TAA Cessna 180's in PNG

[sixtiesrelic]

Early sixties if that's an HF trailing antenna cone on the tail.

[tinpis]

HF..spare a moment to reflect on all those who suffered under that bloody system.."Madang...Madang ...Madang....er..Goroka?..er...anyone?"
Spent a morning working Honolulu once, clear as a bell....he telexed Moresby for me.

[EBCAU]

Nothing has changed then Tinpis. . .

[Skywagon1915]

HF in PNG

The said HF as installed in VH-BVY.

Love old photo's, makes me appreciate the modern cockpit layout today and how much the latest avionics and engine equipment has improved.

[Jamair]

Hi Skywagon - some major swarfe under that wing jig! Seriously though, nice work; love to see the passion being put into rebirthing our classic aeroplanes. Well done.

[Skywagon1915]

P2-MFU Vertical Fin complete

MFU's fin is now complete with rear spar and lower rib installed again. The rudder is hung again also for trial fitting. My baby is slowly taking shape. RH wing is now finished rebuild at Scone, with LH assy well advanced. Wings should be back with airplane by Christmas !

[Skywagon1915]

Retractable work lights

One of the changes that will be added to MFU is two 450w retractable landing lights in the outboard wing sections. This RH outer skin panel has not been added as yet, with the ribs yet to be modified to allow the light housing to fit, together with the stiffener and reinforcement plate etc.

[Skywagon1915]

Wings completed P2-MFU

Just an update if interested. MFU's wings were completed March 2013 and ready for shipping back to the airframe at Lismore NSW. Both wings were a full disassembly whilst the RH unit was the worst affected. Added a couple of mod's like Flap Gap Seals and 450w retractable Landing Lights. With a small job to do to complete the horizontal stabiliser, the airframe is now complete.

Hope to post a pictures soon of her all together again !

Have a spare set of damaged 185 wings for sale if anyone is chasing some. My man says they are rebuildable OK.

[skywagondriver]

Looking very nice...great job.

If you are going to use it in and out of tight places evidently the flap gap seals do ruin the Fowler flap effect for just a small increase in rate of climb and cruise speed.

[Desert185]

I haven't noticed a change in stall or approach speed with flap gap seals from flaps 20 to 40. The big change is climb rate and cruise speed (3-5 MPH increase). This, with Sportsman cuff, WingX extensions and VG's on my 185E.

[Skywagon1915]

Received this photo of MFU flying over the PNG Lowlands. The Australian prefix suggests that it was taken between 1972 and May 1974 when it changed to the local P2 rego. Lot's of detail available in this old black & white for its ongoing resto.

[Toiyabe]

Fantastic thread

And a great source for my thesis.

Thanks all!

[Skywagon1915]

And a great source for my thesis.

What are you studying, sounds interesting ?

[cac_sabre]

180's and 185s from the Ben Dannecker collection

2013-04-30_19 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_27 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_28 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_29 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_32 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_47 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_48 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_53 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

2013-04-30_54 by wallycacsabre, on Flickr

[Toiyabe]

Studying

Writing on a doctoral thesis in history.

Proposing doing a study of civil aviation in PNG. I loved the place when I went in the mid-90s.

[Skywagon1915]

cacsabre, great 180/185 pictures, I did not realise that there was a few of them on floats, in particular the MAF aircraft. Anymore available from up there ?

[cac_sabre]

Em Tasol

Em Tasol on the PNG C180/C185 pics..you get my PM?

cheers
Wally

[Skywagon1915]

July 1983

Nice clear photo of P2-MFU taken by MAF pilot Terry Burn in July 1983 at Wewak. She is 12 years old at this stage !
Thanks

[Skywagon1915]

P2-MFU being refuelled at Tekin PNG

MAF pilot Terry Burns has found some more photo's of MFU and illustrates the life these workhorses had in PNG. Photography is excellent !

[Skywagon1915]

Tekin airstrip PNG

I imagine that trying to get 3 aircraft onto the parking area at Tekin (5000') is a tight fit. Nice profile shot of C185 MFU. All MAF 185's had full safety harness on seats 1/2 plus emergency alternate fuel selector. Tekin is approx. 135 nm bearing 215 from Wewak, MFU's base at that time.