Celebrating some anniversary for Dehavilland aircraft, but plenty of DH prouducts including Heron, Dove, Chipmunks, Tiger Moths and a few other rare aircraft.

They organised another one at Managalore got a stream formation lead by Dash 8 of Southern Airlines, Airlines of Tasmania's Heron, Doves, Chipmunk, Tiger Moths and a Gypsy Moth.

Twin Bonanza CLN/CLM were operated by a guy called Stan Smith, who had business interests on King Island.

Isn't that what WTIWIW said in post no. 83?

He was answering your question in post no. 77!!!!

Anyone know what Ewan Jarvis is doing these days?

When this thread was started I was away overseas so I missed it back then. Ewan Jarvis, I had forgotten that name and a lot of the others.

Worked at FIA as kid on the weekends, started formal flt training at Civils in 1970, never did an instructors rating but flew with a lot of the operators and some of the aircraft mentioned. What happened to John Williams, Ian Sharp, Gary Smythe, Ian Priestly, Bob Thorpe, Ken Rumble, Gordon Keyser, David McLean, John Burns, Graham Murphy, Doug Goss and Ian Grant to name a few.

gnomie

StationAir8 ... I think I saw him at Essendon Airport operating out of the flight school inside the terminal building. Unsure of the name - anyone? He has not been at YMMB for a while. His son Adrian I think has left aviation, and is working on turbine engine shutdowns in the mines.

Cheers, KP

Garry Smythe- still instructing at Moorabbin Flying Services. Respected by everyone around YMMB. Apparently still a b*gg*r to get a pass on any test but as fair as they ever come. Just a really, really genuinely nice guy.

YMMB is now "Oxford Airport".

I came very close to aborting my arrival a few weeks ago, climbing from circuit altitude to 1500 overflying and asking the Tower to start me again from some place like Carrum.

I was arriving from Academy and reported at Sandown as requested and directed to join downwind for 35L, I was given traffic of about Four Oxford aircraft on crosswind or downwind, with another Two in the circuit and Two more arriving from GMH via Parkmore.

I had difficulty spotting all and getting sufficient situational awareness to the point where I was just about to call it off since I couldn't determine if I had sufficient separation as required by the Regs. It was not helped by rotten student English language skills.

To top it off, I couldn't clear the runway for a minute after landing because I was Third in a Queue of Oxford Cessnas, and the lead one didn't have the English to get his taxi request out and start moving forward. Eventually his instructor made the call for him.

We all were students once and have to make allowances, but this is getting ridiculous.

The radio call "say again all after you pressed the button" frequently comes to mind.

Sunny, maybe that's why they have the new call-signs now, Oxford 1, Oxford 5, etc, so the students struggling with English don't have to struggle with saying normal call-signs like everyone else.

I understand one of the motives for the new call-signs are to prepare the students for the airlines, in terms of Qantas 123.

Last I head Ewen Jarvis was CFI at National Aerospace Training at Essendon.

Learnt a lot from him I did. :ok:

Only just came across this thread but with memories of Moorabin from the P51 parked in the pine trees days a few other names come to mind.
One is Campbell Hicks Airways and the ever present 'Uncle Bill'.Had some amazing instructors too with Doug Leckie and Roy Goon coming to mind.Apart from other things Roy was well known for his low level aerobatic displays in the Fuji FA200' AeroSubaru' including at the Moorabin Airshow in the early 70's.
Bill Campbell Hicks and Campbell Hicks Airways are long gone but live on as the Oxford flight Ops building.
A few other memories would be the Brain and Brown DC3's ( used to park near Superspread and was quite common for new wannabees to sneak inside and sit in the Captains seat for a bit -they weren't locked in those days).
All those other round engined machines parked near by too-the Beech 18's of F.I.A,the many Beaver cropdusters.Occassionly the B&B Avro Anson.
The noisiest aeroplane at the airport-DCA's AeroCommander 680 ( CAU I think ).
The first turbine powered machine-Bib Stillwell's KingAir 90.The whole airport used to stop to watch it taxy past.
The most immaculate Mustang ever seen-Don Busch's DBB.Sadly he was to eventually die at an airshow in this machine.
And Schutts with Arthur and Graeme proudly showing new buyers a selection of all the new models parked outside.
Ah yes,the good 'ol days.

