The Home of Photos in Dunnunda! Mk I
Its been 25 years since I left PNG but definitely tracked coastal towards Finchaven and took a lefty half way there, then up the valley for pindiu.
The old memory is not the same as it used to be but I am sure it was the mongi valley. But then again I am probably wrong.
The legacy of too many SP brownies I think!
The old memory is not the same as it used to be but I am sure it was the mongi valley. But then again I am probably wrong.
The legacy of too many SP brownies I think!
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My favourite person (the one that feeds me 
) saw Pinky's "Coastal" photo and commented "I never got that high, now I know what's on top of the tree trunks"
Now he's wandered off mumbling something about ships masts appearing out of the gloop and having to go around them
tipsy
purrrrr
) saw Pinky's "Coastal" photo and commented "I never got that high, now I know what's on top of the tree trunks"Now he's wandered off mumbling something about ships masts appearing out of the gloop and having to go around them
tipsy
purrrrr
Grandpa Aerotart
Nothing wrong with your memory olderairhead....track coastal ex Lae at about the altitude in Pinky's picture and then turn inland at Cape Gerhard and track up the Monghi River valley....climbing into the Monghi valley system as the cloudbase permitted....you could work a whole morning in a tree lined/cloud capped little world flying back and forth between Pindiu/Mindik/Ogenerang/Masa etc and then have to descend down the Monghi valley to the coast again and track home to Lae at 50-100 in rain and low cloud.
From memory it was called the wet season.
The big trick was knowing whether you could take off at each strip...you'd land and park, get out and look back the way you'd flown in and wonder how the **** you managed that...if there was room to get airborne, climb above the trees and do a 180 and land again you'd go...and the world looked entirely different 200' above the strip.
Ya tell youngans these days and they just don't believe it....personally I miss it...a lot some days.
From memory it was called the wet season.
The big trick was knowing whether you could take off at each strip...you'd land and park, get out and look back the way you'd flown in and wonder how the **** you managed that...if there was room to get airborne, climb above the trees and do a 180 and land again you'd go...and the world looked entirely different 200' above the strip.
Ya tell youngans these days and they just don't believe it....personally I miss it...a lot some days.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 29th Oct 2007 at 07:42.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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personally I miss it...a lot some days.
Thanks Chimbu, thought I had gone a bit senile for a moment.
The worst bit was standing in the parking bay looking down the strip watching the cloud come in - below the other end - and then deciding how far below the other end before you could not take off, drop the nose into the valley and stay visual!
Always the 5 cents, 50 cents grip the seat sort of feeling.
Ahhhh the sweet memories!
The worst bit was standing in the parking bay looking down the strip watching the cloud come in - below the other end - and then deciding how far below the other end before you could not take off, drop the nose into the valley and stay visual!
Always the 5 cents, 50 cents grip the seat sort of feeling.
Ahhhh the sweet memories!
Grandpa Aerotart
BTW Pinky...those trees wouldn't be that little ridgeline leading along the beach into Kerema?
olderairhead I seem to remember getting airborne ar Ogenerang, going IMC at about 20', counting to 3 and descending into clear air in a slight right turn...maybe more than once
Ogenerang
I hasten to add you could see the valley was clear off the RH side of the strip by taxiing over to that side as you backtracked and peering over the edge. The middle background is the valley leading to the '20 mile Gap'.
Pindiu
From memory a RH turn airborne took you towards the Monghi and down to the coast and a LH turn took you to Lenghbati...the only sloping swamp I have ever seen.
To paraphrase a movie title...'We were bush pilots once, and young...and stoopid'
olderairhead I seem to remember getting airborne ar Ogenerang, going IMC at about 20', counting to 3 and descending into clear air in a slight right turn...maybe more than once
Ogenerang
I hasten to add you could see the valley was clear off the RH side of the strip by taxiing over to that side as you backtracked and peering over the edge. The middle background is the valley leading to the '20 mile Gap'.
Pindiu
From memory a RH turn airborne took you towards the Monghi and down to the coast and a LH turn took you to Lenghbati...the only sloping swamp I have ever seen.
