27th Jan 2019, 13:21 - Wikipost
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A thread where ex PNG geriatrics lapuns and long longs can live in the dim distant past.
Where tall stories are accepted as fact. War stories are applauded. Grab a Brownie, pull up a story and join in a trip down memory lane!!! 
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PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: GOLD COAST
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TWO WEEKS IN "PARADISE" CONTINUED.
See previous post #3563
With full fuel, departed Hagen for Rabaul (Tokua) with a proposed overnight in Madang. However on arrival Madang found there was no Avgas available in town and probably none in Tokua. Shell and BP no longer exist in PNG and only saw a couple of Mobil service stations in Madang. Fuel throughout the country, Avtur, Avgas and Mogas is now supplied by a Canadian company, Interoil, who don't seem to give a stuff about the supply of Avgas. John Cheung, of Island Air, was down to one drum of fuel with no further supplies on the horizon. He said last time this happened he was out of fuel for nearly a month. So the message is, if your planning a piston engine trip to PNG, check fuel availability beforehand. There has been no Avgas available between Horn Island and Port Moresby for years.
Another new operator in the country is an Irish mobile phone provider, Digicel, which has the country pretty well covered. Their Logo is anywhere there is a bit of wall/fencing or a power pole available.
With a bit of mining exploration going on in the country the helicopter business is doing OK. Spotted the two helicopters below,amongst others, at Madang.
There is a new operator, Travel Air, starting up and based at Madang. They have two Fokker 50's already in the country with five more to come. The operation is supposedly owned by Malaysians working through a Rabaul front man, who just happened to be out on bail on misappropriation charges when these photos were taken. How seven Fokker 50's, operating out of Madang, expect to make a quid is anyone's guess.
With the Rabaul trip off the agenda, planned a short hop down the coast to Saidor. After checking that the grass on the airstrip had been cut, which is just another potential PNG aviation problem these days, taxied out for departure, only to have no fuel flow indication on run up. Bugger, I've upset somebody somewhere. The engine was running OK but one cylinder EGT/CHT was low so gave the trip away. I'm an old pilot not a bold pilot.
Rang Cairns that afternoon (Friday) chasing a new fuel divider and injector nozzles. It was only 3.00pm but everyone had gone home for the weekend. Now looks like a weeks enforced holiday in Madang as there is no direct flight Madang-Hagen due to the grounding of Airlines of PNG,s Dash 8 fleet following the Nadzab-Madang accident.
PNG,s infrastructure continues to deteriorate, with pot holes in the roads everywhere, and if you're dependant on Yonki hydro for your power, and the Highlands, Madang, and I think Lae/Nadzab are, then you can look forward to blackouts several times a day every day.
Played the tourist and took a couple of pikkies between SP,s.
Finally got a lift back to Hagen on Trans Niugini Tours PAC 750, a pretty impressive performer.
Back to OZ. A bit of a disappointing trip but will try again next year. At least the Bensbach barramundi will have grown by another year.
With full fuel, departed Hagen for Rabaul (Tokua) with a proposed overnight in Madang. However on arrival Madang found there was no Avgas available in town and probably none in Tokua. Shell and BP no longer exist in PNG and only saw a couple of Mobil service stations in Madang. Fuel throughout the country, Avtur, Avgas and Mogas is now supplied by a Canadian company, Interoil, who don't seem to give a stuff about the supply of Avgas. John Cheung, of Island Air, was down to one drum of fuel with no further supplies on the horizon. He said last time this happened he was out of fuel for nearly a month. So the message is, if your planning a piston engine trip to PNG, check fuel availability beforehand. There has been no Avgas available between Horn Island and Port Moresby for years.
Another new operator in the country is an Irish mobile phone provider, Digicel, which has the country pretty well covered. Their Logo is anywhere there is a bit of wall/fencing or a power pole available.
With a bit of mining exploration going on in the country the helicopter business is doing OK. Spotted the two helicopters below,amongst others, at Madang.
There is a new operator, Travel Air, starting up and based at Madang. They have two Fokker 50's already in the country with five more to come. The operation is supposedly owned by Malaysians working through a Rabaul front man, who just happened to be out on bail on misappropriation charges when these photos were taken. How seven Fokker 50's, operating out of Madang, expect to make a quid is anyone's guess.
With the Rabaul trip off the agenda, planned a short hop down the coast to Saidor. After checking that the grass on the airstrip had been cut, which is just another potential PNG aviation problem these days, taxied out for departure, only to have no fuel flow indication on run up. Bugger, I've upset somebody somewhere. The engine was running OK but one cylinder EGT/CHT was low so gave the trip away. I'm an old pilot not a bold pilot.
Rang Cairns that afternoon (Friday) chasing a new fuel divider and injector nozzles. It was only 3.00pm but everyone had gone home for the weekend. Now looks like a weeks enforced holiday in Madang as there is no direct flight Madang-Hagen due to the grounding of Airlines of PNG,s Dash 8 fleet following the Nadzab-Madang accident.