point76.....Now there is another new post that should be started.....Arthur Schutt.....If anyone has a copy of Arthur in "This is your life" please PM me.....Probably the first brick double story building to be built at YMMB...Anyone remember the 3DB???? Flying Tadpole that used to be hangarded there!!!!! Plus a whole lot of other older types before the JET AGE arrived!!!!!!

There where two RC-3 Seabees at MB in the early seventies, a blue and gold one, VH-KNA, lived around the Schutt area. VH-MJO was the Radio 3DB aircraft and belonged to Bill Surh of Peninsula Airways. My first job, in 1971, was flying 3DB for Bill. The 3DB aircraft where, C172, KWN, C150, ROT and the Seabee. All had a black right hand underwing with red '3DB' painted in large letters and used for traffic spotting and beach patrol. The Seabee had a Franklin engine of 210hp with a ground adjustable prop, dual ignition, but one side was a magneto the other a car coil. Two hand pumps in the floor, one for the flaps, one for the gear and everything was 80 knots. Very weird aeroplane. I am not sure but I think 'KWN' was the one Phil Sutton stalled into the water near Mud Island. I had left by then but they found a large group of sharks and were going for a closer look. They ended up swiming with them but all survived what must have been a very exciting adventure. The aircraft was not recovered. If I remember correctly KNA was owned by a TAA pilot but didn't seem to fly much.

My parents had 3DB blaring its cheesy music, advertising and horse racing through the house for most of the early seventies. I also remember the noise of the Seabee off Mornington, 3DB called it 'The Flying Tadpole' and occasionally aired broadcasts from its pilot who they called 'Snoopy' (very original). That wouldn't have been you, would it George?

As an aside, Richard Bach ('Jonathon Livingston Seagull' etc.) included a story on flying the Seabee in a collection of his short stories and articles.

By George......I remember reading about the Mud Island ditching in an old Aviation Safety Digest and it showed the before and after photos of the sharks and then the plane in the water.

Anyone remember the rego of the Wackett?? I think G. Schutt owned and it's where abouts now days?????

From the excellent Ed Coates Collection:
Hope these photos bring back some memories.....

Google Images
This was the former VH-WWA acquired by K. E. Olsen of Camden 1965. He re-registered it with his wife's initials. It is seen above at Moorabbin in July 1975 in this nice shot by John Hopton display-ing a really gaudy colourscheme while operating shark patrols along Melbourne's beaches for radio station 3DB. Geoff Goodall's photo (below) was taken earlier in January 1967 when the aircraft was half way through a repaint. Olsen later sold the Seabee to Australian aviation adventurer Gregory R. Board when he returned to live in Sydney after 10 years in Asia and the USA flying military disposal heavy prop aircraft on clandestine ventures. Greg Board kept the Seabee moored at a jetty at his house in Church Point, and commuted in it to Camden where he established several new companies flying survey and charters with Norseman and Piaggio P166 equipment. In 1972 MJO was sold to Bill Suhr's Peninsula Air Services at Moorabbin and became a well known sight flying beach shark patrols in gaudy color schemes and named "The Flying Tadpole". Bill eventually sold it and several owners later it wound up with Pacific Air Services at Honiara, Solomon Islands as H4-HSD. Returning to Australia in 1999 it became VH-WET, residing at Mackay, although I believe it then had problems in getting a new CofA.

http://www.seabee.info/images/VH-WWA-01-740.jpg

From the Moorabbin Airport website, some overhead shots of the airport over the years. 1955, 1960, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1990 and 1996.

Look at the current Google Earth image to see the development that has taken place around the airport.

Is Runway 22 of any use anymore?

