Vale to the SHED
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VH SEO arrived in Bata, Equatorial Guinea on tuesday making it the first Australian registered aircraft to visit the country (we assume), loaded up with a fresh supply of VB. Bata's Australian expat population is now up to five and all of those are pilots. Should be on line soon as 3C SEO doing Bata, Malabo, Libreville, Duala and more.
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Originally Posted by bellsux
VH SEO arrived in Bata, Equatorial Guinea on tuesday making it the first Australian registered aircraft to visit the country (we assume)...
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Hi greybeard,
'There was a Skyvan operating in Perth in 1969/70, VH-FSG for Hicks Aviation.
Then the only Avtur A/C operating ex YPJT.
Carried a full size LWB Landrover and a row of seats to many ???places in the mineral boom.'
My recollection was that it was a short wheelbase version. Rumour was that
Felix made more money out of rentals on the landrover than he ever did (or didn't
) out of the pievan. The machine didn't go very far with the truck in the back though.
Wasn't the van originally a demonstrator for Sleighs that they were desperate to place.
I think it was about the same time that the Scrub bird started the MU-2 operation to Barrow. Late '70?
Have to agree with you about the 'then and now'!
(which probably explains diverging memories on the above)
Snooze
'There was a Skyvan operating in Perth in 1969/70, VH-FSG for Hicks Aviation.
Then the only Avtur A/C operating ex YPJT.
Carried a full size LWB Landrover and a row of seats to many ???places in the mineral boom.'
My recollection was that it was a short wheelbase version. Rumour was that
Felix made more money out of rentals on the landrover than he ever did (or didn't
) out of the pievan. The machine didn't go very far with the truck in the back though. Wasn't the van originally a demonstrator for Sleighs that they were desperate to place.
I think it was about the same time that the Scrub bird started the MU-2 operation to Barrow. Late '70?
Have to agree with you about the 'then and now'!
(which probably explains diverging memories on the above)Snooze
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Yeah the old girl has done ok so far. We left from Bankstown on Friday 13th, we could have gone to Port Headland in one hop but we stopped at Alice do to Bankstown's short runway(note the pun) Used it all up as well. After PH on to Cocos then Maldives then 12H to Nairobi then Bata. I think the total was about 50 hours. Should be punching out the hours in no time here, she will work as hard or even harder than in her first 23 000 hours.
Oh and the Loo pub has the best roof hangy thing ever, a huge white shark with a harpoon in it and blood coming out. Oh and if your there eat early, bring on nine oclock. No Humbug.
Oh and the Loo pub has the best roof hangy thing ever, a huge white shark with a harpoon in it and blood coming out. Oh and if your there eat early, bring on nine oclock. No Humbug.
23,000 hours is a lot considering that it flew mainly short sectors. The average daily utilisation must have been very high - says a lot about its reliability.
BTW the two QF B747-238RR Combis (VH-ECB/C) had over 95,000 hours each when they departed for the US desert. Different type of flying but still great utilisation.
BTW the two QF B747-238RR Combis (VH-ECB/C) had over 95,000 hours each when they departed for the US desert. Different type of flying but still great utilisation.
When I was in DN in the early eighties the shorts 330 (VHKNN) was known as the "Barra" due to its side profile. The way the pilot (Doug S?) rattled off the callsign and destination when taxying was something like "kilonevembernovemberfornarbalek" We knew what he was trying to say!
I think that aircraft was replaced by a 360. I don't recall the operator. A change of policy on uranium mining and exploration in Kakadu saw the demise of that operation.
Any one else recall those OPS?
I think that aircraft was replaced by a 360. I don't recall the operator. A change of policy on uranium mining and exploration in Kakadu saw the demise of that operation.
Any one else recall those OPS?
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Capt. Snooze.
Sorry to deviate from the thread but re the "Original Van" yes as I recall it was a short wheelbase Landrover + some bits. It is also "rumored" that at least one air start was attempted vis a high speed taxi at Meeka - I guess some started better than others.
Re the MU-2. The original demonstrator operated out of JKT late 1970 replaced in July 1971 by ex factory VH-CJP (L B.)
Sorry to deviate from the thread but re the "Original Van" yes as I recall it was a short wheelbase Landrover + some bits. It is also "rumored" that at least one air start was attempted vis a high speed taxi at Meeka - I guess some started better than others.
Re the MU-2. The original demonstrator operated out of JKT late 1970 replaced in July 1971 by ex factory VH-CJP (L B.)
Last edited by MU-2; 22nd Jan 2006 at 06:43.
Silly Old Git
jungmeister
Indeed. Read my post above yours.
Doug posts on here from time to time under his name.
Lotta fun was had around old Darwhine then days had a very vibrant aviation scene over the old side.
A change of policy on uranium mining and exploration in Kakadu saw the demise of that operation.
Any one else recall those OPS?
Any one else recall those OPS?
Doug posts on here from time to time under his name.
Lotta fun was had around old Darwhine then days had a very vibrant aviation scene over the old side.
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Well you have sucked me in to this one!! Yes, those were the days!
KNN (msn SH3060) flew for the first time (at Belfast Harbour airport) on 10 Dec 1980 and arrived in DRW late on Christmas Eve. It then entered service for what was then "Jet Charter Airlines" on a contract to Queensland Mines Ltd (QML) in Jan 81 between DN and Nabarlek. It was the first 3-30 to be registered in Australia. The QML staff worked one of the first fly-in/out rosters. They all lived in DN and worked about 18 days on site per month.
