The Home of Photos in Dunnunda! Mk I
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this is the only four letter ICAO seadrome you can fly to in Europe!
Grandpa Aerotart
Sarg just after we landed at Hunter Strip...his Dad's land used to run most of the Eastern Side of lake Hawea and about 10nm up the eastern side of the Hunter River...Dave helped his Dad lay down this strip in the late 60s as a little boy...doesn't get used much these days.
When I get a chance to upload it to youtube I'll post a vid of his landing...the grass is so long it looks like we are going to tip over...and the prop leading edge was green for half the blade length
Here it is
RS drank MANY beers last night at Makaroa during the 180/185 flyin...to my eternal regret my camera battery was flat and the quality of the electricity wasn't good enough to get a charge into the camera until we got back to Wanaka before heading off to Fiordland after lunch.
We did...this is Sarge's back yard...he's been trotting around these mountains and strips in this particular 185 since he was a boy. Red Hills and Alabaster was beautiful..the pics/vid at Alabaster were taken between a trip each way across the mountains in that weather. After 14 years in PNG I know what a backdoor looks like.
In fact here is some video of flying back from Alabaster to Wanaka via the same NE of Mt Aspiring route we took over earlier...was blowing probably 50kts through the hills...VERY bumpy as you'll see in the vid
When I get a chance to upload it to youtube I'll post a vid of his landing...the grass is so long it looks like we are going to tip over...and the prop leading edge was green for half the blade length
Here it is
RS drank MANY beers last night at Makaroa during the 180/185 flyin...to my eternal regret my camera battery was flat and the quality of the electricity wasn't good enough to get a charge into the camera until we got back to Wanaka before heading off to Fiordland after lunch.
hope you had an eye on what was going on behind you! I've seen those conditions deteriorate to zero vis in less time than it takes to tell of it. I'd be betting the Arawata was nothing too flash and the Olivine probably closed or marginal -out around the Red Hills was it to clearer air in the Pyke/Hollyford?
In fact here is some video of flying back from Alabaster to Wanaka via the same NE of Mt Aspiring route we took over earlier...was blowing probably 50kts through the hills...VERY bumpy as you'll see in the vid
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 14th Mar 2009 at 10:59.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: turn L @ Taupo, just past the Niagra Falls...
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Thoroughly enjoying your photo's & vids Chimbu Chuckles -and more than just a little bit envious! Miss that place something fierce. I certainly wasn't trying to call yours or Sarge's experience, professionalism or knowledge into question in the previous post -just trying to subtly get the message across to those unfamiliar with mountain ops that there is certainly more to it than might meet the eye in some of the images posted.
It's certainly the sort of country that a lot of itinerants are keen to get in amongst -who could blame them- but not all are careful or smart enough to seek some local knowledge before they go blasting off, sometimes with tragic consequences. All too often the guys that fly in that area are regularly tagged "cowboys", usually by those who have little or no knowledge of what we do, how or why we do it. In comparison to what they may be used to, I imagine that we could be perceived as cowboys, but for the knowledge, care, thought & experience that underpin every flight.
I've seen ATPL's, high-time CPL's and Instructors, Military and every level of experience come unglued in there, as I'm sure you have in PNG etc., and Sarge too. Regrettably on occasion the local guys sometime push their luck just a little too hard too. No one is immune and the mountains unforgiving -they deserve ultimate respect.
You would have had a helluva night at Makarora I'm sure -video of that would have been a crack-up! Hope you get into Siberia -one of my favourite places on the planet. Have a ball and keep posting the pics!
It's certainly the sort of country that a lot of itinerants are keen to get in amongst -who could blame them- but not all are careful or smart enough to seek some local knowledge before they go blasting off, sometimes with tragic consequences. All too often the guys that fly in that area are regularly tagged "cowboys", usually by those who have little or no knowledge of what we do, how or why we do it. In comparison to what they may be used to, I imagine that we could be perceived as cowboys, but for the knowledge, care, thought & experience that underpin every flight.
I've seen ATPL's, high-time CPL's and Instructors, Military and every level of experience come unglued in there, as I'm sure you have in PNG etc., and Sarge too. Regrettably on occasion the local guys sometime push their luck just a little too hard too. No one is immune and the mountains unforgiving -they deserve ultimate respect.
You would have had a helluva night at Makarora I'm sure -video of that would have been a crack-up! Hope you get into Siberia -one of my favourite places on the planet. Have a ball and keep posting the pics!
Grandpa Aerotart
Points well made RS.
Well my South Island adventure is over and I am back in Brisvegas for 4 days working on my Bonanza before heading back to work for 10 days or so and then another weeks leave in Perth for more taildragging fun in another mate's newly imported C195.
