I last flew MFU in June 1990. Memory fails but I guess it was crashed at Morehead shortly after.

P2-AWM was exported in '84 to a cane farmer in Ingham and was registered VH-AWM. VH-AWM was imported back into PNG and registered P2-AWM in August 1991 (by me) and was fatally crashed in June 1992 by Dean Hanna (nephew of Ray).

Yes they had 2 Islanders P2-BAC and P2-BAY as I recall.

Islanders - only 1 when I was there & I don't recall the rego.:)

Tinny,

Sorry for my absence! Been celebrating daughter's 30th in another place.

Now, it's certainly NOT OMK!! If you turned a Boo in the parking bay at the top of the hill there, the wing-tip would gouge the hillside!:eek:

All my being says it's Chimbu prior to the runway works and perhaps the gravel layer which used to create spectacular enveloping dust cloud in full reverse. That's a best guess if the slope behind and the ridge in the top l/h corner is where the Waghi turns around to flow past OMK. However, still some doubt. The fuselage would have to be hiding the Leslie's house on the eastern side of the strip.

Best I can do. All my PNG slides were lost in a recent house-flood!!

G'day ;)

OWZ mystery resolved
 

The Armidale owner referred to had OWZ registered for 01915 (P2-MFU) and has now cancelled such, as a result of the sale to myself. I was'nt aware that a heap of components was actually registered. VH-MFU is now reserved for the 185, back to it's original status in Feb 1972.

01915 should be back on its wheels this week. Will post some new pictures when available ... I guess you guy's would like to see them.

Feather #3 I always name strips i cant identify as OMK :hmm:

I agree with your asessment of the picture. Im trying to remember Chimbu with the gravel would that be prior to 1970?

Recent view taken looking towards Omkalai

Damn mate, lost your slides?:( Mine are mostly faded and in the half frame format so are bloody useless to scan


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y15...G/IMG_1755.jpg

Hey I can see my haus:ok:

The Bou aint parked on Chimbu - too much slope to be Chimbu. I woulda said Omkalai too.

Y'know looking at that picture of Chimbu Im reminded of watching Sharpie in Patair Navajo 310 take off and turn left an go straight up hill on track to Goroka
Man, I wouldnt even take a Chieftan 350 in OR out of Chimbu the difference in performance was that great (yes i did take a brand new Chieftan on a tour of PNG)

Was in Bensbach the other day and happened upon this pristine 182 stashed away in a storeoom... apparently P2 RHO and lots of history with both aircraft and pilot...

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/BSB032-1.jpg

Did it belong to Duke Elegant? :E

Bensbach
 

Tinny, the late Brian Brumley's aircraft. Famous Fred kapset it on one of those small strips along "the Western Development Road". I took a Filipino engineer from POM and BB met us with the tractor and trailer, then t'ported it back to Bensbach.

P2-MFX
 

I believe it is "For Sale" for those who may be interested. It is currently owned by an ex PNG CAA airworthiness inspector who is now back in NZ. There has been one interested buyer although I think the deal may have fallen through.
The aircraft itself is still in the Government Flying Unit's hangar at POM,it isn't airworthy as it's under restoration and I don't think it's damaged either.

I haven't got the owners contact details,although I'm sure someone would be able to pass the details on privately in the know. I'd buy it myself if the missus would let me !

P2-MFX

I heard that the owner was taking MFX (reregistered as MAZ) back to NZ with him. Can anybody confirm that happened or is it still languishing in the GFU hangar?

Its still in the GFU hangar coated about five inches in dust. Mike was going to take it home but I believe its still for sale. wheels and brakes are off it and its sitting on the stubs. Pod is on the ground next to used as a rubbish bin. I believe the engine had a Kero overhaul after a prop strike. Sad to see it sitting there rotting away........ very much like the CAA B200 doing the same thing next to it.

I recon you could get it for a good price if you paid cash for it and obviously the deal would be "as is were is".

The most logical thing would be to pop it into a container and send it south, and spend the bucks on it.

Any idea what he want's for it ? Could be a good investment especially given the fact they are rare as hens teeth. Not to mention that it would be one hell of thing to take out on weekends with the kids in toe. :ok:

MFX did have a prop strike at Moresby when Mac Lee was first getting to grips with the old girl in the early 90s. I was asked to hop in and do some remedial circuits with him by DCA - which I did. He went on to fly it successfully up until his death.

