Taildragger 12
Retired Tiger pilot
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Taildragger 12
Information just to hand confirms that Taildragger 12 does in fact have a heart, stopping speculation once and for all.
Leading Harley Street specialists conducted exploratory surgery on this Pom's chest and have confirmed that a pulsating lump of meat was in fact a heart and not a jabsco unit. As a result, our hero has been stapled together and packed off to Devon for RR and to plan his next attack on the antipodes.
We in the southern clines look forward to his visit later in the year, sharing an ice cold beer and a barbie.
Leading Harley Street specialists conducted exploratory surgery on this Pom's chest and have confirmed that a pulsating lump of meat was in fact a heart and not a jabsco unit. As a result, our hero has been stapled together and packed off to Devon for RR and to plan his next attack on the antipodes.
We in the southern clines look forward to his visit later in the year, sharing an ice cold beer and a barbie.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Gees mate,
Don't call a Scotsman a Pom, you'll give him another heart attack!!
Don't call a Scotsman a Pom, you'll give him another heart attack!!
Sharpie, totally unrelated but ... talking of taildraggers and retired Tiger pilots - what happed to the Tiger Moth that Vince Sanders and The Prime Minister of Albania (RT) had in POM? I think that is the one Billy Johns flew on his retirement day?
Still there, or gone?
And is RT now weaned off his expensive toys or does he still have the Aerostars?
Bob
Still there, or gone?
And is RT now weaned off his expensive toys or does he still have the Aerostars?
Bob
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Not much to add TT, but pretty sure that CTM (Closey's Tiger Moth 
) is the only one that was here for many years. Closey sold it and is no longer actively involved in aviation. I visited said Closey and found both husband and wife fit, well and happy.
Speaking of "fit, well and happy", I've been kept up to date on developments with said Taildragger (the bloke) and am delighted that all went well with the big triple. He's been going thru a fair bit of hell, by way of pain, but assures me that being drugged up to the eyeballs has helped immensely!
He's looking forward to having a wine or two in a few months time.
Sharpie... how are you gunna keep up with things after the end of this month?
) is the only one that was here for many years. Closey sold it and is no longer actively involved in aviation. I visited said Closey and found both husband and wife fit, well and happy.Speaking of "fit, well and happy", I've been kept up to date on developments with said Taildragger (the bloke) and am delighted that all went well with the big triple. He's been going thru a fair bit of hell, by way of pain, but assures me that being drugged up to the eyeballs has helped immensely!
He's looking forward to having a wine or two in a few months time.
Sharpie... how are you gunna keep up with things after the end of this month?
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Ossexpurt!
Hello me old China!
Have you ever heard of electronic mail and PPRUNE! methinks if you can keep up with wot gos on in png aviation without ever fronting the temple of aeros, then there is a wee chance for a young fella like me.
Who knows, maybe doug may find a place for me at six mile!
Have you ever heard of electronic mail and PPRUNE! methinks if you can keep up with wot gos on in png aviation without ever fronting the temple of aeros, then there is a wee chance for a young fella like me.
Who knows, maybe doug may find a place for me at six mile!
Sharpie. Is the end of this month the time you retire to the overseas temple of pi$$ and erotic pleasures? I presume you will be giving an ID discount to fellow PPRuNers?
TT. I don't recall the rego - too many years ago. It must be over 20 years or more since Vince filed his last flight plan. I vaguely recall Vince and Ray flying the aircraft to POM from Perth or some other far flung outpost of the Empire. I take it, reading between the lines in this thread, that JC ended up with the aircraft but has since sold it in Australia?
TT. I don't recall the rego - too many years ago. It must be over 20 years or more since Vince filed his last flight plan. I vaguely recall Vince and Ray flying the aircraft to POM from Perth or some other far flung outpost of the Empire. I take it, reading between the lines in this thread, that JC ended up with the aircraft but has since sold it in Australia?
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Torres
Yeah it appears that way, if is is one and the same moth. Only one I ever remeber being there too Oz. Closey had it parked in Bisket's little hangar for many a moon - even did a leading edge and some rib replacements in left lower wing once. Some lovely stitching work I do recall. Apparently some friend of JC's swung it with only one chock under a wheel and it pirouetted, slamming said wing into the fuel bowser.
