Cessna 336 VH-CMY
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I think you will find VH-CMY or whats left of it is at one of those paintball places on the Gold Coast. She sat at ybcg for years, from memory is was up for sale about 6 years ago, but no one wanted to pay the $16500 price tag. Very sad indeed.
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GKY appears to be being used as a commuter to Flinders Island by the current owners. It had a bit of work done to it 6 months ago such as new props etc. It's quite a noisy beast and seemingly underpowered when 3 big bods jump on board.
Then you'll see "underpowered"!
Thread Starter
Charlie Mike Yankee lives
Having started this thread back in May, I regret that I had to drop it as it was overtaken by developments which had to be kept low key.
As VH-CMY was last heard of at Coolangatta, some enterprising fellow decided to invoke the power of GoogleEarth in an attempt to locate it. Thanks to its distinctive planform the aircraft stood out like the proverbial at a remote location on Coolangatta Airport which turned out to be the Firies training area. Fortunately the aeroplane hadn't been torched as the Firies recognised its historic value. A deal was struck to exchange a Cessna 402 airframe and today VH-CMY was transported to the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra. Ultimately the aeroplane will be restored in ANSETT-MAL colours.
Thanks to all who assisted, particularly the Coolangatta Firies.
Rgds and Happy New Year to all.
PS
Still looking for a photo with the rear engine swung aside if anyone can help.
As VH-CMY was last heard of at Coolangatta, some enterprising fellow decided to invoke the power of GoogleEarth in an attempt to locate it. Thanks to its distinctive planform the aircraft stood out like the proverbial at a remote location on Coolangatta Airport which turned out to be the Firies training area. Fortunately the aeroplane hadn't been torched as the Firies recognised its historic value. A deal was struck to exchange a Cessna 402 airframe and today VH-CMY was transported to the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra. Ultimately the aeroplane will be restored in ANSETT-MAL colours.
Thanks to all who assisted, particularly the Coolangatta Firies.
Rgds and Happy New Year to all.
PS
Still looking for a photo with the rear engine swung aside if anyone can help.
Last edited by Fris B. Fairing; 30th Dec 2009 at 04:39.
Silly Old Git
Good on yer Fris
Why not paint her in TAL colours she spent most time in and that everybody knew her in?
There would only be a handful alive today would remember Ansett MAL scheme.
My two bob.
Sprucegoose
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Nothing constructive to add cause I never flew the machine, but what a great thread!
It'd be even better if you were restoring her to flying status.
It'd be even better if you were restoring her to flying status.
Thread Starter
tinpis
Exactly. That's why we need to preserve their livery. If it's any consolation, Cessna 402 P2-GKF will be painted in Talair colours. Besides, what's not to love about this colour scheme:
Howard
Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to fly everything. Of course if your late namesake is offering to fund it anything is possible.
Rgds
There would only be a handful alive today would remember Ansett MAL scheme.
Howard
It'd be even better if you were restoring her to flying status.
Rgds
Interesting point, there happens to be a 336 (Possibly a mil variant?) parked at YBCG thats in Airforce Livery (American if i remember correctly) Hardpoints installed and all!
Quite impressive to say the least, always wished I could have gotten a ride in it!
Quite impressive to say the least, always wished I could have gotten a ride in it!
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Ix
Perhaps it is one of the Solomon Islands ones.
There were a couple of U.S.Airforce 337's and a Hughes 500 helicopter in a couple of containers that sat on the edge of the football field/parade ground at Rove in Honiara for a decade or so. They had been given by the U.S. to the Government and Solomon Police to start a surveillance capability back in the late 90's, but as usual the government didn't provide money or personnel, so nothing was done. Last year they were in poor condition because of vandalism. The containers had been left unlocked and the kids watching the football had smashed instruments, windscreen, etc. One container roof was rotten too. One of the Solair engineers, and a pilot, were interested in seeing them go again and drew attention to them, so they were transferred to the Civil Aviation Department and moved to the Solair hangar. Some voluntary work was done on one of the 337's (the only one left viable. There were a couple of spare engines in the containers too), but once again no money was forthcoming even though the Aus. Government may have come to the party with fuel Aid to operate it for the Police if it ever flew. As an ex-military aircraft it didn't have a civilian C. of A. so would have only been operated by a Government agency.
Or perhaps it has been 'smoothed' out of the country, and the payment pocketed..!! Like what may have happened with some WW2 relics. Rumours..!!
