Aviation Art:Night Freighters
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Apologies - I misread your post - Argosy on the brain from some of the earlier posts, I guess. Many interesting memories of the Bristols pre-IPEC Aviation .. wonder what Ivan and Rob Bennett are up to these days ?
Apologies - I misread your post - Argosy on the brain from some of the earlier posts, I guess. Many interesting memories of the Bristols pre-IPEC Aviation .. wonder what Ivan and Rob Bennett are up to these days ?
Yeah 'Chief' I do recall the butchers axe dropping on the old screamers.
I bet a few EN residents at the time held a BBQ celebrating the demise of the old noisy buggers:-)
Putting out a request to know what became of the old PBY that was based at EN ( I think late 70's) with more aerials on it than a US secret spy post!
I remember chatting to one of the crew where he said if it ever landed in the bay that's where it would have stayed for good, on the bottom due more holes in it than Juliar's Carbon Tax crap!
"AE" those pix will make some old salts have a tear in their eyes
Love to know what happened to the old CB bombers too at EN, used to love crawling over them.
Hey 'Chief' when ya gunna let me up into yr lofty perch there?
Wmk2
I bet a few EN residents at the time held a BBQ celebrating the demise of the old noisy buggers:-)
Putting out a request to know what became of the old PBY that was based at EN ( I think late 70's) with more aerials on it than a US secret spy post!
I remember chatting to one of the crew where he said if it ever landed in the bay that's where it would have stayed for good, on the bottom due more holes in it than Juliar's Carbon Tax crap!
"AE" those pix will make some old salts have a tear in their eyes
Love to know what happened to the old CB bombers too at EN, used to love crawling over them.Hey 'Chief' when ya gunna let me up into yr lofty perch there?
Wmk2
Wally
The Catalina to which you refer is probably VH-EXG. Fortunately there's a happy ending. The aeroplane has been returned to military configuration for display at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. I remember it once flew into Brisbane and someone suggested to the captain that "he should have given everyone a thrill by putting it down on the Hamilton reach of the Brisbane River" (which used to be a flying boat base). The response was: "It would givem a thrill alright. It doesn't float."
On the subject of the demise of the Argosies. The greatest irony is that the person named was also on the board of the nascent National Air and Space Museum of Australia. With a preservation policy like that it's not much wonder that NASMA never got off the ground. I believe that the Moorabbin Air Museum saved one of the MLG legs.
Rgds
The Catalina to which you refer is probably VH-EXG. Fortunately there's a happy ending. The aeroplane has been returned to military configuration for display at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. I remember it once flew into Brisbane and someone suggested to the captain that "he should have given everyone a thrill by putting it down on the Hamilton reach of the Brisbane River" (which used to be a flying boat base). The response was: "It would givem a thrill alright. It doesn't float."
On the subject of the demise of the Argosies. The greatest irony is that the person named was also on the board of the nascent National Air and Space Museum of Australia. With a preservation policy like that it's not much wonder that NASMA never got off the ground. I believe that the Moorabbin Air Museum saved one of the MLG legs.
Rgds
Thanks 'Fris' for the update I do recall the 'Cat' being EXG, there where a few reg'd EX's A/C around at the time I think.Good to see the old girl didn't go to the bottom somewhere:-)
Wmk2
Wmk2
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Wal
I think the then tower manager retrieved the rudder bar? from the
Argosy wreckage.
I'd love to invite you up, but I've been out of it for nearly two
years now. It's a bit hard to get an invo myself!
Cheers
CG
I think the then tower manager retrieved the rudder bar? from the
Argosy wreckage.
I'd love to invite you up, but I've been out of it for nearly two
years now. It's a bit hard to get an invo myself!
Cheers
CG
Ron T has a lot to answer for for cutting them up.
Don't forget the L35's they have done freight as well around the traps
The 9's were fanbloodytastic
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Actually John it is I who should apologise to you. I meant to write that the Bristol had taken off on R30 and the engine failure occurred after it had crossed the R12 threshold but before reaching 500' where the Pitt Water departure commenced. 
IIRC a Bristol lost one over Bass Straight and couldn't maintain height on the remaining one. Finally wound up in the ditch with the loss of both crew.
Another memory from the late 60s' was a DCA seminar at the Tas Aero Club at Launie when they had an entertainment budget. The spread included heaps of food and drink and overnight accommodation for non-locals was in the rooms in the adjoining hangar. Copious amounts of food and drink later the drunken slumber was rudely disrupted by various Bristols and DC-3s' running up just outside as they prepared to depart back to Essendon from the night freight runs.
Just as well there was no DAMP then, the air inside the C206 the following morning on the trip back to Cambridge would have set off a breathalyser, let alone any proper reading. Fun times.