She was a thing of beauty and a much loved (by JC) old girl.
Remember watching her early one morning out over the turf club doing aeros - Ahh! The scream of air through flying wires! You just don't hear that anymore with modern aerobatic beasties.
Can't remember the pilot's name - Kev? I think he owned a Twink and flew for the GFU. Ring a bell Oz?
Yeah it appears that way, if is is one and the same moth. Only one I ever remeber being there too Oz. Closey had it parked in Bisket's little hangar for many a moon - even did a leading edge and some rib replacements in left lower wing once. Some lovely stitching work I do recall. Apparently some friend of JC's swung it with only one chock under a wheel and it pirouetted, slamming said wing into the fuel bowser.
She was a thing of beauty and a much loved (by JC) old girl.
Remember watching her early one morning out over the turf club doing aeros - Ahh! The scream of air through flying wires! You just don't hear that anymore with modern aerobatic beasties.
Can't remember the pilot's name - Kev? I think he owned a Twink and flew for the GFU. Ring a bell Oz?
TT his full name was inDodd (+ your contribution). He ended up on the Dash 8 with Flight West but then had a medical problem, and as far as I am aware only flies models now. I can also confirm that CTM was at Caboolture a few years ago, but have no idea where it is now.
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Yes Doddy owned a Twink.
Sold it and it ended up in the drink.
Shags Shandley ended up with P2-CTM, I think.
A certain well-known old Jasper got Closey's V-tail.
I hadn't heard that Kev is out of flying - I'm very sad for him.
While we're walking down Memory Lane, who remembers Woody's Pitts? I'm not exactly sure what happened to it, but understand it never flew again after Rob went pinis from PX.
Sold it and it ended up in the drink.
Shags Shandley ended up with P2-CTM, I think.
A certain well-known old Jasper got Closey's V-tail.
I hadn't heard that Kev is out of flying - I'm very sad for him.
While we're walking down Memory Lane, who remembers Woody's Pitts? I'm not exactly sure what happened to it, but understand it never flew again after Rob went pinis from PX.
Grandpa Aerotart
Rob's little S1 sat in Yorke's 'atrium' for years...Yorke asked me to test fly it about the time I was doing same for his Helio Courier, P2-BOX, as well as demoing it to & subsequently checking out it's new owner...who then blasted off to Tasmania.
Unfortunately...or fortunately I was unable to fly the baby Pitts before it was packed into a box and sent south to YBAF...where it subsequently was flown and bingled. Don't know what happened to her after that.
I test flew P2-ASI & PHC ex Cairns for Ray before they went off to the States...lovely aircraft when all was working well but they, collectively, gave me more frights than all other aircraft I have flown added together. PHC's parting 'love bite' was a massive fuel leak in the engine bay...forwad of those dual turbochargers...which was sufficiently bad to effect fuel flow indications and leave residual fuel in the engine nacelle even after I had landed and taxied in
I can only assume the mixture was so rich within the cowl it wouldn't ignite 
I think I used up a life that day.
I recently asked after CTM and believe it resides in a dark hangar at Caboolture still in bits.
Good to hear Closey is still in fine fettle...is Ray still in PNG? I worked for him for best part of a year, when ASI first came out of Wewak ex '6 pack major overhaul' and immediately ex Talair after the end of that great company. Despite one or two nose to nose 'discusions' over just what a Aerostar is good for I believe we parted friends with a level of mutual respect. I think Ray gave up on using them for SAR work after we'd spent all day searching (where PNG SAR 'Authorites' said they weren't) for an employee + assorted Yachty members shipwrecked near 1 Tree Island. They got sick of us flying past them all day and swam ashore We got a bit of a serve from said, very sunburnt/tired employee in the Yachty that evening
Chuckles
PS: I see old P2-KIK for sale on SE QLD...logged a few hours in her, in fact used to have my own set of keys...I hope her old owner is OK?
Unfortunately...or fortunately I was unable to fly the baby Pitts before it was packed into a box and sent south to YBAF...where it subsequently was flown and bingled. Don't know what happened to her after that.
