Anyone got any more stories of P2-GKP, a TALAIR plane that disappeared in Milne Bay Province in 1977? I'd like to revisit the story.

TomCanon..was GKP an Islander ? At or near Salamo ?

Late 90s did mapping stereo coverage of Ferguson Island as well as Goodenough and north part of Normanby.
Some one, who's name has well escaped the neurons now, asked about what we might gleen from the pix around Salamo and in the region of a old volcano/crater near to.. the north?
We did magnify and look... but with the passing of time and the very thick canopy cover
nothing to be spotted 20 years later.
I guess if it is on land, one day someone in the bush might chance across it.

Ill go GE and refresh the memory.

Other thread says its a Baron.

In Talair:

Turbines: P2-RD? (Except the Porter which was P2-SE?)
Islanders: P2-IS?
C402/B55: P2-GK?
C185/206: P2-SE?

P2-GKP won't be an Islander.

GKP was Baron

The 'Ghost Squadron' of Talair Twotters parked up at YMBA for ages...regos RF
Rememer one RDF...reminded me of Ronald Douglas Firns.
But thats another story, Stolair, MapMakers and etc....

typo ....regos RDx

And just to clarify C206 VH-GKP was reregistered P2-GKP 2.5.74

I cannot find any other information on that aircraft however P2-GKP, a Baron, went missing 25.10.77 so it must have taken over that registration.

After that a C402 was registered P2-GKP

So GKP was 3 diffent aircraft over time.

Anyone know what has happened to VH-PYY, much modified Aztec, operated by QASCO in the 60's ?

The remains of PYY (dismantled) were at Barwon Heads, Vic, in Sept 2005., Officially withdrawn from the VH register on 21.03.1984.

GKP was a Baron, previously P2-MKB, crashed off Gurney 25.10.1977.

RIP PYY then. NO resto...??

Have a nice air to air pic somewhere taken from another Turbo Aztec, MapMakers COC
near Mt Helwig, Bena Gap region on the way back to Goroka after high level pix sortie over the Markham Valley. 1971??

We did survey camera, large format 'happy snaps';...but never did get to see their results .

PYY then flown by Paul Johnson, (later killed in a tight valley between Tapini and Woitape via Kosipie.I did one of the silliest things ive done in aviation, the other way flew into a heavy rain shower of rain entering the same descending valley, in an Islander ,assuming it was a localised shower . I was right but get the shudders from time to time)
Flew with Paul FL250 Pom _Gka . It was one of the few turbo barons.

Pity about PYY, I did a lot of work in it for National Mapping in the 60's. The after-market turbos were hungry on maintenance, great for performance. Officially flat-rated at 29", and approved to 25000'. Actual ceiling about 32000'.

For "happy snaps" a 45 deg bank gave an interesting oblique. And one customer was so desperate for information that we established just below the high cloud that covered their area, in a 45deg bank with the camera firing at max rate. Similar results to the WWII tri-met.

Is P2- COC ? or MAP still about. Last trip to PNG many moons ago saw it at POM looking rather 'beat up' but on the parking line. Owned for monopoly operation with political connections/owners.
No competiton required or wanted.!! Thanks, but dont bother to tender as for PNG 'clearance to enter' will not be available. Mmm.

COC had separate small tank for turbo oil and an electric waste gate, so you could have turbo charging or not. Once a hose blew...but you dont lose the engine oil as with the fixed set-up.

QASCO also operated Turbo Baron AEA and that went up like a homesick angel.!
Get that oxy mask on early !

PYY should be in a museum somewhere, great example of that mapping era.


2004:
http://www.airport-data.com/images/a...246/246549.jpg

Vale Mrs. Betty Keys
 

Betty was the wife of the Late Captain Ron " Buncha" Keys, a senior
Capt. on F-27's based in Rabaul, during the 60 & 70's, with Ansett APNG.

My Wife and I knew them well, a great couple.

I flew as F/O with Buncha, a great guy to fly with.

Betty's Farewell will be held at Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens, East Chapel,329 Nursery Rd. Holland Park, Brisbane at 12.30 on Wed.28th March


RIP



A Very Sad Ant

Ian McLean-Hodgson (Hoddo)
 

I post with regret that long time PNG identity "Hoddo" passed away on the 30th March 2018.

As a proud owner of P2-WDL and P2-PDL (Widdle and Piddle) Ian spent many years surveying in PNG. He will be missed by many old mates.

RIP

I will never forget the great times we had fishing at Bensbach or the numerous evenings he would drive up from the Gold Coast and we would spend a convivial evening at the RQAC bar or when he would visit for a night in Mendi.

RIP Hoddo.

Last I seen of COC it had been pushed into the long grass at Jackson’s.
Door appeared to be open and a security guard living in it.
There is quite a collection of once great airframes accumulating in that area (NWA, SDA)
All have had political connections and left to rot.

CAA down at the Government hanger same

Were you able to acquire any more information re Martin Tyler's passing back in 2006. Knew him well, but lost touch in the late 80s.