Not quite .. the QML contract was for 8 yrs and it went till 1988 almost to the day when the mine closed down (as planned). It was always a SD3-30 with KNO (msn SH3061) and KNP (msn SH3063) filling in from time to time. The 3-30 was rigged up to carry uranium 'yellowcake" in 200 lt drums. During the wet season this was the only way to get it out of the mine to DN. Later in the contract they had a good dry season and were able to road a good supply out and the carriage by air did not occur much after that. The 4th 330 in that batch (KNQ (SH3073)) had -R engines (no water meth) and finished up with Murray Valley Airlines at MIA in late 81 or early 82.
Jet Charter became "Wings Australia" which then became Peldale which became Pelair (and still is)
The first 360 into Aust was for Murray Valley and it passed thru DN in July 1983 (MVX msn SH3620). That was followed by MVW (SH3626) and then FCU (SH3630) to Sunstate in 84. In fact during our endorsement at Shorts in Nov80, we did a trip from Belfast to Farnborough to pick up the wind tunnel model of the 3-60 which they were then all very excited about. In 82 I flew in the prototype 3-60 (G-ROOM) after the show one day at Farnborough. I did not follow the others which I expect were exported somewhere. 3060 (KNN) I believe went to Fiji as DQ-FIJ. KNO I think, is parked at ASP (in bits!). KNP??
Yes, those were the days at DN - we had a parking spot by the old water tower on the S side. The DN a/c hardly ever saw a hangar (there was not one large enough for the entire a/c at DN) and all the maint was carried out on the ramp. Departure reliability was better than 99% for the whole 8 yrs.
Well remember the controllers and the other RAAF chaps – it was a good night in the Mess every week back then (not the same any more I understand). One could write a book on the DN aviation industry in the '80's whilst it was on the South side. Ozzie, NTAC, DAC, AirNorth, Guido and his Fury's, Bones and his Tiger, Ron and his LongEze, The Navy Trackers, 75 SQN, plus others - it was all go.
Life goes on, but gee it was good then! Certainly not the same anymore!
cheers
D
KNN (msn SH3060) flew for the first time (at Belfast Harbour airport) on 10 Dec 1980 and arrived in DRW late on Christmas Eve. It then entered service for what was then "Jet Charter Airlines" on a contract to Queensland Mines Ltd (QML) in Jan 81 between DN and Nabarlek. It was the first 3-30 to be registered in Australia. The QML staff worked one of the first fly-in/out rosters. They all lived in DN and worked about 18 days on site per month.
A change of policy on uranium mining and exploration in Kakadu saw the demise of that operation.
Jet Charter became "Wings Australia" which then became Peldale which became Pelair (and still is)
The first 360 into Aust was for Murray Valley and it passed thru DN in July 1983 (MVX msn SH3620). That was followed by MVW (SH3626) and then FCU (SH3630) to Sunstate in 84. In fact during our endorsement at Shorts in Nov80, we did a trip from Belfast to Farnborough to pick up the wind tunnel model of the 3-60 which they were then all very excited about. In 82 I flew in the prototype 3-60 (G-ROOM) after the show one day at Farnborough. I did not follow the others which I expect were exported somewhere. 3060 (KNN) I believe went to Fiji as DQ-FIJ. KNO I think, is parked at ASP (in bits!). KNP??
Yes, those were the days at DN - we had a parking spot by the old water tower on the S side. The DN a/c hardly ever saw a hangar (there was not one large enough for the entire a/c at DN) and all the maint was carried out on the ramp. Departure reliability was better than 99% for the whole 8 yrs.
Well remember the controllers and the other RAAF chaps – it was a good night in the Mess every week back then (not the same any more I understand). One could write a book on the DN aviation industry in the '80's whilst it was on the South side. Ozzie, NTAC, DAC, AirNorth, Guido and his Fury's, Bones and his Tiger, Ron and his LongEze, The Navy Trackers, 75 SQN, plus others - it was all go.
Life goes on, but gee it was good then! Certainly not the same anymore!
cheers
D
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fond memories
ok so youve got me. a lot of people have more hours on the shed than me but i flew it for over 15 years (cheating a bit there as i was out of the industry for 8 of those years but who could fly the thing for 15 years straight anyway?
I went backwards flew the 360 for 2500 hours with MVA then went to greener pastures in ad with lloyds only to be told that they wanted me to go to Ireland and ferry a 330 to aus (lsi) you should remember that one Doug. I think the ferry was 65 hours with paddy from the factory- an excelent bloke who loved a beer and showed me through europe middle east india and asia. when lloyd was shut down i changed carreers for 8 years then took a job in darwin flying you guessed it lsi along with the legendary fred fregerrio ex 330 pelair narbalec. all good times lots of memories.
apparently an american pax arrived in UK and was transfered to a shed, juring the take-off she screamed and did the white knuckle on the seat routine. when the FA whent to comfort her and ask what was wrong she said that she thought she had got on a bus to be transfered to another aircraft (true story). Anyway as doug says, very reliable a/c great to fly lots of memories.
I went backwards flew the 360 for 2500 hours with MVA then went to greener pastures in ad with lloyds only to be told that they wanted me to go to Ireland and ferry a 330 to aus (lsi) you should remember that one Doug. I think the ferry was 65 hours with paddy from the factory- an excelent bloke who loved a beer and showed me through europe middle east india and asia. when lloyd was shut down i changed carreers for 8 years then took a job in darwin flying you guessed it lsi along with the legendary fred fregerrio ex 330 pelair narbalec. all good times lots of memories.
apparently an american pax arrived in UK and was transfered to a shed, juring the take-off she screamed and did the white knuckle on the seat routine. when the FA whent to comfort her and ask what was wrong she said that she thought she had got on a bus to be transfered to another aircraft (true story). Anyway as doug says, very reliable a/c great to fly lots of memories.