I test flew P2-ASI & PHC ex Cairns for Ray before they went off to the States...lovely aircraft when all was working well but they, collectively, gave me more frights than all other aircraft I have flown added together. PHC's parting 'love bite' was a massive fuel leak in the engine bay...forwad of those dual turbochargers...which was sufficiently bad to effect fuel flow indications and leave residual fuel in the engine nacelle even after I had landed and taxied in
I can only assume the mixture was so rich within the cowl it wouldn't ignite I think I used up a life that day.I recently asked after CTM and believe it resides in a dark hangar at Caboolture still in bits.
Good to hear Closey is still in fine fettle...is Ray still in PNG? I worked for him for best part of a year, when ASI first came out of Wewak ex '6 pack major overhaul' and immediately ex Talair after the end of that great company. Despite one or two nose to nose 'discusions' over just what a Aerostar is good for I believe we parted friends with a level of mutual respect. I think Ray gave up on using them for SAR work after we'd spent all day searching (where PNG SAR 'Authorites' said they weren't) for an employee + assorted Yachty members shipwrecked near 1 Tree Island. They got sick of us flying past them all day and swam ashore
We got a bit of a serve from said, very sunburnt/tired employee in the Yachty that eveningChuckles
PS: I see old P2-KIK for sale on SE QLD...logged a few hours in her, in fact used to have my own set of keys...I hope her old owner is OK?
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P2-KIK
Well I haven’t seen that balus for some time. Like you CC, I hope JS is okay and your sighting in Oz is just retirement for the old girl. She was one fine taildragger! Did you have keys to JS’s oil flap and fuel cap padlocks as well? Sootie was a prankster! didn't his son Bill run for office in the Gulf Province or something? He'd flown me a couple of places to fix busted stuff too.
Gees, I haven’t been to Kikori for years, Last time I was there, I stole some Jet A1 (sorry fisheries) from a 44 on the strip.
Long story, but suffice it to say we woz on our way to Victory Junction and got lost. The 20-minute fuel warning had been on for, well let’s just say “a while” and were we ever glad to pop out of the murk and spot that lovely little airstrip!
Flew from there up to camp and spent the first night listening to rain on the roof of the cabin trying to drown out the noise of the circling mozzies.
Was hilarious the next morning coz the Caterpillar blokes had offloaded a D6 off the barge we woz sleeping on and overnight the river rose about 15 feet from the rain. I got up and helped check the moorings and was silly enough to ask, “where’s the dozer guys?” One pointed to a swirling eddy about 30 feet away and said, “there she is”. Was I glad the helipad was up the hill a good 200 yards.
Was a good add for Cat though, coz when the water subsided, the guys drained and flushed all Cat cavities, filled her up with nice golden oil and fuel and away she went! After they broke her up into job lots we then lifted her up on a hill and she was reassembled to work flat out non-stop for a couple of weeks prepping a drill platform. Amazing!
Oh the memories.
Well I haven’t seen that balus for some time. Like you CC, I hope JS is okay and your sighting in Oz is just retirement for the old girl. She was one fine taildragger! Did you have keys to JS’s oil flap and fuel cap padlocks as well? Sootie was a prankster! didn't his son Bill run for office in the Gulf Province or something? He'd flown me a couple of places to fix busted stuff too.
Gees, I haven’t been to Kikori for years, Last time I was there, I stole some Jet A1 (sorry fisheries) from a 44 on the strip.
Long story, but suffice it to say we woz on our way to Victory Junction and got lost. The 20-minute fuel warning had been on for, well let’s just say “a while” and were we ever glad to pop out of the murk and spot that lovely little airstrip!
Flew from there up to camp and spent the first night listening to rain on the roof of the cabin trying to drown out the noise of the circling mozzies.
Was hilarious the next morning coz the Caterpillar blokes had offloaded a D6 off the barge we woz sleeping on and overnight the river rose about 15 feet from the rain. I got up and helped check the moorings and was silly enough to ask, “where’s the dozer guys?” One pointed to a swirling eddy about 30 feet away and said, “there she is”. Was I glad the helipad was up the hill a good 200 yards.
Was a good add for Cat though, coz when the water subsided, the guys drained and flushed all Cat cavities, filled her up with nice golden oil and fuel and away she went! After they broke her up into job lots we then lifted her up on a hill and she was reassembled to work flat out non-stop for a couple of weeks prepping a drill platform. Amazing!