Perhaps it is one of the Solomon Islands ones.
There were a couple of U.S.Airforce 337's and a Hughes 500 helicopter in a couple of containers that sat on the edge of the football field/parade ground at Rove in Honiara for a decade or so. They had been given by the U.S. to the Government and Solomon Police to start a surveillance capability back in the late 90's, but as usual the government didn't provide money or personnel, so nothing was done. Last year they were in poor condition because of vandalism. The containers had been left unlocked and the kids watching the football had smashed instruments, windscreen, etc. One container roof was rotten too. One of the Solair engineers, and a pilot, were interested in seeing them go again and drew attention to them, so they were transferred to the Civil Aviation Department and moved to the Solair hangar. Some voluntary work was done on one of the 337's (the only one left viable. There were a couple of spare engines in the containers too), but once again no money was forthcoming even though the Aus. Government may have come to the party with fuel Aid to operate it for the Police if it ever flew. As an ex-military aircraft it didn't have a civilian C. of A. so would have only been operated by a Government agency.
Or perhaps it has been 'smoothed' out of the country, and the payment pocketed..!! Like what may have happened with some WW2 relics. Rumours..!!
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Fris,
If you get a QueenAir A65-8200, paint it in Solair colours. Thats the Talair orange paintscheme with a Nuzu Nuzu holding a Head on the tail.
Grand old ship.
You can always paint your Queenair B.80's in R.F.D.S. colours.
If you get a QueenAir A65-8200, paint it in Solair colours. Thats the Talair orange paintscheme with a Nuzu Nuzu holding a Head on the tail.
Grand old ship.
You can always paint your Queenair B.80's in R.F.D.S. colours.
Thread Starter
Frigatebird
Would persons willing to donate a Queen Air to the Queensland Air Museum please form an orderly queue.
Similarly any philanthropists willing to fund a new building to house all these aeroplanes.
Rgds
Would persons willing to donate a Queen Air to the Queensland Air Museum please form an orderly queue.
Similarly any philanthropists willing to fund a new building to house all these aeroplanes.
Rgds
Ahh yeah, now that I think about it I seem to remember 337 being painted on the side of the aircraft in question. This one in particular though is in fantastic condition, almost certainly flyable, nothing like the ones you described! It is (Or was) parked outside the maint hang for Air Gold Coast.
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Yes, back in about the pre-P.N.G. Independance days Macair owned Solair. They had taken it over from Laurie Crowley's Megapode Airways in '68 with a Dove and an Apache, called it Solair, and replaced the Apache with a Baron. In '70 the first Islander arrived. (It was either the one that got burnt in the 'Troubles', or is the one still flying). Dennis got Solair when he took over Macair in '75, tried a 402 for a couple of months, then sent them a QueenAir A65 in '76, sending one of the two Barons to P.N.G., and increased the number of QueenAirs to three before reducing them again when the SA226 arrived late in '80.
(Megapode is a local bird that lays large eggs for the relative size of the bird. The chick is well developed on hatching from its underground incubation, like a turtle egg, that it can fly soon after hatching. Megapode Airways flew on its first day in '63)
(Megapode is a local bird that lays large eggs for the relative size of the bird. The chick is well developed on hatching from its underground incubation, like a turtle egg, that it can fly soon after hatching. Megapode Airways flew on its first day in '63)
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Thread Starter
VH-CMY
Folks I'm trying to contact robroy. Several years ago he posted on another thread to the effect that he was involved in the swing engine mod to VH-CMY. I've sent him a PM but I note that he hasn't posted for a couple of years. If anyone can put us in touch I'd be grateful.
The history of VH-CMY is now on the QAM website.
Rgds
The history of VH-CMY is now on the QAM website.
Rgds
Silly Old Git
Gidday Oldrelic
Best for the New Year
There was I think a fatal in MH when a 336 boom was severed by a prop blade
Then I THINK there was the one of which you speak that was able to get down ok. I have a feeling the pilot of that one was Ray Feltman?
Cheers
TP
Best for the New Year
There was I think a fatal in MH when a 336 boom was severed by a prop blade
Then I THINK there was the one of which you speak that was able to get down ok. I have a feeling the pilot of that one was Ray Feltman?
Cheers
TP
Last edited by tinpis; 1st Jan 2010 at 01:31.