Skystar320.

You are correct re some AN F27's being put back into service whilst the AN
F50's were briefly grounded.

You may be interested to know that VH-FNQ actually returned to New Zealand in 11/90 on lease to an Ansett subsidiary. The a/c was re-registered as ZK-RTA, the initials of Ross T Allen; the Ansett New Zealamd Air Freight Operations Manager.

On 31 Mar 96 the a/c returned to Essendon via NLK and CFS and prepared for a 5 year lease to IAF (Independant Air Freighters). The a/c was handed over to IAF registered as VH-WAN (West Australian Newspapers) and departed for PER on 24 May 96.

On 17 Apr 01 the a/c was leased to Aircruising and operated on behalf of Ansett Air Freight between BNE-SYD-BNE until 13 Sep 01 (AN collapse). In late 2001 the a/c was ferried BNE-TMW by Capt S Weatherstone of Aircruising.

The a/c was included on a list of assets by the Ansett Administrators after the collapse.

The a/c was purchased by the Queensland Air Museum of Caloundra on 23 Aug 08 who now have the a/c on display. They plan to paint the a/c in the original Ansett-ANA colour scheme showing the original registration of VH-FNQ (Far North Queensland).

FNQ. Have they got a photo of "Slom" beside her? :p

Tinnie

We've got lots of photos of things beside FNQ but I doubt if there's a Slom amongst them.

Rgds

Going off track slightly , but l lived in Karumba in the good old days of Bush Pilot Airways, with the DC3 making its many stops from Cairns. That of course was buggered when it bacame Air Qld, and suddenly the F27 arrived for the Cairns -Weipa run with pilots in not only the standard white shirt, shorts and long socks, but sporting CAPs as well. That must have spelt the demise of the DC3. Happy days!

You know you're getting old when two aeroplanes you've flown are in the same museum! :( (VH-KAM and VH-FNQ)

From what I understand the hangovers were still the same. :hmm:
Just couldn't sprawl over the tailplane of a Fokker

Hee, hee, one for you Frank

I wonder if anyone has pointed out to QAM and FNQ was the first of the Ansett F27 fleet to wear the white overall colour scheme (September 1982)?

As youngster I flew in a MMA F-27 from Port Hedland to Perth in 1961– after having travelled the ‘milk run’ north in a DC-3. MMA’s F-27 fleet peaked at 10 aircraft.

Ansett took a controlling interest in MMA in 1963 and it was gradually incorporated (via Airlines of Western Australia) into the Ansett network and livery by 1984.

An interesting there is an interesting book by Reg Adkins (I Flew For MMA (MacRobertson Miller Airlines) ), who flew DC-3 and F-27/28 over 30+ years. There are tabs on each of these aircraft at the top left and bottom gutter.

Tinpis, Are you talking about the pssups at the aeroclub in cairns, thursday nights if l recall?

Sorry mate, can't remember...

Disappointed to hear Reg Adkin's book is out of print. I wonder how his son Alwyn is doing ?

Dora-9

It's all there on the QAM website.

Not only was FNQ the first to wear the predominantly white "Southern Cross" scheme but it was also the last to wear the ANSETT-ANA livery and therefore the last to be painted in the "Delta" scheme.

QAM's intention is to repaint her in the "Delta" scheme.

Rgds

Think this was FNI
Capt. Franks last Frugal trip.
Cairns about '87
I knew the fat FO


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y15...kkollarf27.jpg

Pedota & B772,the book by Reg Adkins sometimes comes up for sale on ebay,but it would be a good idea to put a 'watch' on it. Also,many libraries have it or can get it in via inter library loans. Well worth it....it's a good read.

From when I spoke with him last.....doing pretty good :ok:.

I am sure he will be pleased to see you interest in his wellbeing ;)

J:ok:

Fris B. - thanks for this, I hadn't realized about the "last Ansett-ANA" scheme bit.

PM sent.

Crewing of DCA F27s
 

Re post #80
"Looking through the F-27 site posted earlier on, it mentions that TAA crewed the DCA Fokkers up until 1978, why was that? Would have been a very cosy little arrangement no doubt."

From the late 50s'/early 60s', DCA aircraft (incl. F27s) were operated by the DCA Flying Unit at Essendon and crewed by DCA pilots.

For details, ref Airways Museum / Civil Aviation Historical Society
History of the Departmental Flying Unit

At least one of our greybeard members was a line F27 pilot with DCAFU in the early 70s until he left to go fly airlines. With any luck he will take the bait and relate some yarns of navaid survey trips and the like.

Indeed, another PPRuNer was the boss for several years a little later on. A chap of many tales who had done my initial twin training some years earlier.

Just like airlines without the hosties ... somehow the techs just didn't cut the mustard in the hostie stakes.


[For hei yu, looking at the link in the last post, I think the reference to Rod Torrington as a tech might be a little off the mark. Although, as I recall, he started off as a tech, Rod was, by then, a fairly senior electrical engineer - I was but a junior aero eng chap at the time and learned a great deal from Rod. I see Brian Surtees' photo on the poster - haven't seen him in years - do you know what he is up to these days ?]

A couple of photos of ''slom'' with VH-FNR, one of him about to dine at the luxurious buffet in flight somewhere over Europe, and one after our arrival in England, where we left VH-FNR.

http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/...pport/f271.jpg

http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/...pport/f272.jpg

Finally got them right. :ugh:

With a lot of kind help from tail wheel. :ok:

Aaargh! I've seen it all now - "Slom" wearing a hat and tie????!!!!!