Oh the memories.
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Ahhh Redsnail. I'll have to present the wee laddie a Jw or two or three when I next meet with him in great apology for even daring to think that he came from south of Hadrian's! or for that matter, Cluny Castle.
Torres mi ol' china, thanks for Gibbsy's book, duly signed out and whatever. We are still talking 'bout strings, bells,gongs and things.
April 28 appears to be the big day? and if after that you ever make it to Club Morocco ( 20ks west of Olongapo) I'll give you better than mate's rates at the clubhouse and maybe beat you at snooker or at 10 pin bowling.
Torres mi ol' china, thanks for Gibbsy's book, duly signed out and whatever. We are still talking 'bout strings, bells,gongs and things.
April 28 appears to be the big day? and if after that you ever make it to Club Morocco ( 20ks west of Olongapo) I'll give you better than mate's rates at the clubhouse and maybe beat you at snooker or at 10 pin bowling.
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Torres. Please give Bobby my honest best wishes to a great bloke. I will toast his birthday on the 6th at the Moresby Crown Plaza before I go north on the 7th. We are still working on the project and hope something comes of it this year.Thank Julie and Bobby for his book and I am about 1/4 way through it at present. I thought scarpering around the hills at zot feet was exciting but his time getting shot at certainly got the adrenaline coursing quicker.
Cheers.
Klemm l25
Just a request!
Does anyone know of Stan Johnstone of the Madang A Transport Co.
I have a logbook where he features a lot and I would like to contact either himself or family if he is deceased.
Any help appreciated.
Does anyone know of Stan Johnstone of the Madang A Transport Co.
I have a logbook where he features a lot and I would like to contact either himself or family if he is deceased.
Any help appreciated.
Scion: This caught my eye in your post - Klemm l25.
Are you talking about a Klemm Swallow (I think it was) that operated in PNG either pre or post WWII? May have been owned by the Catholic Mission? Think I saw pictures somewhere - little low wing two seat monoplane, exposed cylinders? Didn't Don Kendal have one at one stage?
Are you talking about a Klemm Swallow (I think it was) that operated in PNG either pre or post WWII? May have been owned by the Catholic Mission? Think I saw pictures somewhere - little low wing two seat monoplane, exposed cylinders? Didn't Don Kendal have one at one stage?
Torres.........the Klemm Swallow was lots of things, but by no stretch of the imagination was it a "little" aeroplane! Despite the fact that it was a tandem two-seater, it had a wing on it like a DC-3, thus allowing it incredible STOL performance. Of course the Germans never considered that anyone might actually want to carry anything more than a single passenger and a handkerchief, so the payload was woeful. It was powered by an 80 hp Hirth in-line engine or a Salmson radial, but due to the huge wing it was no racehorse. In fact you could probably beat it on foot.
I am certain that DK did not have one, but there is one in SE Qld owned by a jeweller and another in Sydney which is the original ex-Catholic Mission machine from Alexishafen. The latter has now been re-engined with a Continental 85 hp engine.
Incidentally, has your email changed? Can't seem to get in touch these days............
I am certain that DK did not have one, but there is one in SE Qld owned by a jeweller and another in Sydney which is the original ex-Catholic Mission machine from Alexishafen. The latter has now been re-engined with a Continental 85 hp engine.
Incidentally, has your email changed? Can't seem to get in touch these days............
Klemm L25 and B.A. Swallow
The B.A. Swallow is a British built copy of the Klemm L25 . There are 3 of these aeroplanes in Australia. 2 B.A. Swallows and a Klemm L25 d2 . The Klemm is in Sydney currently having woodrot repaired on the tail by John Gallagher, the restorer of Dick Smith's Widgeon, and should be flying again within a month or so. You are correct about the size , the wingspan is 40 odd feet , almost identical to a DH Rapide. Perhaps not quite a DC3,
I Fly the Klemm and if you want to know more about it please let me know! I am very enthusiastic about it and could bore you all to tears about it.
I Fly the Klemm and if you want to know more about it please let me know! I am very enthusiastic about it and could bore you all to tears about it.