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Post by ron on Feb 27, 2010 12:51:28 GMT 12
I seem to recall that Qantas purchased the 747SP primarily to serve WLG because with the retirement of the Air NZ DC-8s there was no other jet equipment that could serve WLG. I think it was only later that the aircraft was used on the Pacific route for which it was designed. Ironically, towards the end of the 747SP's service with Qantas, what was once the world's longest range airliner was being routinely used on Sydney/Brisbane/Sydney shuttles!
The following dates may be of interest. Please note that all are specific to Brisbane.
28MAY72 Last Electra BNE/WLG ZK-TEB 09FEB81 First B747SP WLG/BNE/AKL VH-EAA 13DEC81 Last DC-8 BNE/WLG ZK-NZE 31JUL85 First Qantas B767 BNE/WLG VH-EAK 06OCT85 First Air NZ B767 WLG/BNE/WLG ZK-NBA
This would seem to indicate that the B747SP served WLG well into 1985 when the first 767s arrived.
Regards Ron
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Post by ron on Feb 16, 2010 17:55:11 GMT 12
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Post by ron on Feb 9, 2010 21:44:04 GMT 12
Deane B
Yes please to the offer of high res images of CEL. If you could send them to admin@qam.com.au I'd be much obliged.
Rgds Ron
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ron
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ZK AWP
Jan 28, 2010 21:15:18 GMT 12
Post by ron on Jan 28, 2010 21:15:18 GMT 12
Folks VH-MMD and VH-UPQ belong to the Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown so they won't be going to Molong. However, they will presumably go to Camden when the AAM relocates. Interesting thing about these aeroplanes is that they have consecutive c/ns. VH-DNF (NTU) is due to be transported from Warnervale to Molong in early 2010. There it will join VH-MIN, VH-DNA, VH-BPN and VH-PWN (#2) which are already on site. I was advised yesterday by someone who is actually trying to buy a DC-3 that VH-CWS is available with a maintenance release for AU$135,000. Further details on: www.dc3.adastron.comRgds Ron
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ron
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Pawnees
Dec 26, 2009 16:58:48 GMT 12
Post by ron on Dec 26, 2009 16:58:48 GMT 12
Here is a recent shot of ZK-CEL now on display at the Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra.
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ron
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Post by ron on Dec 13, 2009 19:38:48 GMT 12
Dave From "The Australian Hudson Operating Instructions": A dry chemical toilet is provided in the center compartment just aft of the cabin door ... A curtain for screening off the lavatory compartment is kept stowed by straps against the right cabin wall just forward of the aft most window. It may be extended across the cabin by hooking the rings in the top and bottom corners, over hooks located on the bulkhead ring opposite. This means that the aft most window is within said lavatory compartment. There is no mention of placing brown paper over this window for privacy Rgds
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ron
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Post by ron on Dec 13, 2009 12:06:06 GMT 12
Greetings all I ran this past David Vincent, author of "The RAAF Hudson Story" and before you ask, Dave asked me to tell everyone that Volume 2 is due out in July 2010. He found this reference: From undated, but probably 1940 "Notes Lockheed-Hudson No-2 Sqdn Airframe": "The Hudson B14 is 'Nose Heavy' when in rigging position so care must be taken to have ballast to weigh at least 700 lbs aboard, also be sure that the tail trestle is ballasted to at least 400 lbs at its base. When gun turret is not fitted a steel plate weighing 300 lbs must be carried in lieu. (a steel plate the same dia[meter] as gun turret and 3/4 inch thick weighs approx 300 lbs.)" I have a copy of a Lockheed publication titled 'The Australian "Hudson" Operating Instructions'. It doesn't mention ops without a turret but it does have this interesting reference (p.9): "Outboard of the toilet on each side are ballast compartments with provisions for attaching A.M. standard ballast weights and space for miscellaneous stowage." Being in the toilet compartment makes its location aft. I thought it reasonable to assume that there might be a similar facility forward but I could find no reference to it. Possibly the aeroplane was that nose heavy (as David's reference indicates) and forward ballast was never required. I am wondering if the earlier reference to covering the turret aperture with "steel sheet" may have been misconstrued from a reference to the steel plate i.e. the ballast. Denys, does your aeroplane have evidence of the ballast compartment? Regards and Seasons Greetings to all Ron
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ron
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Post by ron on Oct 14, 2009 22:06:31 GMT 12
This is how the QAM Ventura looked on 3 Sept 2009. It's not a bad effort considering that the aircraft was given the "farm shed mod" postwar. QAM has a port wing which is being restored in the foreground. A starboard wing has thus far proved elusive. The F.27 was indeed formerly ZK-RTA. Its full history is here: www.qam.com.au/aircraft/friendship/VH-FNQ.htmRgds
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ron
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Post by ron on Jul 12, 2009 13:46:55 GMT 12
The BA 747 makes sense. They used to operate to Brisbane and on to London on Sundays. Given that I live in Brisbane, it was quite fortuitous that I captured all these aeroplanes. I was visiting a relative in Auckland and I didn't even know there was an airshow on. He also took me to see the Albatross alighting on the harbour but unfortunately we were too far away for any useful photos. In addition to photographing all of the above, I also shot two aeroplanes which ultimately gravitated to the collection of the Queensland Air Museum, Heron VH-KAM and F.27 ZK-RTA. This is why I figure it's only a matter of waiting patiently until the Albatross arrives!
