE) in '93.

JM needs to tidy-up his hangar but!

It's not his hangar I'm worried about - it's his desk

[Chimbu chuckles]

Matt joined Talair fairly late in the piece - long after me so late 80s maybe even 90ish. Last time I saw him was in Mendi when I was flying the Dash 7 for PX in the mid 90s and he was on tours with SWA. Bit of a god botherer - didn't smoke or drink that I remember - strange/sad for someone like that to just die in his sleep at a fairly young age - would he have been 50?

[mendi63]

would he have been 50?

He was 58 and planning to retire in the next year or so.

[DHW]

JMs Hanger

I see you still use the milk crates as work stands.-- Are the wings off the mahogany desk also!

[frigatebird]

Diff'rent hangar..

[tinpis]

I've certainly forgotten most I ever knew..um..what was the question?

[mendi63]

Re: JMs Hanger

As Frigatebird says it's a different hangar - that hangar in the piccy is in Australia, JM's hangar is in PNG and a lot flasher

[tinpis]

Looking forlorn today, what could have been at one time the busiest GA hangar anywhere in the world

[sundaun]

GKA

Hard to beleive it supported in excess of 73 (correct me Torres) lighties after the Macair takeover. Most of us have Max and RDB to thank for a "start" in the industry. An appreciation not shared nowadays in the preceeding forum. It is a pity those contributors missed out on all the lessons learned whether they be survival, respect tolerance (and grammar!) I dont believe we will ever see a non-military "lightie" aviation operation of this size again.

[DHW]

GKA

The last time I saw the rear of that hangar was 1971. When the right wing of the Turbo Baron VH-AEA blew apart I made a dash to the back. Stupid move as there was no way out and a raging fire at the front.
A couple of days later Rossco S flew me to Lae in a rather nice E55 Baron to start work for Macair in Uncle Max's facility. Great days and memories forever.

[Torres]

The old Bellman hangar does look forlorn.

Tinnie, what is that sign or building to the right of the hangar?

[tinpis]

Outside the front of the ole hangar


GKA

Baron, where when?

GKA Dero patron in the chain smoking area

[chimbu warrior]

Tinnie, great shots.

Amazing to see one of the Arava's actually flying.

The shot of GKU has me all excited; flying the Baron up there was great fun. IIRC, this is the one that Max went fishing in.

Enjoy Goroka.

[tinpis]

Those photties taken by a mate. Last time i was in GKA was '83
Yes the Baron was fun werent it? you was lucky that Macair had the good sense to buy a few which Dennis inherited

[frigatebird]

Similar paint scheme in the Islands - the 55C also inherited from the Macair takeover. VP-PAK(S.#. TE-44) became H4-AAB after Independence in July '78. It ended its life as an underwater wreck dive site dropped in off Kukum. (Intentionally). The compass couldn't be calibrated to within about 8 degrees because of the number of times it had been down on its belly or knees. Was groundlooped on the algae covered (shorter then)strip at Marau once, with a main collapsing, (before my time).
Sometimes it would do the run to Santo and back thu Santa Cruz as well, to replace a Queenair on the day. Never had many passengers while Air Pacific ran the BAC 111 between Vila and Honiara (from Nadi to Brisbane return) twice a week.