Thread: RFDS RETIREE

Thanks for posting - seems like you get value out of them - any interesting incidents or repairs ?

That makes me feel really old as I gave evidence to CASA on behalf of P&WC to get single engine IFR/night/RPT certification for single engine PC12 & Cessna Caravan operations. Seems like yesterday. At the time Central Section were the group most opposed to single engine operations, & I remember Graham Maughan (spelling) reminding them that not too long ago they were flying single engine C206's!

Amazing aircraft.

Originally Posted by 87County

Thanks for posting - seems like you get value out of them - any interesting incidents or repairs ?

A quiet respectable history with this one.
Couple of lightning strikes a few minor animal strikes, but nothing to really mark it's career by.
Just did its job without fuss.

Originally Posted by Avion8

That makes me feel really old as I gave evidence to CASA on behalf of P&WC to get single engine IFR/night/RPT certification for single engine PC12 & Cessna Caravan operations. Seems like yesterday. At the time Central Section were the group most opposed to single engine operations, & I remember Graham Maughan (spelling) reminding them that not too long ago they were flying single engine C206's! Amazing aircraft.

Times sure change. The type is well loved by Central section and the only thing to compliment the fleet is the PC24, due in around 18 months.
When this was stripped and packed I had a realisation that I have been an intimate part of this aircraft and RFDS history.
I'll be the old boy one day pointing and telling the grandkids about the vintage plane I flew all those years sgo😏

Originally Posted by strangy

Times sure change. The type is well loved by Central section and the only thing to compliment the fleet is the PC24, due in around 18 months.
When this was stripped and packed I had a realisation that I have been an intimate part of this aircraft and RFDS history.
I'll be the old boy one day pointing and telling the grandkids about the vintage plane I flew all those years sgo😏

How true is that. Ironically the aircraft I learnt to fly in back in 1969, an Auster J4 is still flying in Scotland. But most of the jet age stuff I worked on, F4K, Buccaneer S2, Nimrod, intro into Service of A310, B747-400 are mostly scrapped. If you've got any spare PT6A-67B's going spare I wouldn't mind one to play with in the shed.
Cheers

Some of my earliest memories are flying in a Beechcraft Baron as a very young kid. Dad was a doctor in Tom Price and would go out with the RFDS. Sometimes I would go with him (literally sitting on his knee - 1970s were a lot more relaxed obviously).

Originally Posted by EastFreo

Some of my earliest memories are flying in a Beechcraft Baron as a very young kid. Dad was a doctor in Tom Price and would go out with the RFDS. Sometimes I would go with him (literally sitting on his knee - 1970s were a lot more relaxed obviously).

The last Baron I flew in was from St George in Qld to Brisbane with the rear 4 seats removed and the power section of a PT6A-34AG strapped down in the back after a prop strike. Going to our service centre for post prop strike inspection/repair.

Think how many people have been saved or had their life significantly improved by this aircraft alone.

Where I am in the Riverland and where I was before at Coober Pedy, Marla, the APY lands, Oodnadatta, Yunta and Andamooka I had interaction with the RFDS in action way too many times to remember. Be it conveying people to, bringing crew out from strip to hospital to collect, just assisting in loading patients etc or pumping fuel from drums into the craft, or being flown to Adelaide when I got my skull fractured.

I am never going to cease to be in awe of these guys and girls, A brilliant mob of people and a great feat of aircraft maintainance and handling.

Thanks and you should be proud to be associated with the aircraft and the Service.

I reckon you should include a photo of yourself and other aircrew to go with the plane, include any particular interesting memories about the plane and its service, this will be invaluable for the display and the history of the aircraft, photos of the plane in the hanger and on the strip (before it was dismantled!) will also show where it served and how it looked , doesn't seem much now but in 50 years how different will that area look, or 100 years ( think photos from
sopwith camels etc!) it might not be used now but can easily be stored with the plane for use later, if not done now it may be 'lost' for ever.

Again though, thanks!