Convair 580 Captains
 

Pionair were advertising for Convair 580 Captains in YSSY recently, usual things anyone know what they pay and are they good mob to work for?
I heard they were getting some more aircraft in the near future, are they all based out of YSSY?

One based in Brissie I believe parked next to it when I was last there, certainly an interesting old boat!:ok:

They are an odd looking beast - though I heard they are buying a couple of more aircraft and they are on the wayThey must have some good contracts........

they have picked up a contract with TOLL

I hear that picked up a contract with ya mum

Must be built like a brick s*** house. The aiframes would have to be 60+ years old. What sort of payload can they carry?

The Pionair fleet of 2 Convair 580 cargo aircraft have a payload of up to 7000kgs and with their self-sufficient APU they have the flexibility to go places aircraft of their size usually cannot go.

Anyone know what they are paying?

Money............Preperably green coloured ones

Erk....all very EFF 27-ish :uhoh:..

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../7/0153701.jpg

no no tin, an eff 27 is far more modern...

power levers look a bit out (comparing side to side)

No....um..but its got that hokey pokey feeling about it like....

"You push the right leg in
You pull the left knob out
Press the red button
And switch the pump about....."

Feckin' dinosaurs, should be all shot with a bucket a steaming bat**** the lot of them :*

These aircraft hark back to the days when the captain was an old grey haired gentlemen, there was no CRM, and the ergonomics were totally crap, but they were the latest and greatest.
I remember as a kid I flew in them on occasions which was a very big thrill. I have since worked on them and they are built like the proverbial brick dunny but with the post war electrics in them, as the 580 conversion was a simple (I use the term loosely) engine replacement which gave it double the original horsepower. Nothing else was changed. They are the FX Holden of the skies.

There's no such thing as an FX Holden, you are of course referring to the 48-215 Holden

BAe32EP-Chief:

Thanks for that. Judging by your sarcastic reply, I can assume that you don't have a clue!

So... The question remains. Does anyone know how much they are paying?

Can't help with the salary sorry, why not give them a call, I am sure they won't bite ?

Am currently flying them in NZ, about 3500 hrs on type, great old machine. Have their moments with reliability etc, especially with some of the wiring but all in all as far as turboprops go its hard to get past the load carrying ability and performance. Tons of jam and very good single engine performance.

The one pictured above is canadian registered and as far as uneven power levers go its in the hangar so who knows what the engineers are up to...

With all the dials and levers and heifer valves missing on modern a/c there is always a switch or something to play with !:D

Cheers
40 below

It is believed that Repco were responsible for the FX prefix. Parts books in 1957 show the first reference to the FX Holden and this seems to have come about by Holden naming it's second vehicle the FJ and than third variant the FE. So why FX? Well the "F" is easy to figure but the "X"? The letter X is used because X typically stands for unknown! So is it true? Who knows! but it sure makes a good story.

I will admit it....I doubt that I could fly an aeroplane (well) with a flight deck that looked like that anymore...I mean, where are the pink lines????:E

I believe thats the hosties department...or was that 'bits:E

You can get them with green not pink lines.....

I came across a 580 3D-ZOE that had a class cockpit similar to the EHSI/EADI up down set up, very nicely cleaned up and these boys were having fun in that machine I can guarantee.

It was originally a Napier powered 540 and converted to Allisons.

Sadly I was told that it is no longer.