Beech Queenair

[Jamair]

In the late sixties to mid-seventies, a couple of TWB-based Queenairs worked in PNG on an Army mapping contract doing laser camera runs at 35,000 feet. They were flying on 100% oxygen. IIRC, one of the crew suffered the bends in flight.

One of the crew - from memory - was Lang Kidby.

I spent lots of time in the RH seat of FWG and RUU.... some of it was even legitimate

The engines were not particularly fragile, they just needed to be managed appropriately. Don't overboost on T/O and don't backload on descent. This is much the same as the GTSIO 520 fitted to the C404 / 421; it is fine as long as it was managed right. Skytramps, when it was a GA company worth being in, ran a fleet of 10 Titans with an enviable engine record, because the CP (RA) educated the pilots in correct engine management and intelligent flight planning.

Queenair..... Nice! (but better than a Kingair???? Oh pleeeeese )

[Plow King]

Was RUU the other Air Eastern machine painted in rainbow colours (what paint was left, anyway) that was left to rot on the grass at PF after they found a bit too much corrosion? would have been around '98 or '99 at a guess.

[Bug4514]

hey I use to fly the old girls,FWG,AEQ and RUU. On night freight runs and had a lot of fun in them.

[Tmbstory]

Queen Air 65 and 70 Models

I did about 1500 hours in them and enjoyed the flights, they were easy to fly and the cabin was slightly larger than the 402's, that we upgraded from.

The engines on the Queen Airs needed to be treated with respect and operated smoothly, but then all engines should be treated in this manner.

Tmb

[Jabawocky]

Thanks Dora and Zlin,

So the problem area was a design issue in the gearbox area not the engine itself, is that the general idea?

[VH-XXX]

MWI which was near operational until a few weeks ago when it was srtipped, supposedly used to be run out of Moorabbin years ago for a company named "Jet Star" flying around rock-bands. Times have changed that's for sure.

It still has the outline of RFDS along the window tops of the fuselage, but never saw active service in the RFDS. Interestingly too, the rego is close to MWX which makes me wonder if it was somehow involved in the RFDS.

[Jamair]

There were plenty of Queenairs wearing Foxtrot Delta too

[PLovett]

I remember TAA operating one in Tassie on intra-state routes in the late 1960s'.

[Dora-9]

"There were plenty of Queen Airs wearing Foxtrot Delta too"...

The Victorian Section RFDS Beech 65 VH-FDV, normally based at Derby, seen here at Jandakot in 1969.

Up until at least last year, this aircraft was still extant, flying out of Caloundra.

[sms777]

Damn it Dora!
That picture brings tears to my eyes.
I did my initional Queenair endorsement in FDV. I have logged a further 100 hours in that girl. Enjoyed flying every minute of it even she never flew straight even with the auto pilot on. Memory goes that some dildo taxied it into a pole at Jandacot some time ago bending the whole aeroplane, since she never flew straight. Still loved it!

[chimbu warrior]

Queenairs worked in PNG on an Army mapping contract doing laser camera runs at 35,000 feet

35,000 or 25,000 feet? I think the old girls would be a bit sloppy in the controls at 35,000.

Interestingly too, the rego is close to MWX which makes me wonder if it was somehow involved in the RFDS.

No, the Masling Queenairs were registered in the MW block. Of these, I think VH-MWH was the hardest working; commuter runs all day, then freight all night, and maintenance at weekends.

[sms777]

As a matter of interest!
Google it guys!
In 1960.... yes in 1960 a fully equipped Queenair set the world record of climbing to 35,000 feet unpressurised piston twin.

[Tmbstory]

Queen Air 65 and 70 Models

Jabawocky Zlin and Dora:

I think from memory of the Masling days that the counter weights in the engines were related to the problems and that the smooth operation was really necessary.

Tmb

[sms777]

Tmbstory

It was was the reduction gearbox that caused all the grief. Took many hours of training to to make pilots understand how it all worked.Combined with supercharging made one hell of a confusion when you had no experience in anything mechanical. You pretty much had to be a mechanical engineer to fly a Queenair or prepaired to foot an expensive repair bill at every 100 hours.
Pilot training was the key but once you got it it was your best friend.

[T28D]

I didn/t say the Queen was better than the King, just nicer to fly, light harmonised and responsive.

[Jabawocky]

SMS

As a mechanical engineer, I do appreciate what you have said. A good explanation and I usually get the whole concept, even with electric things too, it's a pity that more engineering content is not part of flying training. I am biased of course but maths physics and chem should be compulsory subjects at school. I do not know how folk get by without them.

Thanks again.

[VH-XXX]

Chimbu - MWI still has the RFDS writing visible, but was told it never flew for them. Ideas on why?

[Dora-9]

T28D – I can but concur with your comments re the Queen Air vs the King Air. I only ever flew A90’s, which shared to “short” wing with the straight-tailed 65 but were 1500 lbs (?) heavier. While the King Air had lots to excite a very young aviator (me), namely pressurization, radar, lots of avionics and a wonderful new smell, it was a distinct slug on and off the ground.

Sms777 – VH-FDV was exclusively mine for a year in Derby (in 1968), so I was delighted to recently see her still active at Caloundra. Sorry to hear she was bent though. Your mentioned the autopilot; originally fitted was one of those useless Brittain B4 autopilots which only worked if you were flying on a SW heading!

OK, get your hankie out now:



This is the Civil Flying Services line up at Perth in about 1970. The aircraft are, L to R, VH-ASY (Beech 65-8200), DRV (Beech 70), CFI and CFD (both Beech 65’s). ASY is at Caloundra in a terrible state and CFI was last seen being parted-out at Adelaide. I have no idea what happened to either DRV or CFD. I’m really interested in the latter case as CFD was definitely my “most loved” Queen Air – originally built/optioned for a private US owner; she had an executive interior (lots of leather and wood) and had a gorgeous overall maroon/gold/white colour scheme. It was love at first sight. My “least liked” Queen Air was CMI, a dog of an 80, which eventually shed a wing near Alice Springs.

[65er]

sms777

I have spent a little time in FDV last few years - seems to fly straight to me.
Would be interested in more information about the incident in the West that caused the problem.


Cheers,

[sms777]

65er

The incident happened in the mid '80's. I started flying it 1992 while it was based at BK. Around 96-97 it was sold to a company at BK that done a full refurbish lasting over 2 years. All wings were removed at the time so they may have fixed the problem.

Dora-9
I am into my second box of tissues
I have logged 1600 hours in VH- ASY alone. It made me discover Australia.