The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions The place for students, instructors and charter guys in Oz, NZ and the rest of Oceania.

YMMB

Old 12th Jan 2008, 08:26
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 2,210
Received 66 Likes on 34 Posts
YMMB

Over the last few weeks had a few trips into YMMB, good to the a bit more flying activity.
Seems to a fair bit of flying training both rotary and fixed wing going on compared to a few years ago when i last visited.
I was having a wander around to fill in time as you do some things change yet other things haven't changed over the last 30 years;
1.No more mass departures at 4pm for Flinders Island Airline PA-31 carrying the newspapers upcountry- afternoon edition of The Herald,

2.Ron Roberton theory classrooms long gone,

3.Schutts Hangar no new Cessnas waiting to be assembled inside, the flying s school long gone old Schutty would turn in his grave,

4. Fred Blakes old office is still their, just no new shiny Pipers out the front.
Remember parked up at the fence with the For Sale sign on the prop

5. John Corrells office for Correll Advanced Flight Trainingtaken over by some accountant

6. Australian Air Charterers/Ausair-no more PA-31 heading up to Tulla to do night freight,

7. Civil flying Services no longer in operation

8. No more 35 centre for IFR arrivals or departures-not recommended for the faint hearted

9. No more 3DB flying tadpole - younger generation will have to think about that,

10. Wandering back to my aircraft, I notice a young instructor and a student head off to pre-flight a Cessna C152, I wonder how many times that has happened over the years at YMMB.

11. The C172's used by the SEC for powerline inspections.

As we taxi we join the line of Pa-28 and Cessna taxing with eager students, a Seminole heading off for an IFR Navex , RFDS Kingair , a flash looking Jabiru even some of the call-signs sound familiar.

Good to see the old place busy
Stationair8 is offline  
Old 12th Jan 2008, 12:34
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: BackofBourke
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Remember four in the circuit, for both runways, and six waiting at the holding point to have a go.

Hey, the economy is booming, isn't it, where are the students?

I guess avgas was only 50c.
tio540 is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 06:05
  #3 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 2,210
Received 66 Likes on 34 Posts
At least the "house of lies" aka the RVAC bar is still in operation, nothing like a cold beer or two after a hard day of studying those CPL theory subjects.
Wasn't unusual in those days to be having a quiet ale on a Friday night and be joined by one or two of the local DCA/CAA guys for informal discussion on all things aviation, probably earned the regulator more respect than any bull**** dreamed by some idiot in Canberra!! Please take note Mr Byron and Mr Gibson.
Some of the other operators that come to mind that have disappeared include:

1. Nicholason Skyways

2. Brents Ted Sents foray into selling aircraft.

3. Bib Stillwell operating Learjets on charter work

4. Central Flying Services

5. Combined Flight Training

6. Southern Air services

7. Van Dusen aviation supplies over on the northern side

So no one can remember the 3DB flying tadpole, flying around the bay?
Stationair8 is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 06:47
  #4 (permalink)  
Sprucegoose
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
You have brought back many memories of my days at Moorabbin Stationair!

I did my theory with Ron Robertson way back in 1986, there were 6 of us on the course, I often wonder what happened to the other 5! At lunch times we would wander around the airport poking our noses into hangars and aircraft along the flight line, no one ever asked what we were doing, it was the done thing back then.

I remember too the 3DB flying tadpole, it was no longer flying for the radio station at the time, but still wore the 3DB colours. It impressed me so much, I have dreamed of owning a 'twin seabee' since!

Cue music: Memories, light the corner of my eyes...
Howard Hughes is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 06:50
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 366
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
I remember the "Tadpole" very well! Unsure if it was 3DB one, but its certainly the Republic SeaBee. Its actually parked down at Tyabb in Hosking's hangar waiting to have its restoration finished. I think it only requires an engine, and wings to be put on.

Other things to be noted:
  1. TVSA flying school gone
  2. MFTA flying school gone
  3. The "Caves" gone - old RVAC live in quarters
  4. Old CASA building empty & dessertted
  5. Linton is selling his hangar & contents
  6. Superior Aviation Services went under
Kulwin Park is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:00
  #6 (permalink)  
Sprucegoose
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Anybody remember the twin piaggio? The one with the two pusher engines, what was that?
Howard Hughes is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:08
  #7 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 2,210
Received 66 Likes on 34 Posts
Yes Howard, the good old days.

The joys of being allowed to wander around an airport, without any form of ID, in and out of hangars, poking around the aircraft for sale, wandering in and out of flying schools to get the aircraft hire rates etc.

A number of the flying schools had B36, C210 and PA32r to hire out in the old days!!

Anyone remember the two D50 Twin Bonanza's that lived there in the 1970's,
VH-CLM was one of them.

