Some Of The Crew Back In 1992-1993.
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Some Of The Crew Back In 1992-1993.
Just going through some old photos and came across these ones, some of the Aussies on an overseas contract back in 1992-1993.
I will NOT mention any names in case they don't want to, however very curious if any are still around, and maybe even here on PPRuNe?
I will NOT mention any names in case they don't want to, however very curious if any are still around, and maybe even here on PPRuNe?
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I think your FO in the first photo (RA) is now an A330 Captain at Air China.
This is him again, with the Chief Pilot (MK) walking passed the ''Hanoi Hilton''.
Those things with dials are what REAL aircraft have...........
Yes they are all ''dispute'' Pilots and all great guys, but PLEASE do not say too much about that or the thread will get locked or deleted.
HT who we were talking about on another thread the other day, true Gentleman, is in the photos of Geoff's ''party'', cannot find any of him on the aircraft.
A very, very few of us still left in Cathay Pacific, most joined during 1990, some later via Malaysian and Swissair; some are CX sim instructors (mainly ex-TAA, and thorough gentlemen they are too) and a handful of ex-AN still on the line, but the numbers are thinning further with retirements.
Who'd 'a thunk it some twenty-plus years ago?
I for one am greatly looking forward to the gathering alluded to above, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later (oh uh, I just mentioned the war, but I think I got away with it).
Who'd 'a thunk it some twenty-plus years ago?
I for one am greatly looking forward to the gathering alluded to above, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later (oh uh, I just mentioned the war, but I think I got away with it).
Last edited by Captain Dart; 17th Jan 2011 at 22:55.
Henry, as always, with a grin from ear to ear. (I presume this was on the Vietnam contract ?)
A wonderful mentor and passer on of knowledge and how things ought to be done. I think my first flight with him was as a very raw FO on the Dogwhistle when he was still in the Supt Command and Intake Training chair (I'm still amazed that he took pity on me and gave me a job) .. up to Cooma and back, if I recall. We had some trivial systems problem (so important I can't recall what it was) and I launched into action (as young chaps are wont to do), pulling out books here and there, flicking over to this and that page in the QRH .. and, eventually, I was READY.
The Great Man, on the other hand, was only concerned with the adequacy of his cigar's ignition. After about (what seemed to be) twenty minutes and 400 attempts to get the thing lit properly and to his satisfaction he relaxed back in his seat, took several obviously very satisfied sucks on the cigar and then, eventually, turned to me and said "now, young fellow, vat seems to be ze problem ?"
Learnt a lesson from that exchange, I did.
A wonderful mentor and passer on of knowledge and how things ought to be done. I think my first flight with him was as a very raw FO on the Dogwhistle when he was still in the Supt Command and Intake Training chair (I'm still amazed that he took pity on me and gave me a job) .. up to Cooma and back, if I recall. We had some trivial systems problem (so important I can't recall what it was) and I launched into action (as young chaps are wont to do), pulling out books here and there, flicking over to this and that page in the QRH .. and, eventually, I was READY.
The Great Man, on the other hand, was only concerned with the adequacy of his cigar's ignition. After about (what seemed to be) twenty minutes and 400 attempts to get the thing lit properly and to his satisfaction he relaxed back in his seat, took several obviously very satisfied sucks on the cigar and then, eventually, turned to me and said "now, young fellow, vat seems to be ze problem ?"
Learnt a lesson from that exchange, I did.
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It's interesting how the aforementioned poli is also remembered with more than distaste by Vietnam veterans (something to do with supply ships to troops and union bans whilst he was ACTU president).
Possibly a long queue to visit his grave.
Possibly a long queue to visit his grave.
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I for one am greatly looking forward to the gathering alluded to above, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later (oh uh, I just mentioned the war, but I think I got away with it).
THANK YOU......................
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Henry, as always, with a grin from ear to ear. (I presume this was on the Vietnam contract ?)
Never heard him say a bad word about anyone, always so cheerful, he cheered me up a couple of times there when I was feeling very homesick.
I also had a bit to do with him at Southern Cross (Compass 2) where he was one of two Chief Pilots, true Gentleman if ever there was one.
Point taken, airsupport, but thanks for highlighting my comment!
