Queenair
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
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Does anyone know of any persons or companies operating either Aus reg or foreign Queenairs in Aust? (I am aware of the CASA register) Am aware of a Queenie being parted out and they are almost as rare as Rocking Horse ****e as they say.
Freight operation out of Perth.
I think it's called Laser1 freight?
Looks like they have one with flat 8's and one with the geared things.
I believe another at Jandakot getting ready to go for the same op.
VH-XAT and VH-FWG, I think
I think it's called Laser1 freight?
Looks like they have one with flat 8's and one with the geared things.
I believe another at Jandakot getting ready to go for the same op.
VH-XAT and VH-FWG, I think
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Nth Qld
Age: 70
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Queen Airs - Denis Beahan
"PA39
17th Mar 2009, 21:11
Could anyone recommend an experienced maintenance organisation who could handle the CoA on an old -B65 Queen Air we are bringing out from Europe? We need someone with a lot of experience on the type.
Thanks for all and any help"
Hi PA39
I was wondering if you had proceeded with your -B65 project?
Along with several other Engineering ghosts from the PNG past, I've just spent a few days, enjoying the hospitality of Denis Beahan and amongst many subjects, discussed Queen Airs, the B80 in particular.
A few bits of info here that may set aside fact from fiction. In more recent times Denis operated 4 of them in Nth Qld. over a 6yr period, with nil challenges.
The comment re, "taking advantage of the curvature of the Earth to climb", is definitely fiction. Out of Bamaga, a -B80 taking MTOW in 800mtr, is fact. This is something a Titan can nowhere near match. They were / are cheap to buy. Similar to most piston engine aircraft of that size, the purchase price is somewhere around the value of hours remaining on Engine and Propellers and Airframe spares are plentiful and cheap. On a SoM the Engines are capable of 2000TBO, IF they are operated correctly. He said that the IGSO-540 engines were a dream to operate and maintain. The GSO-480, not so, but only due to the intricacy of the Simmons fuel system, fitted to most of them. Although, cabin noise level is comfortable, it is also fact that the external noise level is extremely "user UNFRIENDLY".
Overall, a wonderful and hard to match Aircraft, but not for commercial operations today. Today, when most Piston Engine operations in that category have faded into the past, a King Air or Conquest, fills the Queen Air slot.
As a matter of interest, Denis commenced his career, in 1968 as an apprentice with Union-Air, Toowoomba, modifying and maintaining Queen Airs for the Australian Army, SE Asia / PNG Mapping operations. He said he went to Roma in late 1979 to help a friend out for a couple of weeks, during a 6 week break between finishing a job at Air New Guinea and starting a new one at Gulf Air- Bahrain. On the first day of 1980 he set up an independent maintenance business there and other branch operations at Charters Towers, Boonah and Weipa. 24yrs later, he closed the Roma branch, due to a lack of qualified staff. Aviation Organizations come and go, but he has been in business full time, under the same name and with many of the same clients for over 30yrs. He said, he's just "signed on" as chief Engineer for anther 30 years!!! Cheers Denis and thanks again.
17th Mar 2009, 21:11
Could anyone recommend an experienced maintenance organisation who could handle the CoA on an old -B65 Queen Air we are bringing out from Europe? We need someone with a lot of experience on the type.
Thanks for all and any help"
Hi PA39
I was wondering if you had proceeded with your -B65 project?
Along with several other Engineering ghosts from the PNG past, I've just spent a few days, enjoying the hospitality of Denis Beahan and amongst many subjects, discussed Queen Airs, the B80 in particular.
A few bits of info here that may set aside fact from fiction. In more recent times Denis operated 4 of them in Nth Qld. over a 6yr period, with nil challenges.
The comment re, "taking advantage of the curvature of the Earth to climb", is definitely fiction. Out of Bamaga, a -B80 taking MTOW in 800mtr, is fact. This is something a Titan can nowhere near match. They were / are cheap to buy. Similar to most piston engine aircraft of that size, the purchase price is somewhere around the value of hours remaining on Engine and Propellers and Airframe spares are plentiful and cheap. On a SoM the Engines are capable of 2000TBO, IF they are operated correctly. He said that the IGSO-540 engines were a dream to operate and maintain. The GSO-480, not so, but only due to the intricacy of the Simmons fuel system, fitted to most of them. Although, cabin noise level is comfortable, it is also fact that the external noise level is extremely "user UNFRIENDLY".
Overall, a wonderful and hard to match Aircraft, but not for commercial operations today. Today, when most Piston Engine operations in that category have faded into the past, a King Air or Conquest, fills the Queen Air slot.
As a matter of interest, Denis commenced his career, in 1968 as an apprentice with Union-Air, Toowoomba, modifying and maintaining Queen Airs for the Australian Army, SE Asia / PNG Mapping operations. He said he went to Roma in late 1979 to help a friend out for a couple of weeks, during a 6 week break between finishing a job at Air New Guinea and starting a new one at Gulf Air- Bahrain. On the first day of 1980 he set up an independent maintenance business there and other branch operations at Charters Towers, Boonah and Weipa. 24yrs later, he closed the Roma branch, due to a lack of qualified staff. Aviation Organizations come and go, but he has been in business full time, under the same name and with many of the same clients for over 30yrs. He said, he's just "signed on" as chief Engineer for anther 30 years!!! Cheers Denis and thanks again.
"PA39
17th Mar 2009, 21:11
Could anyone recommend an experienced maintenance organisation who could handle the CoA on an old -B65 Queen Air we are bringing out from Europe? We need someone with a lot of experience on the type.
Thanks for all and any help"
17th Mar 2009, 21:11
Could anyone recommend an experienced maintenance organisation who could handle the CoA on an old -B65 Queen Air we are bringing out from Europe? We need someone with a lot of experience on the type.
Thanks for all and any help"
whoops, just noted the date of the first post. I assume you either have it flying or have given up on this project.
Last edited by RENURPP; 1st Jul 2013 at 05:05.