Memory dims but maybe 7 years ago, not long after Mac was killed in his 402, MFX was put up for sale and I believe the asking price was PNGk50k (about Aud30k) and she was airworthy, well flyable, at the time! A mate who was still in PX rang me and told me about it suggesting I should buy it. I had my Bonanza 3 years already so certainly didn't have the cash nor inclination to buy a C185...well being a C185 tragic I had the inclination:ok:

Being half way through a nuts and bolts restoration of my Bonanza (which was airworthy before I started - for how much longer was the question) I have a keen insight into what these old birds are worth in the condition MFX is in now.

Approaching zero

If you could gain legal title for <10k and ship it south by the time you had it back flying in perfect 'as new' condition it would 'owe' you at least 250k, unless you're a LAME or the employer of one, maybe over 300k. That is not to say it wouldn't be superb value at that price - what would you pay for a new C185 if they still built them? A damn site more than that. But you wouldn't get 250k for it the day after you finished restoring it.

Someone should absolutely do exactly that - but you need to get it for next to nothing.

Chimbu said:
"Someone should absolutely do exactly that - but you need to get it for next to nothing."

And therein lies the rub as they say. The price asked is not "nothing" however. The fact that it has not gone south already would probably mean that the price probably has!
There is room for someone to get a good C185 - and I think for a bit less than some of the figures quoted - although I agree there is a lot of work required, not to mention the engine.
Sad to see something like that going nowhere. The fact of where it is located is a big drawback to most likely restorers though.

I think you might be shocked by the final number.

The bits you'd need to buy are the cheap part.

New engine/prop/engine control/flight control cables/pullies/ALL new wiring/new instruments/new radios/all new hoses/windows/tyres/wheels/brakes. $100-130k easy.

New interior $8k.

Sheet alluminium to reskin large areas, maybe all, of the fuselage and wings - not sure - maybe 15k?

Paint job - $15-20k.

We're over 170k and haven't spent a cent on labour nor actually bought the aeroplane - and believe me labour is the REALLY big part of restoring an aeroplane. $90-100/hr shop rate for a LAME near any decent size city and 1000-1500hrs of labour could slide into that airframe very easily if there is significant lap joint corrosion. And there WILL be corrosion - MFX has been sitting in an open hangar several nm downwind from Bootless Bay for a decade with 20kt Tradewinds blowing salty air at it for 6 months in 12.

I am really surprised MFX is still in POM - I thought it had been moved south some years ago.

What is happening at Bensbach these days? Old Brian Bromley was a good mate and he was having dramas with the locals when I used to frequent the place in the early/mid 90s.

Chuck is correct.

The former P2-TAC was purchased by a couple of blokes in Sydney and had a ground-up restoration. I saw it just after they got it flying, and it went on the market soon after (I think because the GFC had interrupted their plans). From memory the asking price was A$260 or 270k, and after doing a few mental calculations (not easy for an old fart!), I concluded that this represented all of their hardware expenses, but returned little or nothing for their effort (they did most of the work themselves, and did a magnificent job).

That is why "project" aircraft in the US often sell for $10k or less, because the simple reality is that the cost of restoring an aircraft is huge. In Oz or NZ (especially NZ), people trying to sell projects frequently seem to believe that their offering is valued at about 90% of what an equivalent flying example sells for.

Dreamers.

So 10k would be a reasonable price, IMHO. :ok:

My 2 PNG 185s
 

:ok:Great to know P2-Tac is back in the air. She was my first ship in PNG and a good one, got me out of the odd spot.
Got pushed up to the mighty Islander and when doing the rating the circuits were interrupted by TAC forced landing on the road at Bomana. Within about a minute it seemed hundreds of fine local people were on the scene, to assist no doubt. And hundreds more converging from all directions. We circled at low level to let them know someone was watching and provide moral support for a very sheepish senior Talair Twin Otter Pilot who shall remain nameless. With my instructer a CAA accident investigater we landed and proceeded by road. By then the fire boys had the 185 in tow and all was well. The affair was laid to rest at the Dero over a few beers, all caused by fingers.
Not long before I had been lining her up for a deadstick out at Brown river bridge for the same reason, fuel selectors and parking on a slope! Couple of years after the Frog abandoned her at Nadzab I think where she picked up corrosion.

MFX I just took to Kerema and back for Mack one day, a fine ship.
Those figures Chuckles and Chimbu used are about right and probably conservative. Fits with recent NZ rebuilds its mostly just hundreds of hours of labour. 800 sq ft or so of aluminium to deal to. I finished CGG 5 years ago and on a very good day would almost get back the cost of the rebuild. But she owed me nothing at the start and the job would be $50 to $100G NZ more now. For eg labour was $45 now $75 an hour. To replace her would be around $350G NZ which of course is totally uneconomic. Incredible that the totaly knackered ones go for around $100G and the done up ones between $200 and $250, go figure. Then i realised a 185 rebuild is about the same cost as a 2200 hr overhaul on a R22 helicopter which then has a 12 year life, the 185 will see me out and in good condition too if looked after.