This was my first trip to the South Island...it will NOT be the last. It's just the most spectacular place I have ever seen...and it changes constantly...fly 40nm and you could be in a different world but just as spectacular.
You'll possibly have noticed me laughing in unrestrained joy after each landing at Gorge river, Alabaster etc. I haven't had so much fun in an aeroplane since my PNG days ended over a decade ago. Thanks to Sarge's encyclopedic local knowledge it was relatively safe fun too.
The run into Makaroa...cant remember what this valley was called but Sarge said "remember the Kosipe Valley?" - Yes - "Turn up here, cross that saddle then turn right"
Last trip was an amazing flight down to the southern tip of NZ on a cloudless and smooth day before landing at Roger Monk's strip, cuppa at Sarge's cousin's place and then dropped off to QN to start home.
I'll certainly be back this time next year for another Tiki tour and more beer at the C180/185 annual Fly in...although next year I'll take a bit more leave and include some camping/fishing/hunting
Well my South Island adventure is over and I am back in Brisvegas for 4 days working on my Bonanza before heading back to work for 10 days or so and then another weeks leave in Perth for more taildragging fun in another mate's newly imported C195.
This was my first trip to the South Island...it will NOT be the last. It's just the most spectacular place I have ever seen...and it changes constantly...fly 40nm and you could be in a different world but just as spectacular.
You'll possibly have noticed me laughing in unrestrained joy after each landing at Gorge river, Alabaster etc. I haven't had so much fun in an aeroplane since my PNG days ended over a decade ago. Thanks to Sarge's encyclopedic local knowledge it was relatively safe fun too.
The run into Makaroa...cant remember what this valley was called but Sarge said "remember the Kosipe Valley?" - Yes - "Turn up here, cross that saddle then turn right"
Last trip was an amazing flight down to the southern tip of NZ on a cloudless and smooth day before landing at Roger Monk's strip, cuppa at Sarge's cousin's place and then dropped off to QN to start home.
I'll certainly be back this time next year for another Tiki tour and more beer at the C180/185 annual Fly in...although next year I'll take a bit more leave and include some camping/fishing/hunting
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 15th Mar 2009 at 23:04.
Geez Chuckles, you look like a flam'in tourist!
You're gonna have to update your wardrobe if you want to be taken seriously as a South Is bush pilot!
Swanndri, shorts (regardless of the weather) and GP boots would be the go, I think!
Dr
You're gonna have to update your wardrobe if you want to be taken seriously as a South Is bush pilot!
Swanndri, shorts (regardless of the weather) and GP boots would be the go, I think!
Dr
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Originally Posted by FTDK
...GP boots...
Boots should only ever be of the Ashley lace-up (gumboot) variety, laces removed and replaced with a couple of No.8 wire staples
Always worn unfastened tho, so wot the hey!
Nice pic there chuck of Mt Aspiring in cloud. SW ridge running towards the camera.
It takes me back to my climbing days. Spend many weeks up there on and aound Aspiring.
It takes me back to my climbing days. Spend many weeks up there on and aound Aspiring.
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Chimbu,
A BIG thankyou going out to you man for taking the time to post your pics and vids here, really appreciated by me as its been way too long since I've seen some of that countryside. I cut my teeth in those parts, and looking at your pics only makes me wonder why I was in such a rush to get into the airline game!
You've got the idea, a bit of both.
Nice one!!
A BIG thankyou going out to you man for taking the time to post your pics and vids here, really appreciated by me as its been way too long since I've seen some of that countryside. I cut my teeth in those parts, and looking at your pics only makes me wonder why I was in such a rush to get into the airline game!
You've got the idea, a bit of both.
Nice one!!
Jaba,
na mate.
That is a very nice 185 in the photos above.
The owner is looking for some info on it's former life in PNG.
P2TAC I think. Chuck, did you have anything to do with it???
185.
na mate.
That is a very nice 185 in the photos above.
The owner is looking for some info on it's former life in PNG.
P2TAC I think. Chuck, did you have anything to do with it???
185.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Hey 185.....mate, I think Chimbu Chuck will have some stories about that one!
P2TAC rings a bell, I have seen that in some of his pics (now all on his thrashed HDD) and I would not be at all surprised if there is a story of an arrestor cable involved
.
As you know he has many great pics and stories so I can't wait to see what comes forth!
P2TAC rings a bell, I have seen that in some of his pics (now all on his thrashed HDD) and I would not be at all surprised if there is a story of an arrestor cable involved
.As you know he has many great pics and stories so I can't wait to see what comes forth!
Grandpa Aerotart
That's TAC is it? Wondered where it had got to.
Sarge would have much more information as it was his mount in PNG.
Back in this thread I have posted some pics of it in PNG.