A couple of more companies that have gone:

1. Bassair had a Dove for freight down to King Island

2. Air Tasmania operated Bandeirantes KNQ & KNO

A big thank-you to Osama for cutting back my ability to wander around airports like YMMB
Stationair8 is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:12
  #8 (permalink)  
Sprucegoose
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I haven't been to Moorabbin for about 5 years, but last time I was there the only thing that looked the same was the aircraft museum! Hadn't changed in twenty years...

Is it still there?

I also remember the Ingham Brothers making their twice weekly visit into Morabbin in VH-ING, still hear it getting around, although it has had several incarnations since and looks a little flasher now!
Howard Hughes is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:15
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Civil Flying School closed and deserted.
VH-XXX is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:29
  #10 (permalink)  
Sprucegoose
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Stop it Stationair, I am getting all misty eyed...
Howard Hughes is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:35
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stationair 8 it may very well have been me in that RFDS kingair at YMMB the other week, i've been in there a few times of late ! Damn waste of resource I reckon but that's another story
Love going out of there near M/T back to EN VFR & climbing like a homesick angel !You can peg the vsi at around 4000 fpm

I like flying into there as long as the twr is open, if not & it's busy with traffic in the circuit it can be a real pain!
I can recall back in the early 80's I hired a C210 TIZ for a boys trip to FLI. We got stuck on the Is for days due lousy wx (VFR in those days) & when I did manage to return to YMMB the wx was still RS! I slipped in via the eastern side of the airport (GMH, 118.1 twr I think) & then had to after much cloud dodging proceed via carum but still had in my mind from ATIS that I was to land on rwy 31R (118.1 told me to stay with them, one piece of swiss cheese lined up !)...........you guessed it landed on 31R (eastern side) purely 'cause it didn't occur to me (green pilot back then, trying to stay vis) that changing inbound reporting points made for a diff rwy....whooooooooopppppppppsssssss Twr guy was good (NO ESIR;s in those days) he simply said after I taxied off, take the next taxiway & ty for ldg on the wrong rwy!!!!, god how low can one feel !............oh well at least I learnt something that day, never to just 'assume'

Ah the good 'ole days, Need tissues now

CW
Capt Wally is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:38
  #12 (permalink)  
Sprucegoose
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I like flying into there as long as the twr is open, if not & it's busy with traffic in the circuit it can be a real pain!
Midle of the night is pretty good, or when there is a 400 ft overcast!
Howard Hughes is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 07:45
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hey HH I remember (lot of that going on here) doing an RNAV onto MB R17 at night with a med team aboard & had to make a missed app due not seeing "zip" at the Min...........odly enough heard an A/C taxing out for a practice NDB app !! I did mention on the CTAF that you may want to think twice about that & went over to ML Dep. Didn't know the outcome. Probably 'stationair8' trying to go home after all that reminiscing, sorry just kidding buddy

CW
Capt Wally is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 08:11
  #14 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 2,210
Received 66 Likes on 34 Posts
Howard, the twin Piaggio would a P-166 operated by Captain Jack Ellis. A legend in the aviation business!
I think Forrestair operated a number of P166 on charter and freight work.
The mighty "pig" a mans aeroplane, flown by men not some flaming FMS/GPS Autopilot. Had a real glass cockpit-glass in the windscreen and glass in those little flight instruments.
Stationair8 is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 08:26
  #15 (permalink)  
Sprucegoose
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Thanks Stationair, a mans aeroplane? Can't say I have ever flown one of those...
Howard Hughes is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 08:33
  #16 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 2,210
Received 66 Likes on 34 Posts
Capt Wally, no it wasn't a flying Coke can from Essendon it was from Tassie.
Stationair8 is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 08:34
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria
Posts: 1,483
Received 6 Likes on 3 Posts
Cap'n Wally, sounds like if you had initially discussed Runway Right with the tower, and recieved no instruction otherwise, that it would be perfectly natural to land on the Right.
And if the vis was that bad, surely the lights were on? (If i'm right in thinking its the two eastern runways that have the lights)
Lasiorhinus is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 08:38
  #18 (permalink)  
Sprucegoose
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
no it wasn't a flying Coke can from Essendon
Aren't they Kentucky fried Chicken boxes at Essendon?

I got another the MMM traffic 172!
Howard Hughes is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 08:43
  #19 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 2,210
Received 66 Likes on 34 Posts
No Roulettes 1,2,3 & 4
Do you wear one of those flightsuits Capt wally?
The little lady that flies for the RFDS out of Essendon looks very neat in her flightsuit!
Stationair8 is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 09:43
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 477
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
4. Central Flying Services
Thats where I learned to fly!

Last year the little PA28 I solo'ed in (VH-HLD) went off to continue its life in Malaysia..

Bevan..
Bevan666 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.