Britten Norman Islander Turns Fifty
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At least the Tri Lander got the driver further forward away from the prop noise. And for the operation we were using them for a few years, across Cook Strait, they were very suitable, handled extreme turbulence going into Wellington without much trouble.
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At least the Tri Lander got the driver further forward away from the prop noise. And for the operation we were using them for a few years, across Cook Strait, they were very suitable, handled extreme turbulence going into Wellington without much trouble.
Very true. It was quieter than the Islander, At least for the pilot.
Thunderbird Control, This is T-Bird 1.
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Did a fair few flights in the Bongo. Loved it! Little bit deaf but eh it happens. Quite a tough, capable machine. I'd go pole one around again in a heartbeat!
Keen to have a go at an Trislander one day just for ****s and giggles.
Yes I am a little bit crazy.
Keen to have a go at an Trislander one day just for ****s and giggles.
Yes I am a little bit crazy.
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Here is the very first Islander to operate in Australia. Of course by the time I flew it for Tangalooma, it had been owned by a bazillion other companies (*please note 'bazillion' is a generic term for 'stacks of'*)
Tangalooma traded old VH-AIA on a brand spanking new VH-SQS, so on that one day in October 1978, I flew Australia's oldest and newest Islanders.
The BN2A was my first twin and I got around 1900 hours on them. An interesting part of my career when I was single with no responsibilities. Fond memories but I don't think I would like to go back on them.
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I have 6-7 of the BN-2A in my book, from years ago. Oldest was ZK-FWZ from memory. Fantastic 'ol girl to fly ;-) Unfortunately, I never did record her serial number, but if memory serves, was sub-200. Reputed at one time to be the operational Islander with the highest recorded number of cycles on her.
There's bound to be someone who will stumble on this page that could trundle down the tarmac (NZNV) and have a look at that serial ;-)
There's bound to be someone who will stumble on this page that could trundle down the tarmac (NZNV) and have a look at that serial ;-)
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Reputed at one time to be the operational Islander with the highest recorded number of cycles on her.
At the time it had in excess of 16,000 hrs and well over 30,000 cycles on the airframe.
Exact figures unknown to me.And I was flying it back from Kamulai when the R/H engine shat itself!
Bikpela taim!
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Likewise, details long forgotten... fun days in the Islanders though Pinky. I miss that now. For all their faults, I'd still strap another one to my arse tomorrow, given the chance!
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Pinky, I'm sure P2-SAB was a Cessna 402B ex Sepik Air Charter acquired by Talair when it took over that charter company. Last seen P2-SAB disappeared into the Ramu River (I forget the strip it ran off the end of whilst overweight) maybe in the mid 1970s, never to be found. Nine POB from memory, all got wet except the pilot...........
I thought Biscuit Ears (Douglas) had the oldest Bongo Van in this part of the world? I think it may have been VH-AIA (or similar rego??) that won it's class in the 1968 London to Sydney Air Race?
I thought Biscuit Ears (Douglas) had the oldest Bongo Van in this part of the world? I think it may have been VH-AIA (or similar rego??) that won it's class in the 1968 London to Sydney Air Race?
P2-SAB was a 402 and later an islander.
'Highest time islander' stories are a dime a dozen, at one point I heard it was P2-DWA when it was at NCA but the simple fact is that all the islanders in PNG got the ar$e$ thrashed out of them
There were 3 on the fiji register with MSN<100 including number 9
'Highest time islander' stories are a dime a dozen, at one point I heard it was P2-DWA when it was at NCA but the simple fact is that all the islanders in PNG got the ar$e$ thrashed out of them
There were 3 on the fiji register with MSN<100 including number 9
Last edited by troppo; 13th Oct 2015 at 11:56.
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Fond memories of EQT and FCP around Tassie and Bass Strait islands in the early 80's.
Sh1t that seems a long time ago. oh...... it was.
Sound familiar Metro Man?
FLI, LDB, CBN, SWI, THM, Chappell (snakes!!!), WTH, KCK.
LandRover with wings.
The amount of crap we used to carry in them. Remember moving the lighthouse keeper out of SWI with a goat in the back.
P.S. EQT was Build No. 124. No idea how many hours. But she was an old girl even when I flew her in the early 80's.
Sh1t that seems a long time ago. oh...... it was.
Sound familiar Metro Man?
FLI, LDB, CBN, SWI, THM, Chappell (snakes!!!), WTH, KCK.
LandRover with wings.
The amount of crap we used to carry in them. Remember moving the lighthouse keeper out of SWI with a goat in the back.
P.S. EQT was Build No. 124. No idea how many hours. But she was an old girl even when I flew her in the early 80's.
Last edited by bekolblockage; 13th Oct 2015 at 12:58.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Sorry about the quality. Was taken in 1990.
I know who it was but I 'aint sayin'!
And also a good indication of just how close that port engine and prop was!
[IMG]
[/IMG]
I know who it was but I 'aint sayin'!
And also a good indication of just how close that port engine and prop was!
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Same, same??
Whatever happened to VH-EQT?
Some of LT controllers and FSO's used to fly the Islander part-time for Munro Aviation, and one used to tell the story of the quick turnaround(engines running)on one of the Bass Strait Islands, the pax was told to get out of the rear door, shut it and walk away and give the aileron a wiggle to let him know he was clear of the aircraft. The passenger instead shuffled between the spinning prop and tapped on the cockpit window!
Some of LT controllers and FSO's used to fly the Islander part-time for Munro Aviation, and one used to tell the story of the quick turnaround(engines running)on one of the Bass Strait Islands, the pax was told to get out of the rear door, shut it and walk away and give the aileron a wiggle to let him know he was clear of the aircraft. The passenger instead shuffled between the spinning prop and tapped on the cockpit window!
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Not me Pinky
It wasn't .......CC?