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...ortFeb1955.jpg

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...rtJune1960.jpg

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...rtXmas1962.jpg

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...August1967.jpg

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...tMarch1968.jpg

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...ortFeb1971.jpg

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...June1990UN.jpg

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...rtSept1996.jpg

Airport aerial view 1952:

http://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/N...irport1962.jpg

Air Museum 1960:

http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov...icle/209_1.jpg

Somebody's gear-up landing in 1974:

http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov...icle/209_3.jpg

Aerial view 1974:

http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov...icle/209_5.jpg

DCA VH-CAX Aero Commander 18 Feb 1972 at Moorabbin:
http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/aircraf...2%20Mainka.jpg

From the Ed Coates collection:

Brain & Brown Anson: http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austb/vhbab.jpg

Flinders Island Airways:
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/VH-FIA.jpg
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...cl/VH-FICa.jpg
Jan 1964: http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/VH-FID.jpg


http://images2.jetphotos.net/img/1/9...1225530589.jpg

Royal Vic Fleet 1963:
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...0in%201963.jpg

PA28 1969:
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...RVA%284%29.jpg

DHC Beavers:
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...ta/VH-AAD5.jpg
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/VH-IDA.jpg

Did Campbell-hicks have a daughter that flew also. The Moorabbin Air Museum had a Wackett Trainer, from memory it was red and silver though unsure of the rego. Lovely old shots of Brain and Brown ansons, they metalised one BAF, does anyone know what became of that aircraft. Were B&B also the distributors of the Fuji in Australia?

Many thanks for the images Al E.Vator.

Anyone know where or what Jock Gardiner is doing these days?

Prior to YMMB opening, I presume the RVAC was based out of Essendon?

When did Flinders Island Airlines finish operating the Beech 18's?

Must be a few stories to be told about the likes of Arthur Schutt and Fred Blake competing for aircraft sales?

1) Jock is still with us, retired but not in good health.

2) Not sure about Bill C-H having a daughter but when he lived in a caravan at Berwick he owned a dog that tried to bite my leg off. I was flying a cargo version of a Fletcher (FU-24A) and running back to the aircraft I had trouble getting onboard quickly enough. The Fletcher was awkward to get into and one dangling leg was slow to get out of the way.

Very sorry to hear about Jock. He did my restricted PPL flt test what seems like a lifetime ago when he was CFI at Civils and the last time I flew with him was in a BEECH 18(FIE) on a paper run around 1984.
Does anyone have any information on Garth Harris.

What a great thread, many memories and names I had forgotten. My first flight at Moorabbin was for my 10th birthday Nov. 1956, Dad took me down for a flight with his good friend Gertie McKenzie, being too busy she sent me off with her friend in a Hornet Moth, all over grass take off to the East, that flight changed my life for ever. The pilot was the famous aviatrix Freda Thompson.
Roy Goon and later Urms Wright did my checks in the mid sixties at RVAC and in the seventies at Berwick, memories of having to wake Bill Campbell-Hicks, sleeping in the caravan with his friend (Johnny Walker?) to fly Tiger Moth TIG.
Another Mustang at MMB was being prepared for an O/S flight by Ron Flockhart, sadly only made to the nearby hills before being destroyed.
All wonderful memories.

Must be a few more tales to tell at YMMB!

Were Civils the Piper agents at once stage?

From memory Civils were the piper distributors in the early seventies for a short time, they had PA28-140' CTK & CTY on line as well as a PA28-235 BJO and comanche BSL. Not sure of the time line but they probably had the dealership prior to Fred Blake who later took over Flinders Island Airlines. A company called Pipeair owned by racing car champion Bill Patterson was the first Piper dealer that I can recall, others may have more information.

From vague recollections it was Racing Driver Bib Stillwell that took over Brooks Aviation in 1962 and turned it into Civil in 1967. I seem to remember new Beechcraft Aircraft down near the pine trees and I am sure Civil's were, amonst other things, the Beechcraft Agents. VH-BIB was a new Beech 65 that impressed me greatly.:O

I was associated with Pipeair shortly after the company started. Bill Paterson bought McKenzie Flying School, obtained the Piper agency and hung his shingle up.
Bill Parow was CFI, Roy Goon who I recall was Gerties CFI must have retired.
This was late 61 according to my log book.

