Mad Max Film Aircraft ??
Mad Max Film Aircraft ??
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Here 'tis
Transavia/Bennet/Waitono PL11/PL12 Airtruk
Don't seem to be able to post image. Anyone want to try?
http://cloud.prohosting.com/hud607/u...airtruk_01.jpg
Don't seem to be able to post image. Anyone want to try?
http://cloud.prohosting.com/hud607/u...airtruk_01.jpg
Transavia Airtruk
Data for PL12-U Airtruk unless stated otherwise
TYPE: Agricultural aircraft.
PERIOD BUILT: 1961-1993
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: New Zealand design, built in Australia
ENGINE: One Continental IO-520-D fuel injected flat six piston engine (PL12-U), or one Textron Lycoming IO-540 fuel injected flat six piston engine (T-300A), both of 300 hp / 225 kW.
DIMENSIONS:
Wing span: 39 ft. 11 in / 12.15 m
Length: 20 ft 10 in. / 6.35 m
Height: 9 ft 2 in / 2.79 m.
WEIGHTS:
Empty: 1,830 lb / 830 kg
Maximum: 3,800 lb / 1723 kg
PERFORMANCE:
Max. cruising speed: 102 kt / 188 kph
Initial climb: 800 ft / 244 m. per min.
Service ceiling: 10,500 ft.
Range: 700 n.m. / 1295 km. with max. fuel.
CAPACITY: Pilot, with seats for two passengers with chemical hopper. The PL12-U seats five without the hopper.
Luigi Pellarini originally designed what was the Waitomo Airtruck in New Zealand during the 1950s, with the aircraft to employ components of wartime Texan/Harvard aircraft. Its unique tall, stubby fuselage and separated twin tail booms allowed accommodation for passengers and an agricultural hopper, with reduced rear-fuselage contamination by the hopper chemicals, and easy loading.
The Airtruck first flew on 2 Aug. 1960. The design was not to enter production in New Zealand, but was further developed in Australia by Transavia, replacing the original design's Pratt & Whitney engine with a flat six Continental. Deliveries of the PL12 began in 1966. The PL12-U of 1971 introduced the option of five utility seats in place of the hopper. The improved T-300 Skyfarmer appeared in the same year. The ultimate version was the flat-eight powered T-400 of which four were delivered to China.
An Airtruk appeared in the post-nuclear world of the Mad Max movie series alongside some bizarre ground vehicles. Though the aircraft only needed a little makeup to appear worn, it needed no change to pass as a machine rebuilt from odd components in some dramatic flying scenes.
In 2001, eight years after production ended, seven Airtruks and seven Skyfarmers remained on the Australian civil register.
Last edited by Pseudonymn; 2nd May 2003 at 08:02.
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Mate of mine flew one to china. He reckons their a great bus (he is also an ag pilot, so he knows what a good bus would be). I saw one in YNTM in bits a while ago, it was going to be restored to static display standard for a museum, I reckon the parts looked bloody ugly.
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Well Wiz I think it's cute, but admit it makes Trislanders look very elegant in comparison.
So how many of those kids did they fit in and still have enough fuel to fly from Coober Pedy to Sydney? No wonder poor ol' Max was left behind to face Tina Turner, Angry Anderson and co!
"There's not enough runway!"
So how many of those kids did they fit in and still have enough fuel to fly from Coober Pedy to Sydney? No wonder poor ol' Max was left behind to face Tina Turner, Angry Anderson and co!
"There's not enough runway!"
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I once saw the aircraft from the movie operate at a Schofields airshow. I believe the owner stacked it and it went to Wangaratta museum. I saw it there in 1998, painted a ghastly purple. I have a photo somewhere with my son at the controls
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Luigi Pellarini originally designed what was the Waitomo Airtruck in New Zealand during the 1950s, with the aircraft to employ components of wartime Texan/Harvard aircraft. Its unique tall, stubby fuselage and separated twin tail booms allowed accommodation for passengers and an agricultural hopper, with reduced rear-fuselage contamination by the hopper chemicals, and easy loading.
There were 2 of them built both crashed I think with fatals in both cases.
I worked beside one in a Fletcher near Te Kuiti in the 1960s it was being flown by "Goose" Ercerg, anyone know if Goose is still around?
I can remember Goose saying it was only his vast dung dusting experience that kept him out of the ground in that aircraft
Try this link ..boy that takes me back..
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/277578/L/
Last edited by Knulp; 2nd May 2003 at 08:26.
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Of the two NZ built examples, I believe it correct that both crashed, but one was non-fatal, was being flown on operations by more former father-in-law Jack Worthington and he very definitely survived. My recollection was he told me carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause. He was one of the three original investors in the project.
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When I used to work at Seven Hills I occasionally saw one operating into Transfield Engineering's strip just down the road.
I believe that's where they were built for a while.
Quite amazing, considering it's right in the middle of an industrial area...
I believe that's where they were built for a while.
Quite amazing, considering it's right in the middle of an industrial area...
