Beech Queenair
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Queensland, Australia
Age: 70
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I don't know about the WREMAPS, but for the 1979 Indon survey, FWG was fitted with a Wild RC 10 camera. I think the company was Eastland Air and was run by Jim ??? based in Toowoomba.
DF
DF
Eastland Air
RC10s were used in both RUU and FWG for photography, but mainly photos of trig point and geoceiver points. These photos were taken from 7000 ft to allow the identification on the mapping photos taken by the RAAF Canberras. The trig points were identified by a white plastic cross. This plastic also made excellent roofing material for the locals.
Limited aerial mapping photo was done in both RUU and FWG. I can recall photography of the islands in the Shoalwater Bay training area (25000 feet), the School of Military training area near Albury and also around Bendigo. The last two were flown at lower levels.
RUU had a RC10 installed as part of the WRELADS package.
The primary function initially for RUU and FWG was WRELADS in RUU and the Areodist in FWG. This changed for FWG when the Army started using the Geoceiver and the Aerodist was retired. It was easier and more accurate to locate trig points using the Geoceiver.
The fiberglass "boat" that covered the Aerodist radar dish on FWG sat on the ground next to a small building at the back of the canteen at AF for years.
I was not that involved with FWG so my memory may be hazy. My involvement with FWG was pilot training and the odd charter when it was not being used by the Army.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: France
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Night freight Maslings
Charlie Lima X-ray:
One of the main night Freight runs was from Sydney, at about midnight to Brisbane with newspapers, unload and back to Williamtown in time for the 0700 hours departure to Sydney.
Both the Queenairs and the Cessna 402's were used on these runs.
I will try and dig up a time table issued by the Company in those days and post it.
Tmb
One of the main night Freight runs was from Sydney, at about midnight to Brisbane with newspapers, unload and back to Williamtown in time for the 0700 hours departure to Sydney.
Both the Queenairs and the Cessna 402's were used on these runs.
I will try and dig up a time table issued by the Company in those days and post it.
Tmb
Air Ambulance Queenairs
From memory...as my old logbooks are not with me in Istanbul,when I joined in 1981 we had AMB, AM?, AMQ & AMS....AMS, the nicest one was destroyed by fire on the ground in Dubbo in the early 80's, arson was suspected but not confirmed, I recall seeing the burnt out remains on the tarmac there, fuselage nearly non-existant but intact wings on either side, still with about 800 litres of 100 Octane inside...this was replaced on a temporary basis by VH-TGF, the less said about that pile of C%#P the better.....
During my Masling time CLH, MWK & I think MWM, the Queenairs did a SYD-WLM-SYD @ 18:00 each evening as well as SYD-NGA-CTM-NGA-SYD on a Friday, also SYD-TEM-WWL-CDO (overnight) & return the next morning, I recall one of these came to grief one night in WWL, seems a NOTAM was issued about RWY works( a trench across the RWY), all went well on landing until the trench was encountered on rollout with the resulting sudden and noisy stop!
During my Masling time CLH, MWK & I think MWM, the Queenairs did a SYD-WLM-SYD @ 18:00 each evening as well as SYD-NGA-CTM-NGA-SYD on a Friday, also SYD-TEM-WWL-CDO (overnight) & return the next morning, I recall one of these came to grief one night in WWL, seems a NOTAM was issued about RWY works( a trench across the RWY), all went well on landing until the trench was encountered on rollout with the resulting sudden and noisy stop!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Brisbane
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Air Ambulance Queenairs
All B80 models, AMB/AMG/AMQ/AMS, thought AMS was replaced with VH-TGA (not F) after the fire of 10 JUN 1982. Then they got AMD.
Where did TGA end her days ?
Where did TGA end her days ?
Last edited by AussieO2; 20th Jun 2011 at 21:27.
Someone asked further back about Talair's Queenairs. I recall two, acquired in the Macair take over, which were based at Port Moresby, mostly for the Mendi scheduled air service. I believe both were finally operated by Solair. No idea where they ended their days.
The Unionair Queenairs often operated on mapping tasks in the PNG Highlands, probably in the early to mid 1970s. They were certainly operated at very high altitude.
Collin Codd also operated Queenairs.
There was an Excalibur Queenair based in Fiji and operated by Sunflower Airlines around 20 years ago.
I seem to recall an ex airline pilot owning or operating three Queenairs in the early 1990s, one of which had a "Dulux" major inspection in Manila before being sold off?
The Unionair Queenairs often operated on mapping tasks in the PNG Highlands, probably in the early to mid 1970s. They were certainly operated at very high altitude.
Collin Codd also operated Queenairs.
There was an Excalibur Queenair based in Fiji and operated by Sunflower Airlines around 20 years ago.
I seem to recall an ex airline pilot owning or operating three Queenairs in the early 1990s, one of which had a "Dulux" major inspection in Manila before being sold off?
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Down South
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Is VH-BQA still around. I remember seeing her at YMMB 10 years ago. Would have to be one of the nicest looking Queen Airs.
Captain Jack Ellis had VH-CLG on frieght run out of Corio.
What was the rego of the one that went in N/E of Melbourne killing the pilot (freight moved forward on him) but plane looked in one piece???
Captain Jack Ellis had VH-CLG on frieght run out of Corio.
What was the rego of the one that went in N/E of Melbourne killing the pilot (freight moved forward on him) but plane looked in one piece???
Heard stories about one of the regional airlines in NSW that used to transfer pilots to Queen duties from the Fokkers every now and again. Reports were that if the area manager (who lived about 20 miles out of TW) heard them come over while still holding 48"/3400rpm, they were told to find a new job the next day.
I love augmentors.
You take off on 23 at Caloundra, you wake up half the town.
Take off on 05 and you could wake up the other half as well!
I love augmentors.
You take off on 23 at Caloundra, you wake up half the town.
Take off on 05 and you could wake up the other half as well!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: australia
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Wasn't there one lost at Budgerregar N/W of Charleville
Sure it was a Queenair
Sure it was a Queenair
Twasn't Budgerygar.
Twas Trinidad which is the next station south of Budgerygar.
B'gar is on the black soil plain and T'dad is up on a small plateau of red dirt/shale or whatever (just north of the Quilpie opal mines).
Augmentors
They were only loud from the outside. Inside with everything closed they were shadowed by the huge wings and pointing to the ground. In cruise I never had any problems talking to my pax with headseats removed. The noise level inside the cabin was very similar to a Chieftain. I flew both of them plenty of times so I am qualified to compare.
Join Date: Mar 2001
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that timetable is an interesting artifact - surprising the number of places you could get to via a scheduled service that you can no longer.
any ideas what would have driven this change? cost of fuel? better roads?
any ideas what would have driven this change? cost of fuel? better roads?