Britten Norman Islanders [Love em or Hate em?]
The last I know of BSP, was in 2000 at Essenden.
What was the registration of the other Trislander previously owned by Cape York Air and sold to Murchison Relines in Perth? I'm sure the registration was not in the BS_ series?
The two Cape York Air Trislanders came drom Douglas Airways who obviously acquired them from Bush Pilots.
Were new Islanders flown out to Australia, or put into a container and shipped?
Pretty remarkable aeroplane when you consider in Australia, it has operated into Bathurst Harbour in SW Tassie, Rottnest Island shuttle in Perth, Ord Air in the Kimberlies, Airnorth in Darwin, Talair in PNG, coastwatch with National Jet and all the operaters in the Torres Strait.
Even more remarkable when in been operated in the Falkland Islands, Orkney Islands, Africa, Europe, North America and South America.
Pretty remarkable aeroplane when you consider in Australia, it has operated into Bathurst Harbour in SW Tassie, Rottnest Island shuttle in Perth, Ord Air in the Kimberlies, Airnorth in Darwin, Talair in PNG, coastwatch with National Jet and all the operaters in the Torres Strait.
Even more remarkable when in been operated in the Falkland Islands, Orkney Islands, Africa, Europe, North America and South America.
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I flew VH-ATZ in PNG early 70's, it had signage down the fuse indicating that it had won the London to Sydney air race.
And from pprune 2007....
Cheers Kid
And from pprune 2007....
David Eyre
17th Dec 2007, 22:29
Three Islanders competed in the race:
G-AXUD - Race no. 72 (manufacturer's serial number 132) flown by W. J. Bright and F. L. Buxton. This aircraft won the race. On 9 Feb 1970, it became VH-ATZ with Aerial Tours Pty Ltd of New Guinea. It was later re-registered as P2-ATZ, and joined Douglas Airways, before being cancelled from the register.
VH-ATV - Race no. 112 (msn 100) of Aerial Tours Pty Ltd, Port Moresby, New Guinea. Previously test flown in UK as G-51-35, before becoming VH-ATV on 15 Sep 1969 with Aerial Tours. Later registered P2-ATV with Douglas Airways, P2-DNV (Douglas Airways), P2-SAB (Sepik Air Charter), P2-ALE (Airlink Ltd), before being cancelled from the register.
G-AXSN - Race no. 68 (msn 81) entered by The Hon Hugh Astor, Southamptonstead, Berks. This was previously test flown as G-51-22 before becoming N870JA then G-AXSN. After the race it went through a series of registrations, becoming VH-ROV, P2-ROV, P2-PAA, P2-ISM (North Coast Aviation), H4-AAI (not taken up), P2-ISS, YJ-RV6, VH-CSU. VH-CSU is still registered with Lip-Air in Cairns-North, Queensland.
Regards,
David Eyre
17th Dec 2007, 22:29
Three Islanders competed in the race:
G-AXUD - Race no. 72 (manufacturer's serial number 132) flown by W. J. Bright and F. L. Buxton. This aircraft won the race. On 9 Feb 1970, it became VH-ATZ with Aerial Tours Pty Ltd of New Guinea. It was later re-registered as P2-ATZ, and joined Douglas Airways, before being cancelled from the register.
VH-ATV - Race no. 112 (msn 100) of Aerial Tours Pty Ltd, Port Moresby, New Guinea. Previously test flown in UK as G-51-35, before becoming VH-ATV on 15 Sep 1969 with Aerial Tours. Later registered P2-ATV with Douglas Airways, P2-DNV (Douglas Airways), P2-SAB (Sepik Air Charter), P2-ALE (Airlink Ltd), before being cancelled from the register.
G-AXSN - Race no. 68 (msn 81) entered by The Hon Hugh Astor, Southamptonstead, Berks. This was previously test flown as G-51-22 before becoming N870JA then G-AXSN. After the race it went through a series of registrations, becoming VH-ROV, P2-ROV, P2-PAA, P2-ISM (North Coast Aviation), H4-AAI (not taken up), P2-ISS, YJ-RV6, VH-CSU. VH-CSU is still registered with Lip-Air in Cairns-North, Queensland.
Regards,
David Eyre
Cheers Kid
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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VH-ATV - Race no. 112 (msn 100) of Aerial Tours Pty Ltd, Port Moresby, New Guinea. Previously test flown in UK as G-51-35, before becoming VH-ATV on 15 Sep 1969 with Aerial Tours. Later registered P2-ATV with Douglas Airways, P2-DNV (Douglas Airways), P2-SAB (Sepik Air Charter, P2-ALE (Airlink Ltd), before being cancelled from the register.
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Aviation Art BN3 Palm Island
All this Islander/Trislander talk inspired me to produce this painting of BN3 VH-BPB operated by BPA (Bushies) in a colour scheme of the early 1980s.The painting is 30cm x 60cm acrylic on stretched canvas.
The airstrip is Palm Island off Townsville & at that time the surface was 'natural'. That means naturally boggy in the wet season & naturally dirt & dust in the dry season.
The island is an indigenous community & during the dry season when the strip was dry chaff the indigens would set fire to the runway (Why? Beats me).
Anyhoo,the fire would take about a week to smoulder from one end to the other. Didn't stop a/c movements, as the flame front was only a few millimetres high, but did create a sooty cloud behind departing aeroplanes.
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Tenmen. I didn't know they did BN-CS via EML &TL !!! Flipping heck that IS a long flight. In my day they serviced Lizard Is,Cooktown,Cairns,Dunk,Palm Island,Townsville,Proserpine,Bowen,Shute Harbour,Mackay & Brampton Island.
