TAA Cessna 180's in PNG
My 2 PNG 185s
Great to know P2-Tac is back in the air. She was my first ship in PNG and a good one, got me out of the odd spot. Got pushed up to the mighty Islander and when doing the rating the circuits were interrupted by TAC forced landing on the road at Bomana. Within about a minute it seemed hundreds of fine local people were on the scene, to assist no doubt. And hundreds more converging from all directions. We circled at low level to let them know someone was watching and provide moral support for a very sheepish senior Talair Twin Otter Pilot who shall remain nameless. With my instructer a CAA accident investigater we landed and proceeded by road. By then the fire boys had the 185 in tow and all was well. The affair was laid to rest at the Dero over a few beers, all caused by fingers.
Not long before I had been lining her up for a deadstick out at Brown river bridge for the same reason, fuel selectors and parking on a slope! Couple of years after the Frog abandoned her at Nadzab I think where she picked up corrosion.
MFX I just took to Kerema and back for Mack one day, a fine ship.
Those figures Chuckles and Chimbu used are about right and probably conservative. Fits with recent NZ rebuilds its mostly just hundreds of hours of labour. 800 sq ft or so of aluminium to deal to. I finished CGG 5 years ago and on a very good day would almost get back the cost of the rebuild. But she owed me nothing at the start and the job would be $50 to $100G NZ more now. For eg labour was $45 now $75 an hour. To replace her would be around $350G NZ which of course is totally uneconomic. Incredible that the totaly knackered ones go for around $100G and the done up ones between $200 and $250, go figure. Then i realised a 185 rebuild is about the same cost as a 2200 hr overhaul on a R22 helicopter which then has a 12 year life, the 185 will see me out and in good condition too if looked after.
I saw MFX in Cairns in the mid 90s. It was more than a prop strike. She was in about 10 000 bits in the back of the hangar and the centre fusalage completely rebuilt at great cost as an insurance job, not far off a write off. So if the corrosion has been kind the hull might still be in very good order. The paint was reasonable in the late 90s might have held up and kept the salt out. The interior was stuffed even in 92, so nothing to lose there. And the radios and panel Ok but maybe gone missing. Be a job for someone with a passion for flying them as a keeper and a healthy bank account (at first).
Hey Chuck off down South next week, Wanaka and the odd wee strip in the bush-coming?
Last edited by saabsforever; 13th Aug 2010 at 07:41.
Grandpa Aerotart
No - this senior (ex) Talair Twin Otter pilot 
will be in Gatwick doing a 777 (Balus tinpis? 
) course starting next Monday for 5+ weeks.
I know what I would RATHER be doing
And you weren't circling THAT low ya big girly's blouse
Beer and white wine and maybe the odd chorus of 'Men of Harlech'
I never said the prop was the ONLY thing Mac struck - now you remind me it was a ball tearer of a ground loop
Truth be told I had forgotten all about it being sent to CNS to be repaired but you're right. If the airframe is half decent it might be worth 15k.
will be in Gatwick doing a 777 (Balus tinpis? ) course starting next Monday for 5+ weeks.I know what I would RATHER be doing
And you weren't circling THAT low ya big girly's blouse
Beer and white wine and maybe the odd chorus of 'Men of Harlech'
I never said the prop was the ONLY thing Mac struck - now you remind me it was a ball tearer of a ground loop
Truth be told I had forgotten all about it being sent to CNS to be repaired but you're right. If the airframe is half decent it might be worth 15k.
Well Chuck its a bit hard to get down in the trees when doing a type rating with the CAA!
Made me think quite a few C185/180 on the ramp when i got to PNG in 92. TAC and MFX we know. AWM was often parked next to TAC but was sadly crashed soon after I got there. Same with UIF, the new tribes 180 (very late model). Crashed with the loss of all on board later in 92 I think between Wiatape and Kira. Also ROW ex BA? which was lost later in the year or in 93 near Chimbu. Almost a postscript to the AWM crash. KIK one of the last 180s was still in Kikori now down south i guess. ROG a mission 180 in the highlands now ZK KRM in NZ. IDL lost in the highlands a while ago along with Ian. Richards 185 in Nadzab recently lost. It was the last working 185 in the country I can think of unless the old 260 hp (the best) mission one is still in Wau. New Tribes might still have a 180 left. Probably not many C206 left either guess the days of the piston single doing the bush strips in PNG are nearing an end.
Made me think quite a few C185/180 on the ramp when i got to PNG in 92. TAC and MFX we know. AWM was often parked next to TAC but was sadly crashed soon after I got there. Same with UIF, the new tribes 180 (very late model). Crashed with the loss of all on board later in 92 I think between Wiatape and Kira. Also ROW ex BA? which was lost later in the year or in 93 near Chimbu. Almost a postscript to the AWM crash. KIK one of the last 180s was still in Kikori now down south i guess. ROG a mission 180 in the highlands now ZK KRM in NZ. IDL lost in the highlands a while ago along with Ian. Richards 185 in Nadzab recently lost. It was the last working 185 in the country I can think of unless the old 260 hp (the best) mission one is still in Wau. New Tribes might still have a 180 left. Probably not many C206 left either guess the days of the piston single doing the bush strips in PNG are nearing an end.
