Papua New Guinea - Defence Force - AIR Wing
 

Is anyone able to provide an insight as to the current status of the PNG Defence Force Air Wing?
Has anything been achieved since inception?
What aircraft have they operated and what types of aircraft are in service today?
There was a large order placed for PAC-750 single engine aircraft, did they arrive and start flying?
Are there any qualified PNG pilots and engineers in the flight unit?
Has the PNG Defence Force air wing contributed to the Covid-19 pandemic in PNG

Hevilift are/were contracted to supply 2 Bell 212s for the PNGDF, crewed and all the rest of it.

Talk about a PAC 750, however it never arrived or it is parked up in the hangar collecting dust. All the other aircraft are derelict or unairworthy - nogot moni

They could probably do with a decent fleet of surveillance aircraft considering the recent 402 crash.

In the past they successfully operated DC-3's, Nomads (more or less successfully) and IAI Aravas. Their apron now looks like corrosion corner.

I could do the Air Wing a good deal on the 'Sandline' aircraft. Much corroded CASA 212 and very handy C337; both need a little work!

The worst place to be a fighter pilot?

Many many ...many years ago they trained at 1FTS.

Same story with the Patrol Boats gifted by Australia. Some have disappeared almost without trace.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....81d35499bb.jpg
The current "air force".

Where's the CASA 235 they that acquired?

In the hangar I suspect. Last I heard they were awaiting a new engine.

There is two CASA-235 aircraft, one became a Christmas tree and the other has been waiting repairs for over 2 years.
One problem is the naughty boys were running illegal charter and keeping the loot!

A couple of shots of the PNGDF museum as of back end of 2015 early 2016...sorry thats the latest I have....I note the AeroCobra appears missing now from the pic put in the earlier post...was sitting on the very back row. Maybe hiding behind the CASA?

I hope the pics upload OK....


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cd373e9a46.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e04d594438.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cf52ec67de.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1f0683f9f4.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....671b210650.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ec3afe43eb.jpg

....I wondered where the Airacobra had gone after the NAC goons shut down the Aero Club....

The CASA C-212 registered N461CA, owned by Sandair, was allegedly "damaged beyond repair" in February 2000: https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=20000299-0

I think the C337 also belonged to Sandline?

The 'damaged beyond repair' is/was the closest option in the drop down menu to describe an aircraft that appears to have suffered minor damage, severe corrosion, and unlikely to return to service.
I made the entry to ASN

OK. And the Cessna 337 registration? Is it a C337 or an O2? It has a prop spinner so suspect it is a C337.

Does the PNGDF Air Wing have anything flying?

Cessna 337A Skymaster N6291F Serial No. 291 21/02/1997 registered to Sandair Corp of Middleton, Delaware, 3/04/2000 cancelled from register.

Stock standard C-337
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c0cc2baeec.jpg
Stock standard C-337
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0f600ba3e6.jpg
Poor quality camo paint job

The C-337 along with the CASA212-5 was left behind after the failed coup by Sandline mercenaries; engaged by former PNG Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan

The PNGDF flying Unit has two CASA 235 aircraft, one is a Christmas tree and used for spare parts to keep one other flying. The so called flyable 235 is grounded awaiting spare parts. The Aravia's are all U/S

Duck Pilot, suggests there may be one of six PAC-750 ordered new from New Zealand over two years ago at the back of the hangar, unconfirmed, no qualified PAC pilots or engineers.

The Defence Force pilot's are a law unto themselves, so they won't bother with SIM recurrency .......

Hevilift supply two Bell 212's with pilots, based at the Air Base.

I'm sure if someone knows a Hevilift pilot they would be able to inform us whats in the hangar.

Nice to know if a PAC750 was ever delivered.

FlightAware shows ZK-DKI a PAC750 arrived in POM on the 29th may 2018. Should still be there, hope the engine has been inhibited

Confirmed the PAC is in the hanger (only 1).

And they’ve asked numerous organisations to put together tenders for the maintenance.

Not sure any of the major players have bothered with the tender due getting paid will be the issue.

