TAA Cessna 180's in PNG
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The 180 was a nicer aeroplane to fly than the 185. It cruised nicely at 144kts and could land on short strips. I remember doing an endorsement with Colin Pay and we did three landings along the strip, and then a circuit and another three ladnigs.
They also maged to squeeze six seats in the 185, and a little baggage compartment way down the back.
They also maged to squeeze six seats in the 185, and a little baggage compartment way down the back.
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Isn't it nice for a change to read a thread where there is a bit of enjoyable reminiscing instead of most of the crap that goes on here. I remember as a kid in Madang in the 1950's riding my bike out to "ples balus" and there was generally about 15 or so QANTAS and MAL DC-3's, a couple of Gibbes Sepik Airways JU-52's and Norsemans, and assorted Dragon rapides, tigermoths etc that belonged to Madang Airservices (MAS), and TAL around. I remember going to the first Goroka show in a JU-52 in about 1956 or so.
I was fortunate to fly the 180 and the 185 in the early 60's. 
I have never been able to decide which I preferred. The 180 was more ' de luxe" with the interior and the 185a was more of a utility a/c. When empty the 185 was a great performer all round and was a great load carrier to boot.
We ( Flinders Island Airlines) used to carry up to 1200 lb of newspapers in the 185 and from memory was the only lighty at that time that would carry its own weight in payload.
They were so superior to any other lighty that they were in a class of their own!!
Emeritus.
I have never been able to decide which I preferred. The 180 was more ' de luxe" with the interior and the 185a was more of a utility a/c. When empty the 185 was a great performer all round and was a great load carrier to boot. We ( Flinders Island Airlines) used to carry up to 1200 lb of newspapers in the 185 and from memory was the only lighty at that time that would carry its own weight in payload.
They were so superior to any other lighty that they were in a class of their own!!
Emeritus.
Grandpa Aerotart
The 185 is certainly a load hauler. A typical load in the PNG highlands was 500kg/1100lbs plus pilot/40usg fuel...off short strips in density altitudes between 6 and 10000'.
Until it was sold recently I still flew a mates 1956 C180 a few times a year in the UK. It now resides near Wanaka. You can see where Cessna got the 182 from...they just moved the main gear back and bolted a nosewheel on a 180. Never really worked out why
Happily a Kiwi mate has recently finished restoring his early model C185 which I have been invited to fly...it lives at Wanaka.
Looking forward to flying a 185 the way they were meant to be flown again...in and out of really silly places.
This is the 1963 model I owned in PNG in the early 90s...taken outside the Dero in Moresby.
I never really developed a preference although I have vastly more hours in 185s than 180s. The closest I ever got to describing the difference between the two, and this is purely subjective, was that the 185 was more 'hairy chested' than the 180. The 180 just seems a more 'gentle' aeroplane.
I don't know if they are the right words.
Another mate is very keen to buy a 195...now I am REALLY looking forward to that...I have in fact recently instructed him to pull his fecking finger out
Until it was sold recently I still flew a mates 1956 C180 a few times a year in the UK. It now resides near Wanaka. You can see where Cessna got the 182 from...they just moved the main gear back and bolted a nosewheel on a 180. Never really worked out why
Happily a Kiwi mate has recently finished restoring his early model C185 which I have been invited to fly...it lives at Wanaka.
Looking forward to flying a 185 the way they were meant to be flown again...in and out of really silly places.
This is the 1963 model I owned in PNG in the early 90s...taken outside the Dero in Moresby.
I never really developed a preference although I have vastly more hours in 185s than 180s. The closest I ever got to describing the difference between the two, and this is purely subjective, was that the 185 was more 'hairy chested' than the 180. The 180 just seems a more 'gentle' aeroplane.
I don't know if they are the right words.
Another mate is very keen to buy a 195...now I am REALLY looking forward to that...I have in fact recently instructed him to pull his fecking finger out
Silly Old Git
Ut..oh.. who started a 185 thread?
Yer mates CGG in working guise in the 60,s Chuckles
Peter Meeks mount
Note the litte sheep/cow ****zen defllectors and hopper mirror on the strut
You said he still got the roof trim wheel?
Yer mates CGG in working guise in the 60,s Chuckles
Peter Meeks mount
Note the litte sheep/cow ****zen defllectors and hopper mirror on the strut
You said he still got the roof trim wheel?
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Chimbu
If you go to GOOGLE search and then "Cessna 180", and then "Wikkipedia", there is another photo of G-BTSM. It has a 3 bladed prop I see, which if I remember correctly was fairly common on PNG 185's in the 1960's. I don't know how to transpose the pic from Wikki to here!
If you go to GOOGLE search and then "Cessna 180", and then "Wikkipedia", there is another photo of G-BTSM. It has a 3 bladed prop I see, which if I remember correctly was fairly common on PNG 185's in the 1960's. I don't know how to transpose the pic from Wikki to here!