IIRC a Bristol lost one over Bass Straight and couldn't maintain height on the remaining one. Finally wound up in the ditch with the loss of both crew.
Another memory from the late 60s' was a DCA seminar at the Tas Aero Club at Launie when they had an entertainment budget. The spread included heaps of food and drink and overnight accommodation for non-locals was in the rooms in the adjoining hangar. Copious amounts of food and drink later the drunken slumber was rudely disrupted by various Bristols and DC-3s' running up just outside as they prepared to depart back to Essendon from the night freight runs.
Just as well there was no DAMP then, the air inside the C206 the following morning on the trip back to Cambridge would have set off a breathalyser, let alone any proper reading. Fun times.
Moderator
IIRC a Bristol lost one over Bass Straight and couldn't maintain height on the remaining one. Finally wound up in the ditch with the loss of both crew.
Indeed, I was thinking about that as I re-read your earlier posts.
The radio operator/FO on that aircraft was a chap whom I had trained up through his theory subjects some time earlier. He would have had a very good career ahead of him - bright and keen young fellow with a very quick ability to learn.
Alas, the cruel and fickle finger of fate. As they say, only the good die young .. the rest of us sort of fade away amongst the ravages of arthritis and forgetfullness.
Indeed, I was thinking about that as I re-read your earlier posts.
The radio operator/FO on that aircraft was a chap whom I had trained up through his theory subjects some time earlier. He would have had a very good career ahead of him - bright and keen young fellow with a very quick ability to learn.
Alas, the cruel and fickle finger of fate. As they say, only the good die young .. the rest of us sort of fade away amongst the ravages of arthritis and forgetfullness.
The Bristol lost was VH-SJQ on 10th May 1975, Les Barnes was the Captain (ex ANSW) and the other crew member was indeed classified as a Radio Operator. One result from the enquiry was to have two endorsed pilots as crew members, introduced by Gordon Howe, the new Chief Pilot. SJQ was a Mk 21 with slightly smaller engines than the 31. Its sister, ex SJG, is the one at Point Cook while the surviving 31, VH-ADL ("Adolf" we called it) lives in retirement at Moorabbin, locked behind a fence where it can do no harm. Sorry to sound like a complete Anorak, just can't help it sometimes. Nice paintings by the way.
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Its not surprising that the second crew member was referred to as a radio operator. My impression from sitting in the cockpit was that it was next to impossible for the person in the left seat to reach the radios given the huge width of the centre console.
To enlarge upon some earlier information:
Flying the Bristol Freighter
To enlarge upon some earlier information:
Flying the Bristol Freighter
Moderator
The names come back.
Gordon Howe I jousted with vigorously on many occasions - a thorough gentleman with whom I spent much time at Air Express in those early days although not as a pilot. Lived not far from him for many years. Les Barnes, Len Veger.
Never realised that Georgie Palmer flew for Air Express. Knew him well at Ansett although our paths diverged later.
Gordon Howe I jousted with vigorously on many occasions - a thorough gentleman with whom I spent much time at Air Express in those early days although not as a pilot. Lived not far from him for many years. Les Barnes, Len Veger.
Never realised that Georgie Palmer flew for Air Express. Knew him well at Ansett although our paths diverged later.
Moderator
The name Gordon Howe brings back some good memories from his time in Papua New Guinea.
My guess that would be somewhere around 1978 to 1980? (But I could be very wrong.)
A/C in question:
Google Images
and
http://16right.com/MessageBoard/Carg...2019801100.jpg
any chance (or has it already been done) of a great Aye Ess version of:
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...1%20VHTJQ-.jpg
Google Images
and
http://16right.com/MessageBoard/Carg...2019801100.jpg
any chance (or has it already been done) of a great Aye Ess version of:
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...1%20VHTJQ-.jpg
Nothing beats this though:
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...2019800700.jpg
For topic relevance (freighters):Bloodstock Air Services B727-100 VH-LAP Melbourne Tullamarine | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...2019800700.jpg
For topic relevance (freighters):Bloodstock Air Services B727-100 VH-LAP Melbourne Tullamarine | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Moderator
As I was going there, Gordon was coming out. It was late 1989.
I think I heard that Gordon passed away not so long ago?
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AWWWW, Al E. Vator, Stop. Teasing. Me.....
Love the Carvair,it's crying out to be painted. The B727,I have an idea of doing the DHL a/c VH-DHE,it looks fantastic with the all yellow paint scheme. I have done the TAA DC9,but it didn't photograph so well. Are you ex TAA?
Love the Carvair,it's crying out to be painted. The B727,I have an idea of doing the DHL a/c VH-DHE,it looks fantastic with the all yellow paint scheme. I have done the TAA DC9,but it didn't photograph so well. Are you ex TAA?