Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
 

The mini-airliner from South America, introduced into Australia by the late Jack Masling in the late 1970's as step up for from the Piper Chieftains, Beechcraft Queenairs and Cessna 402's for the local Reg 203 operaters.
Initially they could be operated single pilot but that changed in 1983, with the introduction of two crews for any aircraft on RPT that carried over nine passengers

Aided by cheap Brasilian government finance and deferred payments the Bandit soon proved popular with the local operaters.

Form some operaters the Bandit was a licence to print money by the truck load, and for others it was a quick way to financial ruin.

Over the years the Bandit has been operated by, Airnorth, Airlines of South Australia, Air Tasmania, Airlines of Tasmania, Ausair, Eastern Airlines, Flight West, Hazelton's, King Island Airlines, Lincoln Airlines, Lloyd Aviation, Murray Valley Airlines, Skywest, Sunshine Express, Sunsate, Talair and Transtate, to name a few.

For a lot of us it was our first turbine endorsement and the first time into a multi-crew aircraft. Off to ground school for a few days to learn about those very, very tricky turbine engines, nicad batteries, ITT and N1 gauges, prop governors, fire detection and extinguishers, fuel system and then the engineering exam. Once that was passed out to the aeroplane for the endorsement, and into the world of checklists, standard operating procedures, and getting used to flying from the left hand seat and figuring out how that HSI, RMI and Flight Director all worked. Then go flying and get used to the big beast, out to company designated training area for stalls, steep turns, assymetric flight, inflight shutdowns and relights, back to aerodrome for assymetric circuits, rejected take-offs, then a NDB and a VOR approach and finally back for a few night circuits and then we call it a day. Paperwork signed off for the endorsement and then the line flying starts next afternoon on the unsuspecting passengers.

Must be a few stories out in Pprune land about the Bandeirante.

Ahh the Randy Banty! Don't forget were the weapon of choice for a number of operators in NZ too, with Eagle, Rex, trans-global/City jet!

Solid wee machine just needed 'bout 100SHP extra per side for hot days at places like Taupo.

Had a convenient strorm window on the left side that could be opened in flight for sucking out stow away insects and bad smells!:}

You can add Pagas, Advance and Davey's to the list of operators as well.

Are you sure about PAGAS?
Don't remember that.

Airlink PNG, South West Air PNG, and Aeropelican too.

VH-WBA and WBQ. Skippers Aviation out of Perth?

FWIW I know the record in PNG used to be 40 POB out of Moresby - standing room only!

Dangerous Dave managed 44 I think. Unfortunately it did not go un-noticed.....

Yes, Pagas definitely operated VH-PGS, which later became P2-RDR.

And 19 POB in a C402, which also did not go un-noticed......

I think TAL were the second EMB110 operator in the region, after Maslings. The first TAL Bandit cost US$575,000.

i think you can add Air South to the list as well. although whether or not the bandit was used on the RPT runs, I do not know.

Thanks CW, that's quite a squeeze!
I've had 573 in a 747-300, but everyone had a seat. :)

Sissy

just trying to get the character number up

And a few charter operators such as Aerolink Air Services (WBI, MWV, MWF and BWC) and Airtex Aviation.

Executive Air and NJS also operated one each.

BWC (owned by Ivan) must have been one of the best painted Bandits when it was painted in it's 'tropical' scheme. At times it was called the flying fish bowl and whilsy in service with Aerolink carried live seafood from Tassie back to Sydney.

dis wun...........

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../7/0182712.jpg

Go the mighty Bandit! :ok: What a delight to fly! And a damn sight better looking than a B1900 :E

I can think of many positives - and the odd negative, but all in all a great machine and definitely worthy of its name - Bandeirante - which translates to 'Pioneer' in english (or so I'm told)

A real pity they didn't upgrade them to 4 bladed props and at least another 100SHP, if not more! I reckon there is still a market for them. Maybe embraer will look into re-starting the line with new engines, wing, avionics, higher weights/performance etc like Viking Air is now doing with the Twotter... :D

May she continue flying for many years to come :}

Ahhh the Blue Wave Cruiser! Worked on it with Exec Air in Darwin 'til we all got sacked.

bbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Who would have thought Embraer would go on and build the E120, ERJ135/145 and the ERJ170/190.

Thought there would be a few more Bandit war stories out in PPrune land?

The "new" DHC6-400 is the same MTOW and MLW as the previous DHC6-300, with -34/-35 engines, an STC that has been around for some years. The major difference is the empty weight (due to new technology), reducing the -400 weight to around that of the original -200, just over 3,000 kg, although the Viking web site does not give an empty weight for the "new" -400.

The website gives the standard basic weight as 3121 kg. :ok:

I reckon they should have the Garmin SVT as standard equipment in new Twin Otters. There's been quite a few CFIT accidents due to high terrain and low vis closing in, in the past. This type of new technology would definitely help.

Well it stands to reason that a manufacturer will continue to gain knowledge and experience and keep making new and better products.

Except for the Australian aviation manufacturing industry which came to a complete stop with the Nomad.

:ugh: