Darwin in the 80's
I think Jim Hilder flew Lincolns for a while in the RAAF and vaguely recall he was at East Sale either with School of Air Navigation or Air Armament School circa 1953-5. Long time ago of course, and I could be wrong.
Navigation
Before OzRunways there was DR.
Before GPS: compass, clock & airspeed.
'Computers' didn't need power and couldn't do addition or subtraction
Remember how good it felt to find Lake Evella in the dry season smoke, Tanami Mine with no Nav Aids?
I thought about putting this article in another forum for the Newbies to enjoy, but I don't think they would understand, since DR today is more removed in getting from A to B than Celestial Nav or Pressure Pattern Flying was for me in the 80s. And that's a good thing; I use my iPad almost every day when I fly and wouldn't change it for the world.
So, for sentimental reasons, an article about Visual Navigation by the late Neil Williams.
Pithblot
Before GPS: compass, clock & airspeed.
'Computers' didn't need power and couldn't do addition or subtraction
Remember how good it felt to find Lake Evella in the dry season smoke, Tanami Mine with no Nav Aids?
I thought about putting this article in another forum for the Newbies to enjoy, but I don't think they would understand, since DR today is more removed in getting from A to B than Celestial Nav or Pressure Pattern Flying was for me in the 80s. And that's a good thing; I use my iPad almost every day when I fly and wouldn't change it for the world.
So, for sentimental reasons, an article about Visual Navigation by the late Neil Williams.
Pithblot
Silly Old Git
Christ the 80's?
I is still here if you havent been back stand on Daley bridge and have a look at the skyline ...see if you can figure where you are...
Look at the REEL ESTATE PRICES
They had a recession last month for 30 days now they is back on a boom roll
You heard it here
Hows it goin cooda?
I is still here if you havent been back stand on Daley bridge and have a look at the skyline ...see if you can figure where you are...
Look at the REEL ESTATE PRICES
They had a recession last month for 30 days now they is back on a boom roll
You heard it here
Hows it goin cooda?
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,967
Received 93 Likes
on
54 Posts
Yeah, Tinpis; Where's ya been hiding?
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Queensland
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nondigul
G'day Tinpis
I wrote you a post on Ples Belong Tok Tok didn't see a reply.
Yes I had a Falcon GT Shaker in Mendi (not a HO) I only took it there because I had been transferred the with Public Works Dept to work with the Aus Army Engineering unit which had just come from Vietnam. Nowhere to drive it as you say.
They were the days eh mate!!
Good to see you in action again.
Nondigul
I wrote you a post on Ples Belong Tok Tok didn't see a reply.
Yes I had a Falcon GT Shaker in Mendi (not a HO) I only took it there because I had been transferred the with Public Works Dept to work with the Aus Army Engineering unit which had just come from Vietnam. Nowhere to drive it as you say.
They were the days eh mate!!
Good to see you in action again.
Nondigul
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Darwin
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
handrail and Rob Grant
Handrail and Rob Grant work(ed) together in ATC - Rob is also a great pilot and in the 70's he flew me to inspect every govt. structure everywhere in the topend, every 3mths, in John Gabriel's cessna210, and he always got us to borroloola from groote on a wednesday night in time for a meal at the pub so we could watch the weekly pictures outside the school with all and sundry.
I'd love to catchup with Rob, if any of you know his email, mine is [email protected] thanks, David
I'd love to catchup with Rob, if any of you know his email, mine is [email protected] thanks, David
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Darwin
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gundy is alive and well and is probably plotting another closing down sale as we speak 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread Starter
Ted Smith Aerostar 601B VH-IXA, I noticed photograph of this aircraft on airhistory.net adorned with Arnhem Air Charter titles. The photo was taken in 1980 at Essendon airport, the airframe was first put on the Australian register in 1978.
Look liked it had been repainted into Arnhem Air’s colour scheme.
Anyone know what Arnhem Air Charter used the aircraft for?
Look liked it had been repainted into Arnhem Air’s colour scheme.
Anyone know what Arnhem Air Charter used the aircraft for?
Last edited by Stationair8; 23rd Aug 2020 at 23:41.
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Abeam Alice Springs
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ozzie operated IXA out of DRW during the 80's on charter ops. Not sure when it came to DRW but was there for some time. He also had a P68 IXD? as well as the biscuit SAO (PA31)
Still on the register to a NSW address.
Still on the register to a NSW address.
Darwin in the old days, just a big country town before Cyclone Tracy. Joined SATAAS in 1970 as " duty pilot- hangar rat", Arnhem Air Charter ( Ossie had just lost a C402 at Gove) were there and a few Connellan twin Bonanzas, Aeromedical Doves crewed by TAA f/os on secondment and of course the Aero club.
Best pub in town was the Darwin Hotel where airline crews overnighted, the Parap pub was a bit of a blood house and 'The Dolphin" at the end of Bagot Road, turn left to Nightcliff and there was nothing beyond that. Loved it, but eventually got sacked because my girlfriend had moved into the flat provided by the company, albeit at my expense.
Went back in 1980 to fly Nomads for Northern Airlines, absolutely hated it then, shopping malls at Rapid creek full of tattooed bogans, same all over. Wasn't there long enough to get to know anyone very well but my good old Darwin days were well gone.
Its good that we all see things differently I guess
Best pub in town was the Darwin Hotel where airline crews overnighted, the Parap pub was a bit of a blood house and 'The Dolphin" at the end of Bagot Road, turn left to Nightcliff and there was nothing beyond that. Loved it, but eventually got sacked because my girlfriend had moved into the flat provided by the company, albeit at my expense.
Went back in 1980 to fly Nomads for Northern Airlines, absolutely hated it then, shopping malls at Rapid creek full of tattooed bogans, same all over. Wasn't there long enough to get to know anyone very well but my good old Darwin days were well gone.
Its good that we all see things differently I guess