Old maps/pictures
 

Currently in search of some nostalgia. Does anyone have scans of old WAC's or VTC's? Just curious, id imagine back 'in the day' the melbourne VTC would look pretty plain.

What about 1944 mercator charts. I've got some of them.

I can't beat 1944, but I have a WAC chart here from 1974.

You can't have it though as it's in my Navbag. I'm using it tomorrow. :eek:

I've got a guide to navigation from the 1920s (it was my grandfathers).

It's more of a pamphlet, than a book. Gives a very good description of time/distance, and dead reckoning. The final chapter is about three paragraphs, along the lines of - if lost, land. Ask someone, or read a roadsign. Locate that spot on your chart, and take off to continue your journey.

The old 60's SHELL ROAD MAP book was a beauty. I think they took their plates from WAC chart. Was all that was required and didnt blow out of Tiger Moth just when you was getting it sorted the correct way up.

I have no idea where it came from but I have (not with me) something like a 'long range overwater navigation chart' for the pacific - probably dates from the 60's or so - and it's in perfect nick.

I've seen WACs about as old as Stallie's - except they were so worn out you couldn't see most of the features....

WACs Adelaide November 1959, Melbourne September 1961

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...am227/z047.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...am227/z046.jpg

@ Brian, thanks for sharing :)

Anyone else wanna scan some in? :8

Class G/rural is pretty empty in Australia - would have been amazing to fly back in the 50/70's.

ahh yes, i still use the old shell maps for driving today - starting to disintegrate now:}

You should get a Tom, Tom! ! :E

Does that really matter when they look like this? :} (The blue line is the 1500' contour)

http://www.remoteadventures.com/webpics/emptymap.jpg

Well I'll be snowed.

I take it that Fishermens Bend is one of the airports in the CBD area, what is the one due west of Essendon airport?

Look at YMMB out in the country!

Melton.

An old VTC would be revealing: how did we manage with the zone boundary along the beach all the way down by Middle Park/Albert Park and east to Nunawading, the VFR route along the Western Highway with the strobes to guide you, no access through Laverton/Pt Cook airspace without a week's notice and a letter from the Queen Mum :=

JE..

How true. The whole of the western side of Port Phillip seemed a no go area during the week.

Flew into Fishermans Bend in Nov of 62. I think at that stage it did not seem to exist officially. I recall that the eastern end of the East/West runway ended at a factory wall and was the only useable strip. Once construction of the Westgate Bridge got well underway the airfield became a big construction site and ceased to exist.

Still got all my WAC charts from GA days. As mentioned elsewhere the Shell road maps were considered a valuable addition to the nav bag.

Emeritus.

would be nice to see an old VTC is anyone got them? :)

Would be nice to see some old airport charts from DAPS. All the major airports have gone through some big upgrades over the last 20 to 30 years and in the case of Brisbane a new airport. Comparing the old with the new would be good.

All the old charts, letdown plates, aerodrome diagrams and AIPs are held in the Airways Museum on Essendon Airport. (Indispensible next time you want to make a VAR approach to Wagga or Launie or wonder where the flare paths will appear on Sydney - Water i.e. Rose Bay or you need to divert into Redland Bay.)

Roger Meyer is the head sherang at the Airways Museum. (One of nature's, Roger.) There's always a few of his trusty lieutenants helping. They are only too happy to dig out anything at which you may want to have a butchers. Across Matthews Ave is the TAA Museum run by Jim Meehan. Fascinating place too. Allow a few hours at either establishment.

From Airways Museum website -

Roger Meyer OAM (1942- )

Roger Cordt Meyer joined DCA on 3 February 1960 as a Radio Technician-in-Training. There were eight trainees in the intake, of whom six completed the five-year apprenticeship.

After qualifying, Roger was appointed to the Radio Installation Section (located in Second Avenue, on the western side of Essendon Airport). His first task was the installation of the new Route Surveillance Radar (RSR) and Area Approach Control Centre (AACC) at Melbourne Airport. After a few months of this work, he was asked to go to Regional Office (123 Latrobe Street) to assist the Engineers by designing radio circuits and undertaking small-scale installation projects.

Roger discovered an aptitude for design work and project management, and this progressed to undertaking larger scale projects, which ultimately included Control Towers, radar operator consoles, communications equipment, search and rescue centres, training simulators, and a many, many smaller scale projects. In this capacity, Roger worked closely with air traffic controllers in the writing of Facility Schedules (operational documents which stipulated additions and changes to ATC facilities, with engineering concurrence).

In 1974, Roger heard of the Head Office decision to formally establish a collection of redundant radio and ATC equipment as the foundation of a Museum. They were seeking a Custodian, and Roger offered his services.

When Head Office relocated to Canberra in the early 1980s, the key H.O. people involved with the Museum retired (Ron Rye, George Brown and Eric Anderson), and by default the Museum became the responsibility of the Victoria/Tasmania Region. It survived several cost-cutting purges and, by constantly scrounging funds, and by the goodwill of field staff at Essendon Airport, the museum survived. Roger was allocated 5% of his working time to manage the Airways Museum.

In 1982, the Department of Transport announced that an Historical Society was to be formed, to connect the great amount of historical interest from the public with the wealth of historical knowledge within the Department. Each Region was asked to appoint a volunteer to set up a local Division. Roger offered, and was soon appointed as Secretary of the Victoria/Tasmania Division. Divisions in SA/NT, WA and the ACT were also established, but never in NSW or Queensland. In time, the ACT Division folded, and the Vic/Tas Division (by default) took over responsibility for Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The Civil Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) battled on through the 1980s, during which time the Harper Lectures, the Johnston Lectures and the DCA 50th anniversary were among the highlights. In June 1999, the Historical Society moved its base from the city to Essendon Airport where it is now co-sited with the Airways Museum. Since then, the Society has grown in stature and outreach. Click here to see a photo of Roger with some of our distinguished guests.

Roger Meyer retired on 6 October, 1999, as a Middle Manager (Technical Specialist) after 39½ years service. Roger was also Secretary of the CAHS from 1983-1999 and has been President since then.

Roger Meyer was awarded a well-deserved Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours "for service to the community through the preservation and recording of Australian civil aviation history".

I still have all my WAC charts from GA days.

I also have a RAAF mercator chart from WW2,a first edition WAC chart for TAS and an early style NDB chart/Landing Chart for Portland from '66.

I have not yet worked out how to post pics on Pprune so if some one would do it for me I can email copies to them.

TIA...Emeritus

Capn Bloggs - Tom Tom = Sh!t, Sh!t, (in my experience)..