I saw MFX in Cairns in the mid 90s. It was more than a prop strike. She was in about 10 000 bits in the back of the hanger and the centre fusalage completely rebuilt at great cost as an insurance job, not far off a write off. So if the corrosion has been kind the hull might still be in very good order. The paint was reasonable in the late 90s might have held up and kept the salt out. The interior was stuffed even in 92, so nothing to lose there. And the radios and panel Ok but maybe gone missing. Be a job for someone with a passion for flying them as a keeper and a healthy bank account (at first).
Hey Chuck off down South next week, Wanaka and the odd wee strip in the bush-coming?

No - this senior (ex) Talair Twin Otter pilot ;) will be in Gatwick doing a 777 (Balus tinpis? :} ) course starting next Monday for 5+ weeks.

I know what I would RATHER be doing:ok:

And you weren't circling THAT low ya big girly's blouse:E

Beer and white wine and maybe the odd chorus of 'Men of Harlech':}

I never said the prop was the ONLY thing Mac struck - now you remind me it was a ball tearer of a ground loop:E

Truth be told I had forgotten all about it being sent to CNS to be repaired but you're right. If the airframe is half decent it might be worth 15k.:hmm:

Well Chuck its a bit hard to get down in the trees when doing a type rating with the CAA!
Made me think quite a few C185/180 on the ramp when i got to PNG in 92. TAC and MFX we know. AWM was often parked next to TAC but was sadly crashed soon after I got there. Same with UIF, the new tribes 180 (very late model). Crashed with the loss of all on board later in 92 I think between Wiatape and Kira. Also ROW ex BA? which was lost later in the year or in 93 near Chimbu. Almost a postscript to the AWM crash. KIK one of the last 180s was still in Kikori now down south i guess. ROG a mission 180 in the highlands now ZK KRM in NZ. IDL lost in the highlands a while ago along with Ian. Richards 185 in Nadzab recently lost. It was the last working 185 in the country I can think of unless the old 260 hp (the best) mission one is still in Wau. New Tribes might still have a 180 left. Probably not many C206 left either guess the days of the piston single doing the bush strips in PNG are nearing an end.

Got a photo somewhere of me and CGG at Taupo in the 60's with the Rural paint scheme still visible on the side
Probably posted it already have I?
(Alcoholzeimers)

So I'll post another piccy and did they get the $250k they were asking for this a while back?

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/tinpis/VH-GKE.jpg

That would SEQ. If still there, Jim would be getting on a bit now.

P2 Gke/ Zk Vke
 

Tinpis,
GKE has been in NZ for the last 5 years. Been in a good home just north of Christchurch. GKE is a glider in NZ so the reg had to change, and the beige bits are now a dark blue or similar. Have not seen the machine so cannot comment further. NZ has quite a few ex Aussie/ ex PNG ones now for those who can follow the history of them. Any old pics of CGG be good, I only know her from 1973 when i was 11 years old and on first sight still had a Hopper in.

Come on its Fearless Feeney we're talking about - he only had one eye - I doubt he woulda noticed if you only orbited left...or was that right?:E

ROW was BAF until changed by Richard Rowe.

Jim Bloom couldn't still be operating out of Wau could he? Its 20 years since I was based in Wau on the Twotter and he had been there 20+ then.:ooh:

Anybody reading that list, saabsforever, could be forgiven for thinking we used to crash a lot of aeroplanes in PNG:eek:

Chuck, it was Alan Yarnold and he had two eyes, good bloke.

Yep Jim and SEQ must be long gone from Wau now. SEQ probably in the hanger at Goroka, thats where she went when Jim took leave at least. One of the recent NCA boys must know.

So any serving 180/185 left in PNG? Maybe not.

One thing for sure, a lot of Aircraft have been imported to PNG and not many exported. That jungle has kept Cessna and Brittan Norman pretty busy. The Islander Fleet is mostly gone now and they were sure never retired or exported. Just think how many Guts at NCA has got through just on his own! And a bit of help from the boys.

Oh GKE/VKE still has the Talair logo on the tail which is good to see.

I think Jim is still flying out of Wau in SEQ,I'm sure I heard him on th HF about a month or two ago operating in the Wau area.

What is the logo on GKE fin?
 

Cant make it out at all

It's the bird!! (of paradise)

The TAL screaming ****ehawk

Hah! FOR JET ROUTE STANDARDS, pigs arse! does anyone ever remember seeing a TAL ops manual?