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I regret selling G-BTSM (Ex P2-DEQ, ex VH-DEQ, VH-DEC) already.!! It should be in Port Chalmers, Dunedin by now. I am currently in Oshkosh and saw the ex Utility Grand Champion for sale at $180,000 US.!! I musta sold mine cheap.!!
Never mind Chuckles, I am working on another aircraft we can fly on layovers.
Hopefully by your next trip. I will never have another aircraft like the 180 to fly. Challenging....yes, but a joy to fly. Sob Sob.
Never mind Chuckles, I am working on another aircraft we can fly on layovers.
Hopefully by your next trip. I will never have another aircraft like the 180 to fly. Challenging....yes, but a joy to fly. Sob Sob.
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The 180 was a nicer aeroplane to fly than the 185. It cruised nicely at 144kts and could land on short strips.
However, I don't think I ever saw 144 out of them on cruise.
I flew a 185 with a gaggle of 180's and 185's during the Round Australia Air race in 88 and all of us were within a knot of each other at about 138 knots TAS as I remember. (All of us had everything up against the firewall)
Interestingly, there was one very late model 185 with the IO520 that was up there with all the 210's in the race and as I remember, he won his class.
Both fantastic aircraft however. Loved either much more than the 182's
Grandpa Aerotart
But would settle for a Mustang.
Yes tin he still has the roof trim mod from its days top dressing.
She is somewhat more coddled in her old age. CGG now and her proud owner.
What better subject for a thread than the might C185.
There are a stack of G-BTSM piccies on the net. Spotters are very common in the UK.
JetPhotos.Net Aviation Photos: G-BTSM
Here is how she ended her days in PNG with the fella Taildragger bought her from at the controls. The recovery from the western province and subsequent shipping to the UK and restoration is a story I'll leave for Taily to tell. P2-DEQ/G-BTSM was the very first aircraft I flew in PNG with the then (pictured) owner, a top fella who was the DPI Vet and a keen PPL, on about day three in the country while I was studying for my air leg exam and staying with him in Moresby. We went out to the low level training area WNW from Moresby and chased locals...like trying to herd cats but a **** of a lot of fun.
Taily I'll be in London this coming Wed/Thurs and again in the last half of the month if you're back from Oshkosh. We may need to go out to White Waltham and drink that terrible warm piss the Poms call 'beer'...Taily is a Scot so I am not insulting him
Yes tin he still has the roof trim mod from its days top dressing.
She is somewhat more coddled in her old age. CGG now and her proud owner.
What better subject for a thread than the might C185.
There are a stack of G-BTSM piccies on the net. Spotters are very common in the UK.
JetPhotos.Net Aviation Photos: G-BTSM
Here is how she ended her days in PNG with the fella Taildragger bought her from at the controls. The recovery from the western province and subsequent shipping to the UK and restoration is a story I'll leave for Taily to tell. P2-DEQ/G-BTSM was the very first aircraft I flew in PNG with the then (pictured) owner, a top fella who was the DPI Vet and a keen PPL, on about day three in the country while I was studying for my air leg exam and staying with him in Moresby. We went out to the low level training area WNW from Moresby and chased locals...like trying to herd cats but a **** of a lot of fun.
Taily I'll be in London this coming Wed/Thurs and again in the last half of the month if you're back from Oshkosh. We may need to go out to White Waltham and drink that terrible warm piss the Poms call 'beer'...Taily is a Scot so I am not insulting him
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 2nd Aug 2008 at 05:40.
Chimbu, P2-AWM you must have bought from the Wild family. A bit of trivia- It was the first aircraft in the Milne Bay Air Fleet, closely followed by the Buccaneer which was sunk in Milne Bay! AWM did some work for Elomair for a while as well flown by the late John Wild junior. More trivia. MBA/Airlines PNG would never be if it were not for John Wild jr and AWM.
Grandpa Aerotart
No I bought her from the Cane farmer in Innisfail that the Wild family sold her too. But yes I do know her history...started her life brand new in PNG with Anglican World Mission in the early 60s. Ended her life in a valley in the Owen Stanley ranges with one of Ray Hanna's nephews at the controls. Not nearly as good a pilot as his uncle and not nearly as good as he thought he was. I had loaned her to his boss while his 185, P2-BAF, was in for an annual. It was the young blokes 3rd or 4th day in PNG.
BAF was my first PNG command. She was owned by Simbu Aviation when I started there in the mid 80s. A year or so after Hanna Jnr died in AWM, BAF was crashed in Chimbu Prov with Hanna junior's boss at the controls...fatally.
John Wild Jnr was a good friend...and yes without him and P2-AWM Airlines of PNG would not exist. MBA kindly agreed to maintain AWM for me when I owned her...the only outside work their engineers were allowed to do from memory. Even old John Snr used to give her an affectionate pat when he walked past her in the hangar.