PNG,s infrastructure continues to deteriorate, with pot holes in the roads everywhere, and if you're dependant on Yonki hydro for your power, and the Highlands, Madang, and I think Lae/Nadzab are, then you can look forward to blackouts several times a day every day.
Played the tourist and took a couple of pikkies between SP,s.
Finally got a lift back to Hagen on Trans Niugini Tours PAC 750, a pretty impressive performer.
Back to OZ. A bit of a disappointing trip but will try again next year. At least the Bensbach barramundi will have grown by another year.
Last edited by P2 WDL; 10th Jan 2012 at 06:34.
Moderator
Tinnie.
Hope you have a rain coat and gum boots. Christmas is looking rather wet? Hope it isn't Tracey back for a visit?
Hope you have a rain coat and gum boots. Christmas is looking rather wet? Hope it isn't Tracey back for a visit?
Silly Old Git
OOooo..er 
the nasty things turned and tracking between
Cape Don and Foucroy. This calls for the rum to standby.
TC Track and Threat Map Page
P2-WDL you dd a good job with that checkride out of
Hagen It looked more like a CPL ride to me.
Interesting Cheungy still there in Madang!
the nasty things turned and tracking between Cape Don and Foucroy. This calls for the rum to standby.
TC Track and Threat Map Page
P2-WDL you dd a good job with that checkride out of
Hagen
It looked more like a CPL ride to me.Interesting Cheungy still there in Madang!
Last edited by tinpis; 23rd Dec 2011 at 23:31.
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Macair endorsed a number of pilots on the aircraft.
G'day Torres. In reply to your #2411.
What about Len Clampett? I seem to recall, from my time at the Crowley hangar in Lae (1974), that he was reputed to do steep approaches and move through beta into reverse at near touchdown and then stop in about an aircraft length.
Best Regards for the festivities etc. Big E.
What about Len Clampett? I seem to recall, from my time at the Crowley hangar in Lae (1974), that he was reputed to do steep approaches and move through beta into reverse at near touchdown and then stop in about an aircraft length.
Best Regards for the festivities etc. Big E.
Leonard Clampett, known to all as "Jed".
Yes, I wondered about the 1974 - pre Macair take over - so you are correct, it will be the Porter.
I won't comment on your unatural acts for fear of being banned........ 
Yes, I wondered about the 1974 - pre Macair take over - so you are correct, it will be the Porter.
"Yes we all did unatural acts n the Porter.."
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Post # 2411 is by shinbone. Emi no samting bilong mi?
Hey Torres.
Mipela sori tumas emi bagarap bikpela taim long raitim ol numba ia. Emi sut bi ole calim numba 2141.
Hepi niu yia. Regards Big E.
Mipela sori tumas emi bagarap bikpela taim long raitim ol numba ia. Emi sut bi ole calim numba 2141.
Hepi niu yia. Regards Big E.
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was flown by a pilot with a very distinctive US accent
Greetings for 2012 cac_sabre. In reply to your Post #3268.
Was that the guy (initials J H) who used to enter "O K Flight" in the aircraft Tech Log? I think he was a Colonel, or similar rank, who flew Lockheed F-104 Starfighters in the US Military. Regards, Big E.
Was that the guy (initials J H) who used to enter "O K Flight" in the aircraft Tech Log?
I think he was a Colonel, or similar rank, who flew Lockheed F-104 Starfighters in the US Military. Regards, Big E.
Join Date: Jan 2012
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VH/P2-FRB, P2-PNX, P2-BOX, VH-LIW. Helio Courier
Further to that written by 2Dogs:
"VH-FRB Helio H-250 Courier MkII, c/n 2540 ex N6330V. Crashed 28.05.1976 at Mount Hagen."
On behalf of PNG Aviation [Yorky M.], I Field Repaired it after the ground loop incident and flew it from Mt Hagen to POM on the 23MAY77. By this stage, for a reason unknow to me, it had been removed from the PNG Register. The ferry flight to POM was conducted on a Permit to Fly, as it was know then, using the Callsign P2-PNX. At the time, I was employed as a LAME by AirNiugini Engineering, but Yorky was aware that I had salvaged the aircraft some years previous, after it had an engine failure and forced landing into a river bed near Tadji.
The pilot was, if I recall correctly, L.R. [later, PX Aircrew] and I must add, he did a mighty skilled job of getting it through the canopy and onto the river bed with minimal damage and nil injuries. On that occasion, I hired a Heli-Trans Lama, which happened to be passing by on it's way to Sentani, to lift it out in two loads to an awaiting Bristol Freighter at Tadji. Normally, on a salvage like this, I would have hired a line of labourers to carry the dismantled aircraft out.
FRB was Airfreighted in the Air Express Bristol Airfreighter from Tadji to Archerfield and repaired by Air Express Holdings.
After the ferry flight for Yorky in MAY77, I lost track of the aircraft until I saw it as VH-LIW in NQ somewhere, may have been Charters Towers - early 2000's. Hew was refuelling there from memory, on his way back North to wherever he had retired. [Near Mt Garnet, I think]
I still have several B&W photographs of the salvage at Tadji.