I second the comments about Henry. But I did find it strange that AN F/O's read checklists while manipulating the aircraft, weren't allowed to start engines or taxi and had their hand slapped away if they touched the 'ALT select' knob!
We weren't that bad were we?
I second the comments about Henry. But I did find it strange that AN F/O's read checklists while manipulating the aircraft, weren't allowed to start engines or taxi and had their hand slapped away if they touched the 'ALT select' knob!
We weren't that bad were we?
Last edited by Captain Dart; 18th Jan 2011 at 01:21.
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Excellent thread Airsupport. I wholeheartedly agree,please no one bring 'that date' or political agendas in here. Let us oldies post all our piccys from our times back then, as many of us know those familiar faces.
Is the Capt in piccy one,RL by any chance?
Is the Capt in piccy one,RL by any chance?
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The Captain in picture 1 is the guy we were talking about before, Geoff R, by stories he told up there he was an RAAF Hercules Pilot, the First Officer with him is BS, ex AN and an ex Aircraft Engineer/Apprentice with AN.
Picture 2 is who my kids used to call ''Uncle Bill'' because he used to bring things back here to them for me from Vietnam, BR. In that photo he looks a little tired, in his defence it was about half way through a 12 hour Moscow to Hanoi flight.
Picture 3 is First Officer RH, on same flight, maybe sunnies help.
Picture 4 is the lovely Simone B, ex Compass, not sure where from before that.
Picture 5 is the lovely Simone again suddenly putting her arm around Captain PMcC in flight................
Picture 2 is who my kids used to call ''Uncle Bill'' because he used to bring things back here to them for me from Vietnam, BR. In that photo he looks a little tired, in his defence it was about half way through a 12 hour Moscow to Hanoi flight.
Picture 3 is First Officer RH, on same flight, maybe sunnies help.
Picture 4 is the lovely Simone B, ex Compass, not sure where from before that.
Picture 5 is the lovely Simone again suddenly putting her arm around Captain PMcC in flight................
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Now that I've vented my spleen (
) I'm the generation that followed you guys. I met quite a few of you fellows who went back to GA on my 'hour building tours'.
Nothing but respect for the stories you told and the experiences you went through
The current generation could learn a thing or two from yours
) I'm the generation that followed you guys. I met quite a few of you fellows who went back to GA on my 'hour building tours'. Nothing but respect for the stories you told and the experiences you went through
The current generation could learn a thing or two from yours
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During that time we had several Vietnamese Pilots flying with us as First Officers, one of them Captain Truang (spelling from memory) was one of the National Heroes of Vietnam, although we all thought he was a Traitor.
He was a Colonel in the South Vietnamese Air Force and towards the end of the War he took off from Saigon and dropped his bombs on the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace and hightailed it up to Hanoi.
He later became very high up in Vietnam Airlines, but I believe he has retired now.
You should have heard what Geoff thought of him, as apparently Geoff was on the ground in Saigon in an RAAF Hercules when he dropped the bombs just down the road.........
He was a handy guy to have with you though, I remember coming into Hanoi one day, ATC was messing us around favouring all the locals, Truang got on the radio and said a few words in Vietnamese and then it was you are cleared for immediate priority approach.
He was a Colonel in the South Vietnamese Air Force and towards the end of the War he took off from Saigon and dropped his bombs on the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace and hightailed it up to Hanoi.
He later became very high up in Vietnam Airlines, but I believe he has retired now.
You should have heard what Geoff thought of him, as apparently Geoff was on the ground in Saigon in an RAAF Hercules when he dropped the bombs just down the road.........
He was a handy guy to have with you though, I remember coming into Hanoi one day, ATC was messing us around favouring all the locals, Truang got on the radio and said a few words in Vietnamese and then it was you are cleared for immediate priority approach.
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Yes, I just read that link you posted, that is the guy, sorry about my spelling.
He was quite a nice guy, just it was hard for us to accept him after what he had done, but to most Vietnamese he was a hero.
He told us many of his war stories, like chasing away Chinese fighters from some of the outlying islands etc.
Very handy guy to have with you as far as getting things done.
He was quite a nice guy, just it was hard for us to accept him after what he had done, but to most Vietnamese he was a hero.
He told us many of his war stories, like chasing away Chinese fighters from some of the outlying islands etc.
Very handy guy to have with you as far as getting things done.