Blast from the Past: MMA
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: PPrune nominee 2011!
Posts: 1,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blast from the Past: MMA
I've been going through my old books, reading the history on MMA [then Ansett WA]
Anyone old enough to share their thoughts on the sounds of a once great airline?
Anyone old enough to share their thoughts on the sounds of a once great airline?
Go to your library and borrow Capt Reg Adkins' book "I Flew For MMA". Once you pick it up, you won't put it down until you've finished it. It's one of the definitive "history of MMA" books around.
Can you imagine what a blast it must have been for those old guys: start off as a DC-3 FO doing 10 sectors a day in the 50s with hardly any navaids or radar, then turbine F-27s, finishing as a captain on the F-28 after 30 years. They saw it all.
Can you imagine what a blast it must have been for those old guys: start off as a DC-3 FO doing 10 sectors a day in the 50s with hardly any navaids or radar, then turbine F-27s, finishing as a captain on the F-28 after 30 years. They saw it all.
bloggs, you'll get more pocket money if you say go and BUY not borrow. an absolute must read, infact pilots shouldn't be allowed in WA airspace without proof of having read it.
love reading that book and the memories that it invokes of my time in WA as a young and impressionable kimberley pilot.
love reading that book and the memories that it invokes of my time in WA as a young and impressionable kimberley pilot.
The book lists somewhere all the destinations MMA flew to. Many of those places still have the big airstrips in place.
I cant help feeling nostalgic for a time when the rural sector (subsidised or otherwise) was a little more alive.
I cant help feeling nostalgic for a time when the rural sector (subsidised or otherwise) was a little more alive.
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep MMA with its 5 F28s in the late 70s was a Hoot to fly for...had the pleasure of a break from "Paradise"...whilst doing my F28 endorsement and Line training prior to the Pocket Rocket starting Ops in "Paradise".....only 2 ILSs in the network in those days....so lots of Non Precision Approaches from High Overhead....great machine and great people ....and Great Airline...
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Perth Australia
Age: 80
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
1 Post
Sure was a great place to learn your "trade", for me from DC-3 to F-28 until the late 80's.
Early days, 11 sectors in a DC-3, 3 crew, lots of handling, great station runs, later in the Otter was similar, single Pilot in those times with a "hairy chested" loader for company.
Flew with Reg on many occasions, always fun I felt, great other guys as well, good mentors in the main.
There were of course the "others", FRED and FREDA for a start???
I feel that the grounding obtained kept me alive in other places visited around the world in later years of adventures.
Some of the old guard are still around, well into their late 80's and early 90's in one case. The old Chief Engineer, Frank Colquone(spelling?) turned 100 earlier this month, usual letters from Queen etc, and great to see.
Early days, 11 sectors in a DC-3, 3 crew, lots of handling, great station runs, later in the Otter was similar, single Pilot in those times with a "hairy chested" loader for company.
Flew with Reg on many occasions, always fun I felt, great other guys as well, good mentors in the main.
There were of course the "others", FRED and FREDA for a start???
I feel that the grounding obtained kept me alive in other places visited around the world in later years of adventures.
Some of the old guard are still around, well into their late 80's and early 90's in one case. The old Chief Engineer, Frank Colquone(spelling?) turned 100 earlier this month, usual letters from Queen etc, and great to see.
Sprucegoose
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Go to your library and borrow Capt Reg Adkins' book "I Flew For MMA".
start off as a DC-3 FO doing 10 sectors a day in the 50s with hardly any navaids or radar,
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MMA memories
Went to Lloyd Butcher's funeral last year, his wife June is continuing their great work at Kanyana Wildlife Hospital that Lloyd and June set up when Lloyd retired from MMA. He did a great job helping introduce the F27 and F28 onto the line. I reckon my hearing is shot from walking next to that line of F28s going to Morning shift in the old Tower in the 70s and 80s. Nothing like the crackle of an F28 on take-off on a cold Perth winter morning! (Except maybe a B727-100).
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahhhhhh that "CRACKLE".....The Yanks now refer to it as the sound of freedom.....twas Marvelous ,and inspired many a youngster to put up with insurmountable Odds..to achieve their ambitions.....I can understand the push to quieten down the RPT Jets...but seems the Curfew shackles on the industry still seem to be based on the DBs expected on those cold morning take offs eh?.....its a bloody shame our Defence Gurus opt to continue with the Pissy 9 to inspire {NOT} our next generation of Aviators....what with No more Flight Deck visits in day to day ops....and the sound of freedom..now just an occassional Sigh...and the insane rush to reach the Bottom in terms of Wages and Conditions in the Industry.....sheeeeesh its no wonder Kids nowdays dont look at Aviation with a gleam in their eye.
Reg's book is a very enjoyable read and gives one a very good insight into the development of MMA, airline operations in WA, the AFAP involvement in getting better conditions for the pilots, the hard yard's involved for the pilots in transitioning into the F27 and F28 and the difficlties operating in remote parts of WA.
The good old F28 must have been a hoot to fly.
Had a jumpseat ride in a F28 into Darwin in the early 90's, the captain casually replied we will maintain 270 knots until 5 dme.
The good old F28 must have been a hoot to fly.
Had a jumpseat ride in a F28 into Darwin in the early 90's, the captain casually replied we will maintain 270 knots until 5 dme.
Silly Old Git
Had a jumpseat ride in a F28 into Darwin in the early 90's, the captain casually replied we will maintain 270 knots until 5 dme.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reg's book is a very enjoyable read and ...
... and BUY not borrow. an absolute must read, infact pilots shouldn't be allowed in WA airspace without proof of having read it.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MMA land
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey all, I am currently trying to get VH-BPN (ex VH-MML) and bring her back to Perth (Oh and back into the air to). Here is the link to the thread in the appropriate area
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...-3-vh-mml.html
I to have the "I flew for MMA" and its a great read. I have also read Frank's book who I must meet and tell him about the project. My Great uncle worked at MMA and a few of the people I work with and there are some great stories to be told.
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...-3-vh-mml.html
I to have the "I flew for MMA" and its a great read. I have also read Frank's book who I must meet and tell him about the project. My Great uncle worked at MMA and a few of the people I work with and there are some great stories to be told.
I did a jumpseat ride in a F28 years ago and was blown away with it. Turning final onto the ILS doing about 270kts the Captain turned around and said watch this (F/O flying) - out came the speedbrake - speed bleed off, all stabalised and landed took the first high speed into BNE. After landing his comment was -'try that in a 737'! Never seen a more effective speedbrake on an jet in my life - it was like driving on the freeway and pulling on a handbrake in a car.
Awesome machine in it's day - would have been a great first jet to cut your teeth on.
Awesome machine in it's day - would have been a great first jet to cut your teeth on.
