Point Cook? Hangars? Action?
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There are people here who criticise Julia Gillard, but a few years ago when she was both PM and the local House of Representatives Member for the area that included YMPC she stopped the airfield being redeveloped into a new suburb.
Pity Laverton closed down but I hope PC never does, too much history.
That said, I think you're right.
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There are people here who criticise Julia Gillard, but a few years ago when she was both PM and the local House of Representatives Member for the area that included YMPC she stopped the airfield being redeveloped into a new suburb.
Laverton from what I understand is another matter, although I believe the hangers adjoining the remaining apron are heritage listed as well which would cause most developers a few headaches.
I guess the C-130's that take OTS students to RAAF Williams aren't really there then... A figment of my imagination it seems .
OTS hasn't been at PCK for years....
Really? 
I wouldn't have been talking about the organised trips they do during the course, flying from ESL to PCK (usually in a Herc), to you know, give the students an insight into the RAAF's history, or anything like that...
Geez.
I wouldn't have been talking about the organised trips they do during the course, flying from ESL to PCK (usually in a Herc), to you know, give the students an insight into the RAAF's history, or anything like that...
Geez.
The last time that I visited PCK was with Clinton McKenzie in his BE35. That was around two or three years ago. There was a rather new concrete apron on the Southern side of the museum hangars. And it was purposely painted with C130J taxi markings. So I'm prepared to believe that RAAF Hercs may still visit the place.
Thread drift... Does anyone know what happened to RAAF Mirage, A3-72 that used to be displayed near the old parade ground at PCK?
(A3-15, A3-48 and A3-72 were the 77Sqn Mirages that were painted white for the RAAF 60th birthday Amberley Air Show in 1981.)
Thread drift... Does anyone know what happened to RAAF Mirage, A3-72 that used to be displayed near the old parade ground at PCK?
(A3-15, A3-48 and A3-72 were the 77Sqn Mirages that were painted white for the RAAF 60th birthday Amberley Air Show in 1981.)
Thread Starter
The concrete apron was added after a C130 taxi'd a little off centre and went through the tarmac one display weekend quite a few years ago and got bogged. There was much digging, jacking, ringing of phones and finally hours later the skipper drove it out with much noise, like in the scene in "Airport" - but with no cigar (smoke free workplace).
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Must have been a figment of your imagination mate...
OTS hasn't been at PCK for years....
OTS hasn't been at PCK for years....
He clearly and correctly pointed out that from time to time a Herc will stop in with a load full of OTS students from ESL doing a tour of the museum. I very worthwhile activity and a much needed change in scenery around the week 7 or 8 mark.
Unfortunately, sometimes the hercs are otherwise tasked and some poor students need to take the bus
AirBumps,
Hopefully with the introduction of the Spartans (Caribou replacement) these sorts of training flights may become available once again. I well remember my first flight in a Caribou from LAV to ESL in 1978 for flight line experience during Avionics Technician training.
(I managed to score a passenger flight in a Central Flying School Macchi whilst at ESL doing "Ground Controlled Approaches" No Simulators for the Air Traffic Controller trainees in those days, fortunately...)
It was even better fun as Flying Officer Steve Nelson was Captain of the Caribou. (He was a fellow South Australian and we had both been members of the same aeromodelling club in Adelaide.)
About two or three years later, I was in a RAAF B707 on a flight from WLM to LMO for a Mirage deployment. Steve was co-pilot and handling pilot. Lots of fun to be in the cockpit for the landing!
Such a small world!
Hopefully with the introduction of the Spartans (Caribou replacement) these sorts of training flights may become available once again. I well remember my first flight in a Caribou from LAV to ESL in 1978 for flight line experience during Avionics Technician training.
(I managed to score a passenger flight in a Central Flying School Macchi whilst at ESL doing "Ground Controlled Approaches" No Simulators for the Air Traffic Controller trainees in those days, fortunately...)
It was even better fun as Flying Officer Steve Nelson was Captain of the Caribou. (He was a fellow South Australian and we had both been members of the same aeromodelling club in Adelaide.)
