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Post by baronbeeza on Jul 25, 2012 22:01:13 GMT 12
It may seem like dogleg but Darwin is really a long way East of Bali.
I have done Perth to Bali a few times and then Darwin to Bali many. There is not that much in it.
I just looked at my Google map and Broome is not far off the direct track from Bali to Alice.
While Darwin has the feel of being close to Asia and you can catch a flight after work and be drinking in any number of Asian cities that night Perth is not so far removed either.
I went to go down to Perth from Darwin for a contract.... rather than pay Qantas Domestic I went by budget carriers via Singapore. The fares worked out much the same.
I see that there are flights from Hedland to Bali, many of the FIFO miners are now living in Bali and commuting from there. I get the impression the flights are popular and often full. The flight looks about the same distance for both Perth and Denpassar.
5 hours for the Freighter shows just how quick it would be these days, possibly 2 hours or less.
The RNZAF 727's must have shrunk the distance from Singapore to NZ considerably, just a few years after the retirement of the B170 at that.
Hobart to Invercargill looks pretty good when compared to some of those other legs also.
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Post by hangartime on Jul 25, 2012 22:40:52 GMT 12
Glad you could answer that baronbeeza. I've copied it verbatim from the original Log Book from my late father. Totals up to just under 4,500hrs on B170's, Orions and Devons etc and a Nirmod at Kinloss from various sqaudrons.  These alot of stuff in there that the RNZAF went to that I've never heard of (I'm sure it's ok and not 'secret') and as for 'VIP's' - even these trips were noted so. Even a couple of 'incidents' noted as emergency landings due to engine failures and test flights. There's also alot (I mean ALOT) of terms I don't know like 'MCT' 'Rocketing' 'Acron' 'Subex' Aswex' and terms like 'Bombing' 'Test flight' etc which are self explanatory. All noted with airframe serials, hrs, captain and duty type. Includes medicals and tyope ratings at the front too in pink slips/card format. |
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Post by strikemaster on Jul 26, 2012 12:00:31 GMT 12
A mate of Dad's flew on Freighters during the Vietnam war. Last visit over Dad got to seeing a few Freighters so was reminded of a story he told. Apparently the throttles needed to be locked together on take off and the pilot didn't. So one engine dipped and the aircraft didn't have enough herb to get off the ground, probably listed too I'd imagine. Dad's mate reckoned it was the closest he got to death in Vietnam.
Freighters are a bit before my time, but man, they look awesome. Flying warehouses indeed. Neat pics.
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Post by ngatimozart on Jul 26, 2012 16:31:13 GMT 12
It may seem like dogleg but Darwin is really a long way East of Bali. I have done Perth to Bali a few times and then Darwin to Bali many. There is not that much in it. I just looked at my Google map and Broome is not far off the direct track from Bali to Alice. While Darwin has the feel of being close to Asia and you can catch a flight after work and be drinking in any number of Asian cities that night Perth is not so far removed either. I went to go down to Perth from Darwin for a contract.... rather than pay Qantas Domestic I went by budget carriers via Singapore. The fares worked out much the same. I see that there are flights from Hedland to Bali, many of the FIFO miners are now living in Bali and commuting from there. I get the impression the flights are popular and often full. The flight looks about the same distance for both Perth and Denpassar. 5 hours for the Freighter shows just how quick it would be these days, possibly 2 hours or less. The RNZAF 727's must have shrunk the distance from Singapore to NZ considerably, just a few years after the retirement of the B170 at that. Hobart to Invercargill looks pretty good when compared to some of those other legs also. Thanks for that. I should've looked at Google Earth. My sister lives in Port Hedland and my nieces are always off to Bali for about same price, Port Hedland - Perth. The Pibara & the Kimberlea is where the Aussie SAS play. Not that hospitable sort of place out of town. There was also a RAAF B24 base in the Pilbara not far from Marble Bar during WW2. |
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Post by davidd on Jul 26, 2012 16:58:32 GMT 12
Hangartime,
Acron = absolutely no idea.
MCT = Monthly Continuation Training (Pilots had to fly a minimum number of hours per month to remain "current" and I believe these flights were used to practcice any exercises in which they might have been considerd "rusty" - landings and take offs (circuits), instrument flying, single-engine flying, for instance (just guesses)
Subex = presume submarine exercise, although you would imagine that anti-submarine exercise would be more to the point (as below).
ASW = presume anti-submarine exercise.
Rocketing = I presume carrying out rocket-firing practice, either dead or alive.
David D
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Post by phil82 on Jul 26, 2012 17:21:07 GMT 12
I once spent 4 hours on a Freighter on the "Shuttle" in NZ and never left the country. Boarded at Wellington for Woodbourne, which we were advised was closed due to weather so on to Wigram, also closed, so back to Wellington.
They had a sense of humour though! In all the years they operated the Freighter, it was only in the latter year or so they decided that passengers could probably benefit from ear defenders! The racket inside was incredible, and you felt numb for at least an hour after you got off! Well, I did!