BAF was my first PNG command. She was owned by Simbu Aviation when I started there in the mid 80s. A year or so after Hanna Jnr died in AWM, BAF was crashed in Chimbu Prov with Hanna junior's boss at the controls...fatally.
John Wild Jnr was a good friend...and yes without him and P2-AWM Airlines of PNG would not exist. MBA kindly agreed to maintain AWM for me when I owned her...the only outside work their engineers were allowed to do from memory. Even old John Snr used to give her an affectionate pat when he walked past her in the hangar.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 2nd Aug 2008 at 05:27.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Love the piccy of Sopu, Chuckles. Brings back quite a few memories!
My Boss for a time as well. A good Man!
God rest his soul.
Brings back quite a few memories!
BAF was crashed in Chimbu Prov with Hanna junior's boss at the controls...fatally.
God rest his soul.
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144kts
Zeebee
The 180 that I flew had the Robertson stol mods on it, and a seaplane propellerwhich I believe is a bit longer than the normal one. (my wife could always tell the sound of this aircraft when I flew over our house.) I spent lots of time in it over about a two year period, doing low level survey, and generally commuting. I often crossed the country in it. I expected to get 144 kts TAS on cruise, and generally did.
The 180 that I flew had the Robertson stol mods on it, and a seaplane propellerwhich I believe is a bit longer than the normal one. (my wife could always tell the sound of this aircraft when I flew over our house.) I spent lots of time in it over about a two year period, doing low level survey, and generally commuting. I often crossed the country in it. I expected to get 144 kts TAS on cruise, and generally did.
VH-SBU
Began flying for STOL on 4th March 1967, and the very 1st 185 I touched was SBU. My 1st trip was being checked on the SE coastal route - Paili,Cape Rodney,Amazon Bay,Cloudy Bay,Mamai and Baibara by Phil Chittock. The highlight was the rough beach front track which served as Baibara Intl.
Subsequently clocked up lots of time on SBU. KRD, STP, CMO, DJU were also with STOL thru 67-68.
By comparison with PNE, a C180 owned by Patair, which we used to fly occasionally to help out... the old hardworked 185's were absolute dogs.
180's the far nicer to fly, especially the earlier 'shark-nose' models, (53-57?), which were a bit faster than the later 'big-chin' models. Once the fuselage was made larger, a la 185, the 180 and 185 seemed alike, HP aside.
ah, memories from a long time ago !
Began flying for STOL on 4th March 1967, and the very 1st 185 I touched was SBU. My 1st trip was being checked on the SE coastal route - Paili,Cape Rodney,Amazon Bay,Cloudy Bay,Mamai and Baibara by Phil Chittock. The highlight was the rough beach front track which served as Baibara Intl.
Subsequently clocked up lots of time on SBU. KRD, STP, CMO, DJU were also with STOL thru 67-68.
By comparison with PNE, a C180 owned by Patair, which we used to fly occasionally to help out... the old hardworked 185's were absolute dogs.
180's the far nicer to fly, especially the earlier 'shark-nose' models, (53-57?), which were a bit faster than the later 'big-chin' models. Once the fuselage was made larger, a la 185, the 180 and 185 seemed alike, HP aside.
ah, memories from a long time ago !
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The 180 that I flew had the Robertson stol mods on it, and a seaplane propellerwhich I believe is a bit longer than the normal one. (my wife could always tell the sound of this aircraft when I flew over our house.) I spent lots of time in it over about a two year period, doing low level survey, and generally commuting. I often crossed the country in it. I expected to get 144 kts TAS on cruise, and generally did.
Did your 180 have spats ? I believe they added 5 knots or so.
There was one 180 in Whyalla VH-RFF that was a good 10 knots faster than it's two sister ships RFD and RFE. No one could explain why.
Grandpa Aerotart
No one could explain why
Like my much beloved DHC6-200 RDB when I was based in Wau. Lighter on the controls than every other -200 (and RDB was a converted ex TAA -100) flew straighter, faster, climbed damn near as well as a -300. EVERYBODY loved that aeroplane... well BJ and I did...most of the guys just preferred the 300 series because they climbed to LSALT better without really appreciating RDBs beautiful handling and better reverse thrust when it came to doing what we were there to do...haul stupid loads out of silly places VFR in mountain valleys. I pulled 2000kgs out of Heiweni in RDB...wouldn't have tried THAT in any other -200.
Never tried it again in RDB now I think on it
The only thing we, BJ and me, could come up with was she was built on Tuesday and RDA/C/D/E/F/G etc were built on Friday after lunch.
Only a girl would fly a 180/185 with spats!
Real 185's have pods too.
Real 185's have pods too.
Man it took me YEARS to stop thinking a 185 without a pod looked REALLY strange.
A spats just look
no matter which way you look at them. I mean...if you can't stand on the tyre you'd just stand there with the dip stick in your hand 
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 2nd Aug 2008 at 15:43.