About two or three years later, I was in a RAAF B707 on a flight from WLM to LMO for a Mirage deployment. Steve was co-pilot and handling pilot. Lots of fun to be in the cockpit for the landing!
Such a small world!
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Point Cook
Was based at Point Cook from late 1960 through to 1963. A full flight line of Winjeels to work on. The museum was in it's infancy. Guard duty meant walking around the airfield punching "Bundy Clocks". Gerry111, I may well have been the F/E on the flight in the B707 with Steve Nelson you mentioned. Steve was one of the first pilots, along with Nev Lines, to come to the B707 and be trained "in house" around 1980 I guess. I'm pretty sure he would have had his B707 command by the time I left the B707 and the RAAF in 1981.
Old Fella,
The 77 Sqn deployment from Williamtown to Learmonth was for Exercise "Western Reward" and my flight in either A20-624 or 627 was on perhaps 3rd October 1980? Such a great way to travel rather than by Herc!
My first work visit from LAV to PCK was in 1975 and the job was to clean the bird sh*t off the Vampire, then on a pole at the front gate. We were (inappropriately) given Scotchbrite pads...
Another more pleasant memory of PCK was in 1976. One Saturday, I drove over and managed to get myself a free flight in a DH-84 Dragon. We flew over Port Philip Bay for about an hour. I'll always wonder if the pilot was perhaps Mac Job? There were only the two of us on board and I do remember having a great chat with the relaxed, very competent pilot.
The 77 Sqn deployment from Williamtown to Learmonth was for Exercise "Western Reward" and my flight in either A20-624 or 627 was on perhaps 3rd October 1980? Such a great way to travel rather than by Herc!
My first work visit from LAV to PCK was in 1975 and the job was to clean the bird sh*t off the Vampire, then on a pole at the front gate. We were (inappropriately) given Scotchbrite pads...
Another more pleasant memory of PCK was in 1976. One Saturday, I drove over and managed to get myself a free flight in a DH-84 Dragon. We flew over Port Philip Bay for about an hour. I'll always wonder if the pilot was perhaps Mac Job? There were only the two of us on board and I do remember having a great chat with the relaxed, very competent pilot.
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Williamtown -Learmonth
Gerry111. Checked my log book and I did not do that trip. Had only got home from a LAX-SFO trip on the 1st October 80 in -624. I remember that trip if for no other reason than we followed a QF B747 across from HNL, on 28the Sept about 10 mins behind, and landed before it at LAX. Apparently they had opted for a visual approach and at a late stage realised that they had set up for the wrong airport, probably Hawthorne Municipal. We met the crew later that evening in SFO (they slipped up there I guess) and when we arrived at the Hilton later it was their shout. I believe the papers back home were full of it next day.
Thanks, Old Fella.
The 77 Sqn Mirages staged through Alice Springs on their way then direct to Learmonth. At some time later it was determined that they had insufficient fuel. So all the aircraft lobbed in to Paraburdoo with an E model Herc containing the maintenance guys for the East - West deployment.
One thing that I'll never forget about that trip to LMO was the fantastic Mirage "beat up" of the place by Bob Veneziano AKA "V8".
Just under the speed of sound a few feet above the runway threshold.....
Great memories of simpler times!
The 77 Sqn Mirages staged through Alice Springs on their way then direct to Learmonth. At some time later it was determined that they had insufficient fuel. So all the aircraft lobbed in to Paraburdoo with an E model Herc containing the maintenance guys for the East - West deployment.
One thing that I'll never forget about that trip to LMO was the fantastic Mirage "beat up" of the place by Bob Veneziano AKA "V8".
Just under the speed of sound a few feet above the runway threshold.....
Great memories of simpler times!
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Point Cook RAAF Museum Flying Display
The RAAF MUSEUM is restarting its flying displays after extensive runway and apron works at RAAF Williams - Point Cook - YMPC.
On Sunday April 17th the RAAF Roulettes will be part of the flying display.
For more info re flying into Point Cook visit the RAAF Museum website.
The Point Cook Flying Club situated at the northern end of the airfield will be firing up its BBQ and can assist with airside access.
You can also drive in to visit the Museum.