Silly Old Git
Got a photo somewhere of me and CGG at Taupo in the 60's with the Rural paint scheme still visible on the side
Probably posted it already have I?
(Alcoholzeimers)
So I'll post another piccy and did they get the $250k they were asking for this a while back?
Probably posted it already have I?
(Alcoholzeimers)
So I'll post another piccy and did they get the $250k they were asking for this a while back?
Last edited by tinpis; 12th Aug 2010 at 21:51.
P2 Gke/ Zk Vke
Tinpis,
GKE has been in NZ for the last 5 years. Been in a good home just north of Christchurch. GKE is a glider in NZ so the reg had to change, and the beige bits are now a dark blue or similar. Have not seen the machine so cannot comment further. NZ has quite a few ex Aussie/ ex PNG ones now for those who can follow the history of them. Any old pics of CGG be good, I only know her from 1973 when i was 11 years old and on first sight still had a Hopper in.
GKE has been in NZ for the last 5 years. Been in a good home just north of Christchurch. GKE is a glider in NZ so the reg had to change, and the beige bits are now a dark blue or similar. Have not seen the machine so cannot comment further. NZ has quite a few ex Aussie/ ex PNG ones now for those who can follow the history of them. Any old pics of CGG be good, I only know her from 1973 when i was 11 years old and on first sight still had a Hopper in.
Grandpa Aerotart
Well Chuck its a bit hard to get down in the trees when doing a type rating with the CAA!
ROW was BAF until changed by Richard Rowe.
Jim Bloom couldn't still be operating out of Wau could he? Its 20 years since I was based in Wau on the Twotter and he had been there 20+ then.
Anybody reading that list, saabsforever, could be forgiven for thinking we used to crash a lot of aeroplanes in PNG
Chuck, it was Alan Yarnold and he had two eyes, good bloke.
Yep Jim and SEQ must be long gone from Wau now. SEQ probably in the hangar at Goroka, thats where she went when Jim took leave at least. One of the recent NCA boys must know.
So any serving 180/185 left in PNG? Maybe not.
One thing for sure, a lot of Aircraft have been imported to PNG and not many exported. That jungle has kept Cessna and Brittan Norman pretty busy. The Islander Fleet is mostly gone now and they were sure never retired or exported. Just think how many Guts at NCA has got through just on his own! And a bit of help from the boys.
Oh GKE/VKE still has the Talair logo on the tail which is good to see.
Yep Jim and SEQ must be long gone from Wau now. SEQ probably in the hangar at Goroka, thats where she went when Jim took leave at least. One of the recent NCA boys must know.
So any serving 180/185 left in PNG? Maybe not.
One thing for sure, a lot of Aircraft have been imported to PNG and not many exported. That jungle has kept Cessna and Brittan Norman pretty busy. The Islander Fleet is mostly gone now and they were sure never retired or exported. Just think how many Guts at NCA has got through just on his own! And a bit of help from the boys.
Oh GKE/VKE still has the Talair logo on the tail which is good to see.
Silly Old Git
The TAL screaming ****ehawk
Hah! FOR JET ROUTE STANDARDS, pigs arse! does anyone ever remember seeing a TAL ops manual?
(I must dig that logbook out and see whats left after the Darwhine bad-boy bugs have had their fill
)
Hah! FOR JET ROUTE STANDARDS, pigs arse! does anyone ever remember seeing a TAL ops manual?
(I must dig that logbook out and see whats left after the Darwhine bad-boy bugs have had their fill
)
MFU update
MFU has not had much done to it todate. I have some Ford Mustangs and finishing a 69 Mach 1 428CJ right now. It has taken up all my time. Since I last talked to you all, I have been busy scrounging the world for missing bits. Have now found set of cowls, aileron, lift strut, rudder, cargo pod, engine mounts, V-brace for windscreen and full interior incl RHS door to mention a few. Bought the P-Plonk upgrade kit as well to put in. I now have located some 98% of the missing airframe bits and have an engine/prop lined up when ready.
There is a spare set of wings I want to sell if you know any takers, they are off 1850100 ex VH-FFC, one of the early ones and need full rebuild (see below
, they would be a good workshop project or fill in job I guess.
So, the 428 will be finished by June 2011, so I should be able to get into it after that. My aim is to have her back in the air for under $200k. This cheap Chimbu because the fuse has had considerable work done to it over the succession of owners since Bensbach. I've decided to put her back in the original Tiger Yellow colour scheme as first operated by MAF in 1972 +
Chimbu, you would remember sitting in this seat and sweating it out ????