Cheers.....BD.
"VH-FRB Helio H-250 Courier MkII, c/n 2540 ex N6330V. Crashed 28.05.1976 at Mount Hagen."
On behalf of PNG Aviation [Yorky M.], I Field Repaired it after the ground loop incident and flew it from Mt Hagen to POM on the 23MAY77. By this stage, for a reason unknow to me, it had been removed from the PNG Register. The ferry flight to POM was conducted on a Permit to Fly, as it was know then, using the Callsign P2-PNX. At the time, I was employed as a LAME by AirNiugini Engineering, but Yorky was aware that I had salvaged the aircraft some years previous, after it had an engine failure and forced landing into a river bed near Tadji.
The pilot was, if I recall correctly, L.R. [later, PX Aircrew] and I must add, he did a mighty skilled job of getting it through the canopy and onto the river bed with minimal damage and nil injuries. On that occasion, I hired a Heli-Trans Lama, which happened to be passing by on it's way to Sentani, to lift it out in two loads to an awaiting Bristol Freighter at Tadji. Normally, on a salvage like this, I would have hired a line of labourers to carry the dismantled aircraft out.
FRB was Airfreighted in the Air Express Bristol Airfreighter from Tadji to Archerfield and repaired by Air Express Holdings.
After the ferry flight for Yorky in MAY77, I lost track of the aircraft until I saw it as VH-LIW in NQ somewhere, may have been Charters Towers - early 2000's. Hew was refuelling there from memory, on his way back North to wherever he had retired. [Near Mt Garnet, I think]
I still have several B&W photographs of the salvage at Tadji.
Cheers.....BD.
Last edited by Callmebede; 3rd Jan 2012 at 07:38. Reason: Typo in Title: PNZ to PNX
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Macair 1974-C206 Crash.
I was employed as a LAME by Macair in Lae at the time and knew both of the pilots pretty well. They had the same name i.e. R.S. and lived one either side of me in the small Bed-Sits in Taun St. We shared most meals together as I was the only one with any decent cooking gear, or cooking skills, for that matter.
The elder R.S. had a GA Instructing background and had only a short time earlier, arrived from the Nth Brisbane area. He had a wife and young family who were to join him, when he had settled into Lae.
The younger R.S. had been part way through a RAAF Jet Course at Pierce, WA, before taking the position at Macair. He had been with Macair considerably longer than elder R.S. and on the day of the crash, was in the LH seat, with R.S. the elder riding along for a familiarization flight. I've read the reports on the Kiap Forum and saw mentioned that he may have been an ex Army person. I doubt this is correct. From memory, his father, whom I met after the crash, may have been an Ex-Army person.
On the evening prior to the crash, we shared a meal with a young couple from Bentleigh, Vic. They were visiting and had rented another of the Bed-Sits for their weeks stay. Amongst other things we discussed over the meal, was photography, which resulted in the younger RS and I deciding we'd buy new camera's the next day. We also decided that the five of us would lunch together. On the day of the crash, R.S. the younger and I bought a new Pentax Spotmatic II each and the five of us ate take-out lunch on the grassy hill in town, above the Airport. Shortly before lunch the two R.S. had been advised of the afternoon flight, so they didn't linger. Both departed down the hill with an air of excitment. Flying, good weather and R.S the younger was eager to try out his new camera. He was very keen on WWII aircraft wrecks. We arranged the menu for that evenings meal and that was the last I saw of them.
The elder R.S. had a GA Instructing background and had only a short time earlier, arrived from the Nth Brisbane area. He had a wife and young family who were to join him, when he had settled into Lae.
The younger R.S. had been part way through a RAAF Jet Course at Pierce, WA, before taking the position at Macair. He had been with Macair considerably longer than elder R.S. and on the day of the crash, was in the LH seat, with R.S. the elder riding along for a familiarization flight. I've read the reports on the Kiap Forum and saw mentioned that he may have been an ex Army person. I doubt this is correct. From memory, his father, whom I met after the crash, may have been an Ex-Army person.
On the evening prior to the crash, we shared a meal with a young couple from Bentleigh, Vic. They were visiting and had rented another of the Bed-Sits for their weeks stay. Amongst other things we discussed over the meal, was photography, which resulted in the younger RS and I deciding we'd buy new camera's the next day. We also decided that the five of us would lunch together. On the day of the crash, R.S. the younger and I bought a new Pentax Spotmatic II each and the five of us ate take-out lunch on the grassy hill in town, above the Airport. Shortly before lunch the two R.S. had been advised of the afternoon flight, so they didn't linger. Both departed down the hill with an air of excitment. Flying, good weather and R.S the younger was eager to try out his new camera. He was very keen on WWII aircraft wrecks. We arranged the menu for that evenings meal and that was the last I saw of them.
Silly Old Git
Lot of adventures on that search.Hughes 500 went down in the mulga? all ok Athol .....? DCA examiner at the helm?
I believe the search had been called off when orli contacted a kiap about the wreck?
I believe the search had been called off when orli contacted a kiap about the wreck?