So did PAC get paid for that one delivered or was that the reason no further deliveries were made....?

Twas on the tarmac at Jackson's to see a PNGDF Arava start-up and roll forward into a Pixie F-28's left hand engine. Fuel rushing everywhere. The F-28 had a full load of pax just embarked and was running ready to taxy. The Arava as it turned out was being taxied by a PNGDF techo to the PNGDF tarmac however Cpl Spook forgot to turn to select the hydraulics on so he had no steering and little or no brakes and it's slightly downhill....The Arava never flew again.

Wasn't actually taxied by techo. National aircraft captain let copilot taxi down from ATS air movements to refuel on the finger. He had Loadmaster in RHS. He negelected to turn on the electric aux pump which provided brake pressure and nose wheel steering. He started taxiing forward and normally you would check the emergency brake which would have worked. Pointing down hill with a fair bit of thrust and no steering he no doubt panicked and it just headed straight at the F28 with it's left wing missing the left wing of the F28 and the port propeller of the Arava hit the running RR Spey. At no take did the pilot try reverse. The Arava's left engine stopped within two blades leaving one blade pretty much undamaged. I think the pilot left it running for a period of time.

The Air Niugini crew didn't actually see what happened but felt the bump and got some strange engine indications and shut down. I think the Arava was still running for a while after this. Everyone was lucky and it could have been a lot worse. With fuel oil and I think at least 3 cans of the running Spey cut through it was a miracle there wasn't a fire.

One new PT6-36 and a new prop. Arava certainly did fly again. I think PNGDF had to pay for the Spey and damage. I think approximately 300,000Kina for the Arava and even more for the Spey. Never a dull moment!

Must have been a long time ago if you are talking F-28's and Speys?

Also, 300,000Kina won't go far for a new PT6A-34. (Is there a -36? I thought they had -34s, same as the Bandeirante?)

packapoo,

Absolutely never paid for!
Otherwise the PAC750, ZK-KDI, would still not be registered to Pacific Aerospace. The aircraft is shown active on the NZ register.
You might ask why the factory does not repossess the aircraft? Simple.. just try and get your hands on it, we have people here with big guns!
So it will sit there and rot away, because no spare parts will be supplied to that serial number airframe.
Time for a cold beer at the Aviat.

Thanks for that Kaga

And enjoy that beer. Hope Aviat is the same great spot for a coldie it always was.

Not PNGDF but only thing that seems to flies is the RPNGC 212.

Tailwheel, it certainly was some time ago. Either late 1984 or early 1985. Sorry memory fails me. Aravas had -36's as an option over the -34 of the Bandit. Better hot and high performance. Luckily didn't manage to get the 3 x 50 Cals and 3.75in FFAR (rockets) option. Trying to load live ordinance at Lae next to the civil terminal may have been tragic.

The 300,000kina was ~1984 when Kina was tired to US dollars and stronger than Australian dollar. Not sure that Air Niugini ever got paid but I did see the bill. Probably not.

I was supposed to be up there flying next month but not anymore with COVID. Great place and generally fantastic people. Absolutely never a dull moment.

regards Flickroll

Defence Force PAC-750
 

Seen taxying around POM today; 20th Oct 2020, is PNG Defence Force aircraft PAC-750, ZK-KDI. Imported many years ago and left in the hangar, unloved.

The aircraft was cancelled from the New Zealand register on 13th Oct.2020.

Possible someone in PNG might have bought a bargain! or the Defence Force has found money, trained a pilot?, outsource engineering..

And on a day of surprises, the South Pacific Motor Sports Club, one of a number of favorite hangouts for those in Aviation, was robbed again this morning at 03:00 hrs. With a 99.9% guarantee, it will be an "inside" job as usual.

The Captain of the F28 parked and boarding for Cairns on an early evening flight when it got “kissed” by the military Arava, is now the Minister for Labour in the PNG Government after serving some time as Minister of Civil Aviation.

Luckily the guardian angels were working overtime that day, the possibilities of a more tragic outcome were high as the F28 APU was running and half the cabin had already been boarded. Never a dull moment!!