I remember one day (mid eighties?), I was driving down Powers road Sevvo Hugh, when one crossed the road just getting airbourne in front of me. I remember the windsock used to sit-up just over the fence, I think it might still be there.... 
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When I used to work at Seven Hills I occasionally saw one operating into Transfield Engineering's strip just down the road.
I remember one day (mid eighties?), I was driving down Powers road Sevvo Hugh, when one crossed the road just getting airbourne in front of me. I remember the windsock used to sit-up just over the fence, I think it might still be there....
Schofields, now there's another place I used to sit on the barbed wire fence (on a blanket of course, you sickoes) 
along near where the aeroclub had their buildings and watch the navy jocks hard at work doing ccts in all sorts of things we don't operate these days. 
One of my first airshows there too, schoies '81. Ripper of an airshow!
along near where the aeroclub had their buildings and watch the navy jocks hard at work doing ccts in all sorts of things we don't operate these days. One of my first airshows there too, schoies '81. Ripper of an airshow!
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I think it looks beautiful (well, maybe beautiful isn't the word...).
But then again, I thought the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module looked pretty special - not at all like one of Pablo Picaso's Haemerrhoids.
What got me about the design of the Airtruk was that somebody was able to look at a need, and re-design a solution around that, instead of grabbing an existing, conventional design, and "fitting" it with a hopper and spray gear (simplistic, I know).
Anybody who can design effectively, by thinking outside the square has my respect.
It takes a particularly creative mind, and the spirit of a gambler, to come up with something as unconventional as the Airtruk - even if it does look like the result of a Cessna, a biplane, and a crop duster having a threesome, being cousins, and taking thalidomide.
That said, there have been 100 years of conventional designs which have worked well. And many designs which, while looking conventional, have been anything but.
I remember seeing one of these many years ago, and it stuck in my head...
I thought it was the best thing in Mad Max III, an otherwise bland film.
How succesful were they? Did this unconventional design work? Was the Airtruk able to do things that no other aircraft could?
Any still flying?
But then again, I thought the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module looked pretty special - not at all like one of Pablo Picaso's Haemerrhoids.
What got me about the design of the Airtruk was that somebody was able to look at a need, and re-design a solution around that, instead of grabbing an existing, conventional design, and "fitting" it with a hopper and spray gear (simplistic, I know).
Anybody who can design effectively, by thinking outside the square has my respect.
It takes a particularly creative mind, and the spirit of a gambler, to come up with something as unconventional as the Airtruk - even if it does look like the result of a Cessna, a biplane, and a crop duster having a threesome, being cousins, and taking thalidomide.
That said, there have been 100 years of conventional designs which have worked well. And many designs which, while looking conventional, have been anything but.
I remember seeing one of these many years ago, and it stuck in my head...
I thought it was the best thing in Mad Max III, an otherwise bland film.
How succesful were they? Did this unconventional design work? Was the Airtruk able to do things that no other aircraft could?
Any still flying?
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Thats how you design a functional aircraft.
Take a hopper add an engine on the front, wings out the side, somewhere for the pilot to sit with good viz and tail feathers to balance it all up and hey presto.
Airtruk, eponymic and the ultimate in functional design.
Take a hopper add an engine on the front, wings out the side, somewhere for the pilot to sit with good viz and tail feathers to balance it all up and hey presto.
Airtruk, eponymic and the ultimate in functional design.
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Last one I saw working was in the Opotiki area in about 97/8.
Only problems apparently on rough strips the nose wheel could fall off causing the thing to turtle and sand the pilot off.
Harvey Gee thanks for your comments your father in law may have some interesting photos specially of the pile of Harvard frames and one TBF avenger as I recall lying at the back of the Airtruk "factory" at Te Kuiti.
Only problems apparently on rough strips the nose wheel could fall off causing the thing to turtle and sand the pilot off.
Harvey Gee thanks for your comments your father in law may have some interesting photos specially of the pile of Harvard frames and one TBF avenger as I recall lying at the back of the Airtruk "factory" at Te Kuiti.
Last edited by Knulp; 4th May 2003 at 06:56.
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The factory at Seven Hills was demolished recently - presumably to make way for some industrial centre.
Good to hear not everything was lost - perhaps a turboprop Airtruk II some time in the future?
Good to hear not everything was lost - perhaps a turboprop Airtruk II some time in the future?
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slickrick
Yes, I remember visiting Steve's hangar and seeing all the spare bits of truk hanging in the rafters. It looked as though he had enough to build a spare machine. Is he still operating them?
Also took a close look at his humungus warbird while there.
It must do wonders for the testosterone count just sitting in that beast looking out over that monstrous prop. Ahhhh, Skyraiders.
Yes, I remember visiting Steve's hangar and seeing all the spare bits of truk hanging in the rafters. It looked as though he had enough to build a spare machine. Is he still operating them?
Also took a close look at his humungus warbird while there.
It must do wonders for the testosterone count just sitting in that beast looking out over that monstrous prop. Ahhhh, Skyraiders.