To paraphrase a movie title...'We were bush pilots once, and young...and stoopid'
Luckily never had to overnight at ogerenang or pindiu but did know of a couple of Co-Air guys that did spend the night in the back of a C185.
And can you tell me was the Kiap still living there next to the windsock at pindiu when you took that pic? Bearded bloke, can't remember his name.
I did post some pics of that area a while ago on another thread and if anyone is interested can do so again.
And can you tell me was the Kiap still living there next to the windsock at pindiu when you took that pic? Bearded bloke, can't remember his name.
I did post some pics of that area a while ago on another thread and if anyone is interested can do so again.
Silly Old Git
I was just curious about the coastal thing
I didnt need to track coastal the few times I've been into Pindiu and Mindik
I was in the mighty Porter and just bored straight up from Lae and straight down again
I didnt need to track coastal the few times I've been into Pindiu and Mindik
I was in the mighty Porter and just bored straight up from Lae and straight down again
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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those trees wouldn't be that little ridgeline leading along the beach into Kerema?
Must admit, most times it was coming home. Only a few times going the other way. Tried the climb to 10,000 and down but never became visual in time.
Read 5 cents, 50 cents again.
So decided this was not for me.
Call me chicken but at least I am here to talk about it.
The other thing that crossed my mind in those early days was maybe a fokker inbound from finchaven could be on the reciprical track.
Not really rated in those days. Nuf said!
Read 5 cents, 50 cents again.
So decided this was not for me.
Call me chicken but at least I am here to talk about it.
The other thing that crossed my mind in those early days was maybe a fokker inbound from finchaven could be on the reciprical track.
Not really rated in those days. Nuf said!
Apinun Olderairhead! 
Finschhafen it is!
As the Brownies decimate brain cells, genetic instinct kicks in!
Proven scientific fact!!!
Ask Maxie, Trader, Biggles and many other survivors from our era!
Finschhafen it is!
"..thought I had gone a bit senile for a moment."
"The legacy of too many SP brownies I think!"
Proven scientific fact!!!
Ask Maxie, Trader, Biggles and many other survivors from our era!
Silly Old Git
Atmospheric photo from the 60's in kiwi
Balls to the wall 1340 bellowing .bump bump down strip throwing up mud and sheep ****, fall off end hand on dump lever. geeeeentle left turn, ease back I think we are climbing out of the river .....
Balls to the wall 1340 bellowing .bump bump down strip throwing up mud and sheep ****, fall off end hand on dump lever. geeeeentle left turn, ease back I think we are climbing out of the river .....
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Tin, I'm sorry to say, that...
As awed as I am by you guys (and trust me, I sincerely mean that!) and as much as I love hearing all your stories and snippets..
You DIDN'T really fly an aircraft that looked like THAT did you?
Because if so I might just have to quietly slip out the back door and find someone more manly to stalk...
As awed as I am by you guys (and trust me, I sincerely mean that!) and as much as I love hearing all your stories and snippets..
You DIDN'T really fly an aircraft that looked like THAT did you?
Because if so I might just have to quietly slip out the back door and find someone more manly to stalk...
Grandpa Aerotart
Nah Tin...my old Dad was born in 1932...when you wuz flying that ferking ugly aeroplane I wuz in shorts and yet to discover my dik was good for something over than pissing through
Pretty coutryside though...NZ is a pretty place
Airtruck, Nomad, GA8....we south sea poms aren't real good at designing pretty aeroplanes.
Pretty coutryside though...NZ is a pretty place
Airtruck, Nomad, GA8....we south sea poms aren't real good at designing pretty aeroplanes.
Silly Old Git
Geezaz I is not THAT old
The fella flying that thing was probably the venerable Don "Goose " Ercerg, he would be about your dads vintage Chuckles
I remember him saying that the Airtruck was bloody awful and he was wary of it
Its amazing he wanted to fly at all after this incident
The fella flying that thing was probably the venerable Don "Goose " Ercerg, he would be about your dads vintage Chuckles
I remember him saying that the Airtruck was bloody awful and he was wary of it
Its amazing he wanted to fly at all after this incident