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Post by hangartime on Jul 26, 2012 23:28:36 GMT 12
Acron = absolutely no idea. MCT = Monthly Continuation Training (Pilots had to fly a minimum number of hours per month to remain "current" and I believe these flights were used to practcice any exercises in which they might have been considerd "rusty" - landings and take offs (circuits), instrument flying, single-engine flying, for instance (just guesses) Subex = presume submarine exercise, although you would imagine that anti-submarine exercise would be more to the point (as below). ASW = presume anti-submarine exercise. Rocketing = I presume carrying out rocket-firing practice, either dead or alive. David D Thanks for that. Seems to be quite a few supply drops and even Search and Rescue for a Singaporean Hunter pilot (Nov 18 1976) over 2 days for about 15hrs with a couple at night. Couldn't find any details about Hunter on the net. Anyway, couple more pics.... bearing in mind these are 35 years old hence colour fade and blur - last shots with 75 sqn. There's quite a few so I'll leave here - I was hoping to find a more unusual shot of the 'oddball combo' - it was an RAAF F-111 nearly stalling beside a B170 going flat out.        |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 26, 2012 23:57:01 GMT 12
Great shots!
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Post by phil82 on Jul 27, 2012 0:41:09 GMT 12
In the days when Canberras used to do detachments form Ohakea to Singapore,we peasants flew in a C130 one overnighter somewhere in Oz, then on to Singapore the next day. A spare Avon engine and other spares went in a Freighter which took THREE days to get there!
There was an incident I recall a few years ago where a USAF C124 Globemaster, the original one, got lost on the way to NZ from Pago Pago.. It had a main compass failure or something. Anyway, Whenuapai sent an aircraft up to find him and bring him home, and , you guessed it, it was a Freighter!
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Post by camtech on Jul 27, 2012 21:08:31 GMT 12
I remember an article about that episode - will try to dig it up, but might be some time as I'm packing up to shift in a couple of months. I can recall Bill Cowan was the signaller on the B170
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Post by phil82 on Jul 28, 2012 11:18:52 GMT 12
I remember an article about that episode - will try to dig it up, but might be some time as I'm packing up to shift in a couple of months. I can recall Bill Cowan was the signaller on the B170 Pilot was Sqn Ldr Winkleman? |
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Post by camtech on Jul 28, 2012 21:47:55 GMT 12
Sounds correct. I think the article I'm looking for was in an AHSNZ Journal, if anyone has access.
Just checked the file , nothing there, but did find a newspaper photo and brief report on the crash of NZ5908 near Woodbourne.
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Post by camtech on Jul 28, 2012 22:32:31 GMT 12
Found it - spring 1979. I'll try to scan it before I head to Australia next week.
Flt Lt Winkleman was the captain and the date was 19 July 1966.
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Post by davidd on Jul 28, 2012 23:21:20 GMT 12
Just a quick note, that article was in an AHSNZ Journal, but also I believe it was in the contemporary RNZAF News. The pilots name was spelt as Winkelmann, and the date was around about 1964/65 I think, but will have to get back on that.
David D
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Post by davidd on Jul 28, 2012 23:26:28 GMT 12
Whoops, have been pipped at the post by Camtech while I was searching my RNZAF News, but they ceased publicaion in April/May 1966 (No. 75) so I didn't find it anyway! Oh well....
David D
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Post by bobajob on Jul 29, 2012 19:28:45 GMT 12
Nice photos, fanatastic memories. Not a nice job emptying the bogger after a Singapore to Whenuapai flight, one of my first jobs after arriving in the big smoke after my Elect/mechs course in late 1968. However much more fun leaving one behind in Bangkok with Fuzz Freeman, Colin Creighton and Keith Reilly for a single mans tour of Thailand in 1973.
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Post by phil82 on Jul 30, 2012 10:31:41 GMT 12
As I recall, the Globemaster had lost his compass and really hadn't a clue where they were. The Freighter found it more or less by dead reckoning and guessing where it was most likely to be on a course from Pango Pango to NZ, actually a fine piece of navigation on behalf of the Freighter crew! They eventually made radio contact and the Freighter did its "Follow Me" bit after confusing the yanks no end as to the type of aircraft they were flying!
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Post by shorty on Jul 30, 2012 10:39:22 GMT 12
I seem to recall that the yanks thought that we were sending a "Fighter" not a "Freighter" and were worried that it may not have the range
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Post by htbrst on Jul 30, 2012 12:27:27 GMT 12
I was just reading an excellent article about that rescue the other day in an old AHSNZ Journal. Since its still on my coffee table, its Spring 1979 by WK Cowan.
The crew was Dave Winkleman (Pilot), Mick Keane (Navigator) and WJ Cowan (signaller).
The C-124 had a rudimentary UHF Homer, and the Freighter was the only one available with a UHF fit so they were sent up to intercept.
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Post by mastersig on Aug 9, 2013 13:37:03 GMT 12
On the single control RNZAF Freighters, the Navigator sat up top next to the Driver. In the Dual control model, his position was downstairs in the nose doors. |
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