I used to fly it occasionally - mostly training newbies. Originally it belonged to New Tribes Mission (P2-NTM from memory) and then it was sold to Trans Niugini Airways (P2-TAC)
This was the result of hitting a cable during a forced landing after running a tank dry in the circuit at POM. My fault - I had told a trainee to ensure both was selected after we dipped the tanks and I didn't check that he had done so. The aircraft had been parked all night on a side slope and most of the fuel had drained from the up wing to the down and the up wing was selected. There was no time to get a restart so I landed on a road and hit pole support cables just above the road.
Nice to see her restored...she was a nice aeroplane.
Actually I helped trash that pod twice..some time later I was route endorsing a new 185 pilot into some strip or other and he got a little slow...."More power...MORE POWER!!!"...well more power came just a bee's dick too late and we 'arrived' 3 points and splayed the main gear a bit and a bump in the strip split the bottom of the pod
On another occasion while taxiing out we found ourselves looking 'up' more than was usual and stopping dead in our tracks despite 'lotsa' power...the tailwheel tube had corroded through just in front of the tailwheel assembly and broke off. We were rescued by someone in a C206 (Oh the shame of it) and went back the next day with a little ski shaped tailskid welded to a tube the right diameter...we wanged it onto the broken stub, drilled holes for bolts and lock wire etc etc...stood back to survey our handy work. (me) "Reckon that will stand up to a takeoff/landing?" (engineer) "Not a fecking chance!" We manhandled it onto the strip and I hopped in and started her up...flaps 20 and full power against the brakes/bit of fwd stick, raised the tail up and took off level from a standing start...at Moresby landed on the grass next to 14R and bought her to a complete stop tail up before gently lowering it down. On yet another occasion at Enonge the bolt that passes down through the tailwheel assembly sheered so I collected all the bits together, strapped the cables around the tube and took off level from a standing start...this time I decided I could taxi it all the way to the hangar at Moresby so, to the utter amazement of the chaps in the tower (I did explain it to them on finals but they don't seem to have understood) I proceeded to do so...around several 90 degree bends and along at least two long straight taxiways I went, engine roaring, flaps 20, tail up until pulling into a parking spot outside the hangar...to the bemusement of several engineers too.
Weren't my brakes
Edit: and for those who wonder why we couldn't make the runway we had been extended on downwind to let a QF767 backtrack and it all went quiet too far away to make the airfield.
Sarge would have much more information as it was his mount in PNG.
Back in this thread I have posted some pics of it in PNG.
I used to fly it occasionally - mostly training newbies. Originally it belonged to New Tribes Mission (P2-NTM from memory) and then it was sold to Trans Niugini Airways (P2-TAC)
This was the result of hitting a cable during a forced landing after running a tank dry in the circuit at POM. My fault - I had told a trainee to ensure both was selected after we dipped the tanks and I didn't check that he had done so. The aircraft had been parked all night on a side slope and most of the fuel had drained from the up wing to the down and the up wing was selected. There was no time to get a restart so I landed on a road and hit pole support cables just above the road.
Nice to see her restored...she was a nice aeroplane.
Actually I helped trash that pod twice..some time later I was route endorsing a new 185 pilot into some strip or other and he got a little slow...."More power...MORE POWER!!!"...well more power came just a bee's dick too late and we 'arrived' 3 points and splayed the main gear a bit and a bump in the strip split the bottom of the pod
On another occasion while taxiing out we found ourselves looking 'up' more than was usual and stopping dead in our tracks despite 'lotsa' power...the tailwheel tube had corroded through just in front of the tailwheel assembly and broke off. We were rescued by someone in a C206 (Oh the shame of it) and went back the next day with a little ski shaped tailskid welded to a tube the right diameter...we wanged it onto the broken stub, drilled holes for bolts and lock wire etc etc...stood back to survey our handy work. (me) "Reckon that will stand up to a takeoff/landing?" (engineer) "Not a fecking chance!" We manhandled it onto the strip and I hopped in and started her up...flaps 20 and full power against the brakes/bit of fwd stick, raised the tail up and took off level from a standing start...at Moresby landed on the grass next to 14R and bought her to a complete stop tail up before gently lowering it down. On yet another occasion at Enonge the bolt that passes down through the tailwheel assembly sheered so I collected all the bits together, strapped the cables around the tube and took off level from a standing start...this time I decided I could taxi it all the way to the hangar at Moresby so, to the utter amazement of the chaps in the tower (I did explain it to them on finals but they don't seem to have understood) I proceeded to do so...around several 90 degree bends and along at least two long straight taxiways I went, engine roaring, flaps 20, tail up until pulling into a parking spot outside the hangar...to the bemusement of several engineers too.
Weren't my brakes
Edit: and for those who wonder why we couldn't make the runway we had been extended on downwind to let a QF767 backtrack and it all went quiet too far away to make the airfield.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 18th Mar 2009 at 11:05.