I have had contact with a number of old MAF pilots or people associated with MFU through my web site www.frednolan.com and they have been Winston Ussher, Ron Kingsley, Ron Watts, Roger Young, Terry Burn and Dan Macarthur (for his Dad John). It's exciting to collect all their stories and some pictures of MFU in action.
======================================================
There is a spare set of wings I want to sell if you know any takers, they are off 1850100 ex VH-FFC, one of the early ones and need full rebuild (see below
, they would be a good workshop project or fill in job I guess.So, the 428 will be finished by June 2011, so I should be able to get into it after that. My aim is to have her back in the air for under $200k. This cheap Chimbu because the fuse has had considerable work done to it over the succession of owners since Bensbach. I've decided to put her back in the original Tiger Yellow colour scheme as first operated by MAF in 1972 +
Chimbu, you would remember sitting in this seat and sweating it out ????
I have had contact with a number of old MAF pilots or people associated with MFU through my web site www.frednolan.com and they have been Winston Ussher, Ron Kingsley, Ron Watts, Roger Young, Terry Burn and Dan Macarthur (for his Dad John). It's exciting to collect all their stories and some pictures of MFU in action.
======================================================
Last edited by Skywagon1915; 24th Mar 2011 at 12:06.
VH-FFC
I don't think so, these wings came with the project, which started somewhere back in 1996. Whether they have been there all that time I don't know, no one can tell me how they came to be with it, just spares I think. But I'm going to rebuild MFU's original wings that were on it in 1990 when it went on it's back at Moorehead Western Province, for heritage reasons.
They can be a contrib to the resto now.
By the way, I only know these wings by the rego painted on them, there are no log books etc. I assume they are correct. Being a rebuild, they zero time regardless.
They can be a contrib to the resto now.
By the way, I only know these wings by the rego painted on them, there are no log books etc. I assume they are correct. Being a rebuild, they zero time regardless.
Last edited by Skywagon1915; 25th Mar 2011 at 10:33.
I would like to imagine what you blokes thought sitting in this pilot's seat from MAF's and Brian Bumley's P2-MFU ?
I have done a lot of time in VH-JBM (ex P2-BAM ex VH-MFS/185E-01780) and tail dragger's. I know how humbling it can be on the flat cotton country on NNSW, let alone the terrain you all flew up in PNG. If you let your guard down for a second, it would make a fool of you ! For those who flew MFU, this seat still has the PNG seat cover and all the sweat stains terminating on 25 August 1990, it's last flight west of Bensbach !
Tell me some of your experiences .... I know that when it's finally restored, I'll be proud to sit in it.
Please feel free to contact me on [email protected] and you can see aircraft WIP on www.frednolan.com.
Last edited by Skywagon1915; 25th Mar 2011 at 11:37.
Grandpa Aerotart
Well I think I might have a couple of buttons off that seat - and no, I don't know where they are now
In all seriousness by the time I actually flew MFU I had been flying C185s in PNG a long time and my really attention getting frights were behind me - now if you had the front left seat outa P2-BAF THAT would be an entirely different story - that aircraft taught me a LOT
I do remember flying MFU to Bensbach with a load of freezer, bread and sundry essentials for the hunting lodge on a really nasty wet season sunday, on my only day off that week from Talair, where I flew for hundreds of miles at <500' with vis ranging between a couple of miles and several hundred feet (straight down) - in fact from about half way between Kerema and Kikori it was like that.
I saw a small section of the Fly River that I recognised pass under and figured I best try a little deliberate error nav between there and Bensbach. An hour or so later I turned 90 left and flew for about 5 or 6 minutes and the strip appeared EXACTLY under me...never saw anything meaningful out the front that entire time.
I remember very distinctly being enormously impressed with myself - I think I muttered "Whaleoilbeefhooked, it works" as I wheeled around in a tight spiral hauling on the flap lever and splashed down
In all seriousness by the time I actually flew MFU I had been flying C185s in PNG a long time and my really attention getting frights were behind me - now if you had the front left seat outa P2-BAF THAT would be an entirely different story - that aircraft taught me a LOT
I do remember flying MFU to Bensbach with a load of freezer, bread and sundry essentials for the hunting lodge on a really nasty wet season sunday, on my only day off that week from Talair, where I flew for hundreds of miles at <500' with vis ranging between a couple of miles and several hundred feet (straight down) - in fact from about half way between Kerema and Kikori it was like that.
I saw a small section of the Fly River that I recognised pass under and figured I best try a little deliberate error nav between there and Bensbach. An hour or so later I turned 90 left and flew for about 5 or 6 minutes and the strip appeared EXACTLY under me...never saw anything meaningful out the front that entire time.
I remember very distinctly being enormously impressed with myself - I think I muttered "Whaleoilbeefhooked, it works" as I wheeled around in a tight spiral hauling on the flap lever and splashed down