1958cessna172

Will be booked for speeding, straddling lanes, no 'Wide Load' sign, bald tyres, no reg and unroadworthy.Internationals reading this will think I'm joking ...

Why Woman’s lucky escape and not simply Pilot’s lucky escape?

Yak 3 with a Radial??????

Even managed an Aeroclub Cherokee into here!!!

In1966, Papuan Airlines, (Patair), imported 2 PC6 Porters into PNG. Registered VH-PNG, and VH-PNH. They were used for at least until after 1970 nor mostly Papuan Highlands flying into strips such as Efogi, Naoro, Kagi, Manumu, & Menari on the Kokoda Track, and into the 'Goilala' strips of Woitape, Kosipe,Fane,Tapini,Kubuna. They pretty much halved the business previously the exclusive 'right' of the Cessna 185s - of which there were many in those days. Most pilots who moved onto the Porter already had some solid short strip flying experience. But, the accidents continued - simply because the weather didn't suddenly improve because you had a PT6 up front. The valleys didn't get any wider either. And it was just as easy to get lost and end up in a blind valley - from which you needed much more than a Porter to save the day. Somewhere in this period, another Porter,VH-PNF, was imported but I think it was a prototype with a recip engine - anyway, it didn't last long.In the 70's, these were sold off to other PNG operators. PNH was destroyed in a fatal in 1974, but PNG went thru several registrations,PNO, SEA and lasted many more years. The Australian Army was using Cessna 180s during the 1960s, then shifted into Porters which they used widely in PNG training work.

 

Porters suffered from the same loading difficulties as the previous C185s - a sloping floor while on the ground, and an undercarriage partially blocking access to it's nice wide doors. Despite both aircraft being eminently suited to jungle strip ops, the loading/unloading issues favoured tricycle u/c types. A few are still operated by Susi Air in 'west' Papua, where they service some very rough strips indeed. Even the missions in PNG have shifted out of the Porter into tricycle geared PAC-750 and Kodiaks.

 

The Porters' future was limited by the introduction of more DHC-6 Twin Otters by TAL/Talair in the 70s. 2 engine safety was very much preferred. However,even these great twins were not protected against pilot error and the infamous PNG weather. As well, airports were being upgraded and became accessible to Bandierantes, and to Dash 8s. And, more roads were constructed.

 

I never quite made it onto the Porter:forever the bridesmaid pushing a C185 around for many years. But I regard myself as one of the lucky ones to have survived those years.

 

Trust readers will like the pics.

 

happy days,

According to th WA "expert" the 747 flew into a descending wingtip vortice from a heavy aircraft that had flown just above that airspace a short period of time before. maybe an A380 or the like on departure?

re Mark Vinson

This Mark maybe a relative of Noel Vinson, I assisted him in a couple of wreck salvages in PNG .... about a lifetime ago!!!

Wing attach forgings needed. all of mine have extensive corrosion. Any clues for source of tagged items, all 4!!!! needed