The worst were the returning Palm Island football team. They were tanked up on firewater,hadn't had showers,crammed into the Trislander,OAT 40deg, humidity 100%.....and held at the holding point with no ventilation.....(ooh,scuse me I'm feeling a bit ill)
The worst were the returning Palm Island football team. They were tanked up on firewater,hadn't had showers,crammed into the Trislander,OAT 40deg, humidity 100%.....and held at the holding point with no ventilation.....(ooh,scuse me I'm feeling a bit ill)
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Night freight Brisbane to Cairns via Emerald and Townville - now that's another matter.
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Roster was, day 1: Dept CNS 1700 via IFL, then TSV EML, arr BNE about midnight, leave the aircraft to someone else, and off to the pub. 24 hr rest. Next night sign on at midnight for a 0100 dept back nort same route, arriving CNS about 0800.
This lasted about 2 months and then the Metro's took over.
This lasted about 2 months and then the Metro's took over.
Last edited by Tenmen; 8th Jun 2011 at 08:23. Reason: spelling
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Para Dropping
I was para dropping at Weston on the Green in G-WOTG turbine islander. I believe it was the first of its type to have a sliding door fitted so the loonies could leap out. The exit point of the day from 10,000' was over the town of Bicester. The system was that the Jump Master (JM) would slide the door forward onto a catch and after the 'passengers' had jumped out the pilot would pull a release handle and the door would slide back into place with the airflow. I pulled the handle but the door didn't go into place. Neither was it along side the cockpit where it rested when open. The stop had broken and it had carried on along the rails straight off the aircraft to follow the parachutists down. It floated down like a leaf. It was such a good spot by the JM that instead of landing in Bicester high street it landed right in the middle of the DZ - undamaged. We replaced the stop, fitted the door back on and continued operations. 
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Ah good old G-WOTG. Took off in it 6 times, never landed in it once....
Never made it up to 10,000. All my exits were at 2,500 I seem to remember.
I was on a sports parachute course there, summer of '89. We had a WRAF officer on the course, who was around 5 foot nothing tall and probably weighed about 5 stone when wet. On our first jump of the course she was the first out off the door on the first pass. I was last out off the aircraft, and I passed her on the way down. I arrived in roughly the right area, on the airfield at any rate, as did almost everyone else.
She on the other hand drifted away into the distance and landed, if memory serves correctly, in the exercise yard of the local kennels. Apparently the residents weren't very happy about the "gatecrasher" and expressed their displeasure quiet vociferously. Never got a chance to get the story first hand, as we were one course member short from that point on, at her own request I should point out.
No sense of adventure some people.....
I was on a sports parachute course there, summer of '89. We had a WRAF officer on the course, who was around 5 foot nothing tall and probably weighed about 5 stone when wet. On our first jump of the course she was the first out off the door on the first pass. I was last out off the aircraft, and I passed her on the way down. I arrived in roughly the right area, on the airfield at any rate, as did almost everyone else.
She on the other hand drifted away into the distance and landed, if memory serves correctly, in the exercise yard of the local kennels. Apparently the residents weren't very happy about the "gatecrasher" and expressed their displeasure quiet vociferously. Never got a chance to get the story first hand, as we were one course member short from that point on, at her own request I should point out.
No sense of adventure some people.....
Pinky
Understandable error. The original P2-SAB was a Cessna 402, ex Sepik Air Charter, acquired by Talair and ended it's life in the Ramu River, immortalised in the poem "The Man From Ramu River".
P2-SAB was with Simbu Aviation, not Sepik Air Charter.
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I'm sitting here opposite the daughter of the actual designer of the Islander (my wife's father). Her father was R.E. "Dickie" Bird and he was formerly Chief Designer at Auster Aircraft. His title at BN, where he was seconded from Miles Aircraft, was Chief Technical Executive, but it was he who conceived and designed the prototype and steered it into production and we have those original drawings framed. He just never got the credit for it, which irks somewhat.
He was also responsible for the Auster AOP9 and a number of other aircraft, but the Islander was obviously the most successful.
He died last year, but would be very happy to see you all discussing his beloved Islander in this way as it soldiers on so many years later.
QDM
He was also responsible for the Auster AOP9 and a number of other aircraft, but the Islander was obviously the most successful.
He died last year, but would be very happy to see you all discussing his beloved Islander in this way as it soldiers on so many years later.
QDM
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Thanks Torres. Thought that may have been the case.
BTW, did they ever find that 402?
BTW, did they ever find that 402?
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mitasol
Is that.Tin Lid from f---n ..Kiunga or Cranky Franky or Ghastly all in broom broom drivers olsem balus bilong biscuit ears. And VH ATZ was the London SYD air race winner I. saw it arrive at BK on the day and flew it a lot when based in .Daru late 73 to mid 74 when I.came to my senses and joined Macair in Lae, then Mendi until Talair joined me until retrenched in 76. H von .****nickers didn't like troops who told him to get stuffed at 1630 when the WX had clagged in and 50 cases of tinned mackerel had to go to Kopiago Bloody Kraut had no sense of humour.
Last edited by bob johns; 13th Jun 2011 at 04:58. Reason: correct spelling
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MITASOL
.How unkind of you Two dogs bloody funny though.It reminds me of the time a Sydney radio station had as a prize in a quiz,an hours flight over the city, then some smart alec went and donated a second prize of a two hour flight over the city in an Islander