GA flying in PNG
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Another vote to have a look around Horn and TI. I also found the WW2 history interesting. There was a tour running on Horn from the resort/museum when we were there a couple of years ago.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Interesting report... They have the runway thresholds identified back to front in the pic of the airstrip though. The approach end is 14 to land up the slope.
Despite the scaremongers if you maintain vfr to your Australian standards and experience its not that hard. Stooging around in poor weather, bush vfr and commercial pressures can be avoided. Fly early in the day and call it quits at midday if you have to.
Always have an 'out' and know how to do a 180 on instruments as a worst case. Situational awareness and stay away from bush strips no matter how benign they appear from the air.
Always have an 'out' and know how to do a 180 on instruments as a worst case. Situational awareness and stay away from bush strips no matter how benign they appear from the air.
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Like this MAF bush strip Trooppo? 
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Taily; Has anyone ever been able to put a name and location to that particular 'goat track?'
I seem to remember someone saying it was in Irian Jaya and solely used by the MAF.
I seem to remember someone saying it was in Irian Jaya and solely used by the MAF.
Yeah...maybe 10 years ago I found it in a godbotherer newsletter and posted the link. Not MAF but some other outfit and further up SEA towards Malaysia from memory.
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Does OMKALI near KUNDIAWA still exist? I flew in there in a C206 in 1967? If so, a pic will set your pulse racing. Pindiu and Mindik in the Morobe district were fun too
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Originally Posted by tail wheel
Like this MAF bush strip Trooppo?
Originally Posted by Pinky the pilot
Taily; Has anyone ever been able to put a name and location to that particular 'goat track?'
I seem to remember someone saying it was in Irian Jaya and solely used by the MAF.
I seem to remember someone saying it was in Irian Jaya and solely used by the MAF.
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I've had that photo filed away for years. Think I copied it from an MAF brochure or book? Originally thought to be south of Kundiawa in PNG it is in fact, in West Irian.
Bedder believeit Omkalai was apparently closed some years ago. Interesting strip with a 14 degree slope.
Bedder believeit Omkalai was apparently closed some years ago. Interesting strip with a 14 degree slope.
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Yes Tailwheel, as soon as you touched down (at Omkalai) you needed full power to climb up the slope. If the engine had a hiccup - like dying at an inconvenient time, then they had to get the kiap's tractor out to tow you up to the parking "platform"
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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as soon as you touched down (at Omkalai) you needed full power to climb up the slope
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And if you touched down a little late at Omkalai - as happed to a Baron in the early 1970 (which ended up in the parking area wall) - it was all over bar the Wake.
Taily your mention of wake reminds me of an interesting couple of trips into Omkalai I did in 1970. the head man & his wife had been killed in a motor accident east of Goroka on the highlands highway. I was with Macair based Goroka at the time,got the job of taking the coffins to Omkalai took the wife first (c206) huge crowd on arrival all in arse grass&feathers woman waling covered in white ash,back to Goroka for the head man arrive Omkalai the crowd bigger 2000+ emotion electric,an expertence I will never forget, ahhhh PNG
blueys
blueys
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Back in another life we were flying tour groups into Omkalai in the Twin Otter. On one occasion flying in a German tour group (I think "Jungle Jim" (Keith Buxton) may have been the Group leader?), there was a full blown pitched battle going on part way up the strip - sticks, stones, bows and arrows, spears and a lot of yelling.
The fighting stopped long enough for the Otter to land and tour group to alight, then recommenced, observed by the tour group from the top of the strip. On departure, the fighting stopped long enough to leave and I presume commenced after departure.
In those peaceful days, if anyone was hurt in a fight, it was purely accidental.
Back at "The Bird" the Germans asked what it cost to stage a fight and I didn't believe us when we assured them it really was a full blown village fight!
The fighting stopped long enough for the Otter to land and tour group to alight, then recommenced, observed by the tour group from the top of the strip. On departure, the fighting stopped long enough to leave and I presume commenced after departure.
In those peaceful days, if anyone was hurt in a fight, it was purely accidental.
Back at "The Bird" the Germans asked what it cost to stage a fight and I didn't believe us when we assured them it really was a full blown village fight!
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Omkalia (courtesy of Tinpis):