Regards Ron
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Post by ron on Jul 10, 2009 23:17:24 GMT 12
The Albatross, also on 20NOV92. [a href=" "] [/a] [a href=" "] [/a] [a href=" "] [/a]
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Post by ron on Jul 10, 2009 22:42:08 GMT 12
Here's the Il-76 CCCP-76822 also on 20NOV92. [a href=" "] [/a] Rgds Ron
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Post by ron on Jul 10, 2009 22:21:49 GMT 12
Hairy Here's your BD-5J N53EJ taken at Auckland on 20NOV92. It looks like Dave "Hammer" Harris is your man. [a href=" "] [/a] Regards Ron
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Post by ron on May 5, 2009 18:38:15 GMT 12
It is generally accepted that ZK-TAJ was scrapped in Australia. Thanks to David Swiggs we now have photographic proof. David took these images at Launceston, Tasmania on 06NOV96 as the dismembered remains were carted off by a local scrap dealer. There has been some speculation that the fuselage of ZK-TAJ may have become the famed hunting lodge in the wilds of Tasmania but this is now known to have come from VH-CLT. [a href=" "] [/a] [a href=" "] [/a] [a href=" "] [/a] [a href=" "] [/a]
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Post by ron on Apr 7, 2009 10:30:35 GMT 12
Leo
Those images on Airliners.net reveal the following:
LZ-SFG was photographed at Hamilton on 23/24 FEB97 in Air Sofia livery and said to be on lease to CargoAir NZ although no titles are carried.
LZ-SFL was photographed at Hamilton and Christchurch between 10JUL97 and 07OCT97. The JUL97 photos show the aeroplane apparently being unloaded with forklifts (possibly offloading spares?) so that may well be its delivery flight as earlier surmised. At this time the aircraft carried no CargoAir titles although these are in evidence in the AUG97 photos.
This is now outside the scope of my original research but let's follow it through to a conclusion if we can.
Was LZ-SFG indeed on lease to CargoAir? The fact that it was operating out of Hamilton suggests that it probably was.
Did LZ-SFG continue operating in NZ beyond FEB97 and was there a gap before LZ-SFL arrived in JUL97?
Mike shows LZ-SFG operating as follows:
23JAN97 BNE-HLZ 24JAN97 HLZ-SYD-LAE
Was this a CargoAir operation or just an itinerant charter? Alternatively, are the movements on 23/24JAN97 and 23/24FEB97 one and the same with a typo?
Imagine how much fun it must be tracking these "aerial tramp steamers" on a worldwide basis.
Regards Ron
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Post by ron on Apr 5, 2009 12:26:39 GMT 12
I think I've gone as far as I can with this subject (certainly much farther than I originally intended!). The results of my research are on the QAM website: www.qam.com.au/misc-exhibits/An-12-door.htmAny additions or corrections will be much appreciated. Rgds Ron
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Post by ron on Mar 31, 2009 21:37:42 GMT 12
Hi Dave
Thanks all the same but it's just the An-12s that I am chasing. More specifically, I'm trying to compile a listing of the An-12s which were based in Brisbane with Pacific Air Express. The NZ aeroplane, LZ-SFL, was later based in Brisbane for a time. Don't ask me how I came to be obsessed with Antonovs!
Regards Ron
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Post by ron on Mar 31, 2009 12:12:26 GMT 12
Mike
Many thanks for your trouble. That info is very helpful indeed. Do you expect that the 09JUL97 movement by LZ-SFL was a delivery flight?
Nice to see someone else speaking AIRIMP.
Regards Ron
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Post by ron on Mar 28, 2009 12:05:48 GMT 12
Cargo Air NZ chartered An-12 LZ-SFL for trans-Tasman horse charters in the late nineties. The aircraft was photographed by Phil Treweek at Rukuhia in August 1997. Does anyone know when the charter began and when it ended? Were any other An-12s involved?
Regards Ron
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Post by ron on Mar 20, 2009 21:37:12 GMT 12
Richard
I regret that I cannot answer your question but it might help if any reader can supply the details from the data plate on that engine, particularly its serial number. The prop blades appear to be metal. Can anyone confirm this?
Regards Ron
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Post by ron on Feb 8, 2009 15:44:18 GMT 12
Sir Reginald Barnewall has provided this image of Prince ZK-BMQ. Sir Reg sends his compliments but regrets that despite his best efforts and the efforts of friends in Samoa he does not know the final fates of the three Princes.
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