VH

[Ascend Charlie]

Yes, Iroquois helicopters had civil callsigns. One we flew was Hotel Echo November, and whenever we gave that callsign on the radio we were met by loud cackles and buck-buck-bacaws.

Another was Hotel Echo Echo which was often referred to as Hotel echo gecko.

[Tmbstory]

DH-60M

In the late 1950's I had many a pleasant flight in a Gypsy Moth, registration VH-UQV. A lesson learned was not to cut streamers with the propeller (an upright engine against the inverted engine of the Tiger Moth), with a risk of a fire with streamer and exhaust.

The DH-60M also had folding wings which made it handy for storing.

Tmb

[Bullethead]

When I first started driving Hercs in 1980 we used a VM-JL* call sign internationally and the squadron identifier, Stallion or Trojan, and a number for trips within Australia.

Prior to flying Hercs I was stationed at Williamtown flying the rescue chopper and for local area work used "Chopper 1 or 2" depending on who was flying it and for longer trips VM-XIA or VM-XIB as personal callsigns again dependent on who the pilot was.

So the aeroplanes and the pilots had callsigns for a while there.

Regards,
BH.

[Tmbstory]

Williamtown

Bullethead:

What years were you on the Rescue Helicopter at Williamtown ?

Regards

Tmb

[Bullethead]

G'day Tmb,

From early 1978 to mid 1980 when I was posted to Richmond.

Regards,
BH.

[Tmbstory]

Time at Williamtown

Bullethead:

Thanks for the information, I helped to start the the first commuter services on the east coast, from Williamtown, in September 1967, until January 1971.

Regards

Tmb

[Fris B. Fairing]

A Register worthy of the name

justapplhere

On the subject of the leather-bound Register, I sought the advice of aviation historian Geoff Goodall, who responds as follows:

Yes I do well remember those leather bound shipping ledgers that were adapted for the hand-written civil registers up to the 1950s. And I well remember Laurie Bernadas and Jack Kluver, both of whom were so welcoming to stray aviation historians who camped in their office scribbling notes.

I personally last saw the ledgers when the Register section moved to a DCA office down near the St Kilda Road Travelodge in the 1970s. Mac Job and the Air Safety Digest were in the same building.

I am certain that these Register ledgers went to CASA in Canberra when they took over Airworthiness and Registration.

I have also established that they are not held by the Civil Aviation Historical Society at Essendon.

Rgds

[triadic]

Yes, the VM- was on a placard in all military aircraft up until sometime in the 70's. That was the callsign they used in domestic airspace. I would be sure that military pilots of that era would recall that.

HS748's VM-JVx series
Winjeel VM-HFx series

At the time no civil aircraft were given regos that were in conflict with a VM series. Both VH and VM were allocated to Australia. Don't know if VM is still allocated to Aust however.

[Disco Stu]

I have permanently etched in my brain on a flight to/from up North having a high pitched HF operator at Rangoon calling us using our international abbreviated callsign "Wictor Wictor Golf (VM-JVG) this is Wangoon". Didn't need to talk to him so we didn't.

Same night a MAC C141 (Skirtlifter) reported overhead Phuket, but he called it like "Bucket", if you know what I mean.

[ollie_a]

Out of interest Australia has AX, VH, VI, VJ, VK, VL, VM, VN and VZ. Some are used for other purposes than aircraft though, e.g. ham radio. The global list is maintained by the ITU at Table of International Call Sign Series