JERR
On Sunday April 17th the RAAF Roulettes will be part of the flying display.
For more info re flying into Point Cook visit the RAAF Museum website.
The Point Cook Flying Club situated at the northern end of the airfield will be firing up its BBQ and can assist with airside access.
You can also drive in to visit the Museum.
JERR
Thread Starter
The RAAF MUSEUM is restarting its flying displays after extensive runway and apron works at RAAF Williams - Point Cook - YMPC.
On Sunday April 17th the RAAF Roulettes will be part of the flying display.
For more info re flying into Point Cook visit the RAAF Museum website.
The Point Cook Flying Club situated at the northern end of the airfield will be firing up its BBQ and can assist with airside access.
You can also drive in to visit the Museum.
JERR
On Sunday April 17th the RAAF Roulettes will be part of the flying display.
For more info re flying into Point Cook visit the RAAF Museum website.
The Point Cook Flying Club situated at the northern end of the airfield will be firing up its BBQ and can assist with airside access.
You can also drive in to visit the Museum.
JERR
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now all we need is to open it to GA, build some hangars and turn it into a centre for restoration on of antiques and warbirds.......
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The RAAF is perfectly capable and skilled in conducting their operations in harmony with civil operators and GA. Just a couple a weeks ago I was operating a PA-28 out of Townsville, another RAAF operated aerodrome, fitting around the operations of a number of flights of F/A-18s. As far as CASA and Airservices are concerned, Point Cook is just another CTAF, so there's little impediment to the RAAF at least considering increased access for GA. They may even make a little money from it to help with funding the Museum!
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Oh that's good - the PCFC can assist with airside access to attend their sausage-sizzle.
Does that mean I won't have to wear a fluoro vest and ASIC dog-collar?
The RAAF Museum even require visitors to present Photo ID so that they may be permitted to view the museum exhibits.
What?
That makes me wonder, also, whether cameras might have to be surrendered at a security desk.
Can't be too careful with national security matters, y'know.
Having finished with my snide remarks, the Museum is indeed underfunded and largely kept alive by a struggling, but dedicated, band of volunteers.
As Sunny and Godot point out, allowing increased GA access to directly help fund the Museum would be a step in the right direction.
.
Does that mean I won't have to wear a fluoro vest and ASIC dog-collar?
The RAAF Museum even require visitors to present Photo ID so that they may be permitted to view the museum exhibits.
What?
That makes me wonder, also, whether cameras might have to be surrendered at a security desk.
Can't be too careful with national security matters, y'know.
Having finished with my snide remarks, the Museum is indeed underfunded and largely kept alive by a struggling, but dedicated, band of volunteers.
As Sunny and Godot point out, allowing increased GA access to directly help fund the Museum would be a step in the right direction.
.
Last edited by Stanwell; 11th Apr 2016 at 04:34.
Point Cook is open to GA arrivals if you put a bit of effort in rather than just expecting to turn up.
What's the problem with asking visitors to an active military base to present photo ID on entry? Aside from the museum there are other units on base, and during busy periods (like Avalon) PCK hosts large numbers of ADF personnel. Is that really such a burden? Cameras are totally fine at PCK. Maybe you were being sarcastic in which case, my bad.
It's a very nice airfield to fly from, probably the thing it lacks the most is a cafe/tea and coffee facility. The museum does the best it can within the constraints it has.
1. 24 HR PPR for all visiting CIV and MIL ACFT MON-FRI. 48HR PPR for all visiting CIV and
MIL ACFT weekend movements.
2. Air Base Command Post is manned MON-THU 0800-1700 and FRI 0800-1500 LMT. After
hours CTC duty mobile 0458 263 124.
MIL ACFT weekend movements.
2. Air Base Command Post is manned MON-THU 0800-1700 and FRI 0800-1500 LMT. After
hours CTC duty mobile 0458 263 124.
It's a very nice airfield to fly from, probably the thing it lacks the most is a cafe/tea and coffee facility. The museum does the best it can within the constraints it has.
Last edited by junior.VH-LFA; 11th Apr 2016 at 22:29.