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y15...n/talcover.jpg

(I must dig that logbook out and see whats left after the Darwhine bad-boy bugs have had their fill :( )

I'm pretty sure GKE never had a pod on it at all.

Pod: Fibe dollah extra fare for sleeper berth :E

MFU update
 

MFU has not had much done to it todate. I have some Ford Mustangs and finishing a 69 Mach 1 428CJ right now. It has taken up all my time. Since I last talked to you all, I have been busy scrounging the world for missing bits. Have now found set of cowls, aileron, lift strut, rudder, cargo pod, engine mounts, V-brace for windscreen and full interior incl RHS door to mention a few. Bought the P-Plonk upgrade kit as well to put in. I now have located some 98% of the missing airframe bits and have an engine/prop lined up when ready.

There is a spare set of wings I want to sell if you know any takers, they are off 1850100 ex VH-FFC, one of the early ones and need full rebuild (see below:), they would be a good workshop project or fill in job I guess.

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...s/Pickup03.jpg

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...s/Pickup04.jpg

So, the 428 will be finished by June 2011, so I should be able to get into it after that. My aim is to have her back in the air for under $200k. This cheap Chimbu because the fuse has had considerable work done to it over the succession of owners since Bensbach. I've decided to put her back in the original Tiger Yellow colour scheme as first operated by MAF in 1972 +

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...thumbs/C13.jpg


http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...bs/resto02.jpg

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...bs/resto05.jpg

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...bs/resto07.jpg

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...thumbs/C16.jpg

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...bs/resto09.jpg

Chimbu, you would remember sitting in this seat and sweating it out ????

I have had contact with a number of old MAF pilots or people associated with MFU through my web site www.frednolan.com and they have been Winston Ussher, Ron Kingsley, Ron Watts, Roger Young, Terry Burn and Dan Macarthur (for his Dad John). It's exciting to collect all their stories and some pictures of MFU in action.
======================================================

Wow! A seat to sit on?..looxury....:hmm:

1915,
FFC wasn't wrecked recently, was it???

I used to own 0427 SIA a few years back. Was 0428 a SIL machine?


Cheers,
185.

VH-FFC
 

I don't think so, these wings came with the project, which started somewhere back in 1996. Whether they have been there all that time I don't know, no one can tell me how they came to be with it, just spares I think. But I'm going to rebuild MFU's original wings that were on it in 1990 when it went on it's back at Moorehead Western Province, for heritage reasons.

They can be a contrib to the resto now.

By the way, I only know these wings by the rego painted on them, there are no log books etc. I assume they are correct. Being a rebuild, they zero time regardless.

http://www.frednolan.com/images/stor...bs/resto09.jpg

I would like to imagine what you blokes thought sitting in this pilot's seat from MAF's and Brian Bumley's P2-MFU ?

I have done a lot of time in VH-JBM (ex P2-BAM ex VH-MFS/185E-01780) and tail dragger's. I know how humbling it can be on the flat cotton country on NNSW, let alone the terrain you all flew up in PNG. If you let your guard down for a second, it would make a fool of you ! For those who flew MFU, this seat still has the PNG seat cover and all the sweat stains terminating on 25 August 1990, it's last flight west of Bensbach !

Tell me some of your experiences .... I know that when it's finally restored, I'll be proud to sit in it.

Please feel free to contact me on [email protected] and you can see aircraft WIP on www.frednolan.com.

Well I think I might have a couple of buttons off that seat - and no, I don't know where they are now:ok:

In all seriousness by the time I actually flew MFU I had been flying C185s in PNG a long time and my really attention getting frights were behind me - now if you had the front left seat outa P2-BAF THAT would be an entirely different story - that aircraft taught me a LOT:uhoh:

I do remember flying MFU to Bensbach with a load of freezer, bread and sundry essentials for the hunting lodge on a really nasty wet season sunday, on my only day off that week from Talair, where I flew for hundreds of miles at <500' with vis ranging between a couple of miles and several hundred feet (straight down) - in fact from about half way between Kerema and Kikori it was like that.

I saw a small section of the Fly River that I recognised pass under and figured I best try a little deliberate error nav between there and Bensbach. An hour or so later I turned 90 left and flew for about 5 or 6 minutes and the strip appeared EXACTLY under me...never saw anything meaningful out the front that entire time.

I remember very distinctly being enormously impressed with myself - I think I muttered "Whaleoilbeefhooked, it works" as I wheeled around in a tight spiral hauling on the flap lever and splashed down :ooh::ok:

Love it ... I'm going to have to meet you guy's.