Billy Thorpe and the Piaggios
Bob Hussey operated the ex-DCA Piaggio for a while in the 70's, used to come and go out of Moorabbin and Essendon on charter work.
Didn't Captain Jack Ellis operate one of the ex-Ansett Piaggios for a while?
Tinnpis did you fly the one that was based out of Tennant Creek?
Didn't Captain Jack Ellis operate one of the ex-Ansett Piaggios for a while?
Tinnpis did you fly the one that was based out of Tennant Creek?
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I recall seeing one of Forrestair's Pigs (that's what everyone called
a Piaggio Fuctifino back then - probably get arrested by the Oz PC
police if you called it one now) at Essendon and blast off from 17.
Does that thing have the curvature of the Earth built in its P-charts?
I think its the only way it eventually got off the deck!
Billy Thorpe and the Aztrucks - haven't heard them in yonks. They
still doing gigs? Mr Thorpe must be a bloody old geezer by now....
a Piaggio Fuctifino back then - probably get arrested by the Oz PC
police if you called it one now) at Essendon and blast off from 17.
Does that thing have the curvature of the Earth built in its P-charts?
I think its the only way it eventually got off the deck!
Billy Thorpe and the Aztrucks - haven't heard them in yonks. They
still doing gigs? Mr Thorpe must be a bloody old geezer by now....
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Tinnpis did you fly the one that was based out of Tennant Creek?
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Harrowing:
I am Les' grandaughter (Stephen's daughter), sadly he passed away in January 2008. It's nice to see people talking about him and what he loved the most.
Kimberley
I am Les' grandaughter (Stephen's daughter), sadly he passed away in January 2008. It's nice to see people talking about him and what he loved the most.
Kimberley
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I have a photo somewhere of the one at YBK taken around 92/3, white red and black, outside Biritex's hangar. Ex Av Centre, the guys that operated Aerostars. Never liked being around it when the engines were running. Seemed to easy to forget that the props were on butt first. Pretty sure it is the same one rotting at Illawarra.
I also had the chance to see Thorpie at probably his last concert in the Hunter Vineyards two weeks before he passed away. It seemed that his carreer was really starting to fire again. Shame as i think his final two albums were brilliant. 'Solo' and 'Tangiers'.
I read his books quite some time back and they were great reading. It's a wonder he made it to sixty.
"we'll never see their likes again".
On'ya Thorpie
FH
I also had the chance to see Thorpie at probably his last concert in the Hunter Vineyards two weeks before he passed away. It seemed that his carreer was really starting to fire again. Shame as i think his final two albums were brilliant. 'Solo' and 'Tangiers'.
I read his books quite some time back and they were great reading. It's a wonder he made it to sixty.
"we'll never see their likes again".
On'ya Thorpie
FH
Interesting machine. there used to be one slowly rotting next to the run up bay at YMMB years ago. did the pusher engine make much of a difference performance wise? what were they like compared to other GA twins of the time?
definitely looks Italian
definitely looks Italian
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I operated VH-CAC and VH-PGA out of Bankstown And Mascot for a while in the early 80's. Carried Day old chicks to Murray Bridge among other places, loaded them at Camden, and car parts and overnight bags plus general freight from Mascot to Melbourne, Brisbane, And Launceston. Also flew Greyhounds to country race meetings. Pilots that flew them were mainly airforce guys. High maintenance aircraft but did the work required of them
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The "pig" at Albion Park is being repainted in Ansett ANA colours as a static exhibit by HARS.
I think the plan is to have most of it completed before Wings Over the Illawarra on the 6th of May.
With the flying that the Connie has been doing, there has been some indoor sheltered workspace on weekends so its not been so weather dependent and progress has been a bit quicker recently
Wunwing
I think the plan is to have most of it completed before Wings Over the Illawarra on the 6th of May.
With the flying that the Connie has been doing, there has been some indoor sheltered workspace on weekends so its not been so weather dependent and progress has been a bit quicker recently
Wunwing