Bib Stillwell started his training with Pipeair on the Cherokee in Jan of 62 and I was lucky to be his instructor. Have never found another pupil with the natural talent that man had..

Bib shortly after bought Brookes Aviation and obtained the Beechcraft agency which p*ssed Paterson off mightily as he was expecting to flog him a Comanche.

Anyone know what eventually happened to Pipeair? I only stayed there till june 62...Paterson apparently did not like me cancelling flying with ab initio pupils in howling northerlies.

Emeritus

The late 60's & 70's was certainly full of characters and some really interesting aircraft. It was also the time when a young Rob Fox started snapping aircraft, Dave Prossor (Australian Aviation warbirds)and aviation historian Neil Follett could also be found around Moorabbin.

Does the Moorabbin Air Museum still have the Fairey Firefly among its exhibits, I remember seeing it arrive at YMMB on its last flight having been purchased from the government by the old tender/disposal system. What an impressive aircraft from a young kids perspective.

Does anyone have any information on Darcy Hogan an ATCer from the 70's & 80's.

Pipeair. Debbie Fanning's beautiful Pa22 Tripacer VH-MTS, which is still based at Moorabbin, carries a plaque on the exterior of the RH door that reads:

"Pipeair Pty Ltd. Piper aircraft dealer for Victoria and Tasmania. More people have bought Piper than any other plane"

VH MTS was registered on the 28th March 1958 and she is still going strong. A round the bay flight with her this late afternoon with the setting sun turning the evening golden is part of the joy of flight.

Does anyone have information on what may have become of Tiger Moths DFJ once owned by an Alan Blainey and GMC previously a McKenzie Flying School aircraft and then later owned by Colin Hanson, also Auster KBI which from memory at some stage belonged to a syndicate, however also did glider towing at Bachus Marsh or Benalla.

Gnomie,
good question, all three are still on register and flying.
Tiger DFJ is owned by Borg Sorensen and flies out of Tyabb
Tiger GMC is owned by a fellow in Carnegie.
Auster KBI is owned by Phil McMahon of Gatton Qld.
cheers :ok:

One for the old timers, why would Australian Air Charters PA-31/310 MBY been used as an air ambulance and carry Red Cross markings, in the early 1970's?

Didn't Executive Airlines hold the contract by then using Aerocommanders?

The photo is part of the Ed Coates collection.

Navajo VH-MBY was contracted to fly blood products to Darwin immediately after Cyclone Tracy in '74 for the Red Cross. It was a Charter not a contract.
Out of all the AAC Navajos, MBY was the least likeable to fly, wouldn't sit on the step like the others and was five knots slower.

Thanks for that info.

Would have been an interesting charter for somebody to do over the Christmas break.

3DB Seabee. . .
 

Hi HH,

YES. . . I remember the tadpole well, . . .I ought to, as I quoted the burgers originally to supply the aircraft graphics, but obviously did NOT have the correct Masonic handshake and some other company got the job. ( Perhaps my quote was a bit high - dunno. . . ? ? ? )

I remember it taxying in after landing and the pilot obviously applied too much brake for some reason and it tipped up onto it's nose for a few seconds before crashing back down again, much to the mirth of myself and "Mr. Cropduster extraordinaire " David Squirrell, who was working there as a flying instructor a the time. . . ( Both of us refugees from Casey Airfield at Berwick. . . )

I'm doing my CPL training now. Fly every week out of YMMB

One of the reasons I decided to learn to fly here was because it is so busy. I live ten minutes away from YMEN.

Had many great experiences flying in and out of this place. I still get surprises sometimes

The controllers are generally very nice and helpful

*edit: the RVAC maintenance crew are very very nice and helpful. Refuellers are top blokes too

I have never seen 22 used as anything but a quick way to vacate another runway. The reason I was told was because of the factories that have popped up on the eastern side of the field.