Thread: How old is too old

[QUOTE=Bigbjorn;3020409]A long deceased former work mate of mine flew Lancasters in Bomber Command in WW2. There was a fuss one time about shortage of pilots. Vince couldn't see a problem with quickly training a number of pilots. After all, this was done in large numbers in WW2. He finished an apprenticeship as a carpenter in early 1941 and in 1943 was driving a Lancaster over Germany. Lucky to have had a couple of hundred hours of air time.

Another mate turns 90 this year and has passed his annual tests with CASA. He did have a bit of a start on most private pilots having flown Mustangs and Meteors in Korea, become a crop duster and later bought his own freighter. He had a private reg. Mustang at one time. Still has and flies a replica WW1 Bristol biplane fighter.[/QUOTE/]

Minus the Red Baron on his tail I hope.

Brian you may recall back then they employed Women Ferry Pilots who would deliver AC all over the UK You name the AC, & they flew them, Spitfires up to 4 engined stuff & probably down to Avro Ansons & other small Communication single engine ACs , they weren't armed in any way so they did risk a lot by being un-escorted but the UK owes them heaps for what they did during those years. Familiarisation probably was a quick shufti through the relevant Pilot's Handbook, a circuit or two & then they were on their way.

USA had a similar setup, ATS I think theirs was. I guess the RAAF had similar in WW2.

BTW there is a whole heap of stuff online with images of the "rescue" of a number of Mustangs used as Test pieces for the A bomb tests at Maralinga.

The very first Australian built Mustang was 'restored" on site & flown out & eventually back to Parafield. The pilot got in the **** with DCA because he wasn't licensed to do so but it was all too late by then the AC was here. It was eventually sold off to a Mercan outfit & from last info, still flies over there.

The remainder also were salvaged. I'll see if I can still find the link.

Ah here you go. Geoff Goodall was a one time ATC at West Beach (Adelaide International Airport as it is now)

GEOFF GOODALL'S AVIATION HISTORY SITE

NB. Some Land Rover content.

[QUOTE=4bee;3020441]

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

A long deceased former work mate of mine flew Lancasters in Bomber Command in WW2. There was a fuss one time about shortage of pilots. Vince couldn't see a problem with quickly training a number of pilots. After all, this was done in large numbers in WW2. He finished an apprenticeship as a carpenter in early 1941 and in 1943 was driving a Lancaster over Germany. Lucky to have had a couple of hundred hours of air time.

Another mate turns 90 this year and has passed his annual tests with CASA. He did have a bit of a start on most private pilots having flown Mustangs and Meteors in Korea, become a crop duster and later bought his own freighter. He had a private reg. Mustang at one time. Still has and flies a replica WW1 Bristol biplane fighter.[/QUOTE/]

Minus the Red Baron on his tail I hope.

Brian you may recall back then they employed Women Ferry Pilots who would deliver AC all over the UK You name the AC, & they flew them, Spitfires up to 4 engined stuff & probably down to Avro Ansons & other small Communication single engine ACs , they weren't armed in any way so they did risk a lot by being un-escorted but the UK owes them heaps for what they did during those years. Familiarisation probably was a quick shufti through the relevant Pilot's Handbook, a circuit or two & then they were on their way.

USA had a similar setup, ATS I think theirs was. I guess the RAAF had similar in WW2.

BTW there is a whole heap of stuff online with images of the "rescue" of a number of Mustangs used as Test pieces for the A bomb tests at Maralinga.

The very first Australian built Mustang was 'restored" on site & flown out & eventually back to Parafield. The pilot got in the **** with DCA because he wasn't licensed to do so but it was all too late by then the AC was here. It was eventually sold off to a Mercan outfit & from last info, still flies over there.

The remainder also were salvaged. I'll see if I can still find the link.

Ah here you go. Geoff Goodall was a one time ATC at West Beach (Adelaide International Airport as it is now)

GEOFF GOODALL'S AVIATION HISTORY SITE

NB. Some Land Rover content.

Those ferry pilots flew them across the Atlantic Ocean too. USA to Labrador-Iceland- UK. I reckon many of those women would had had more air hours than most of the force pilots and in ****ty weather conditions over the North Atlantic in new bug prone aircraft. Vince reckoned big problem with the science of aerial navigation at the time was finding the target at night and altitude in a European winter. Navigators often admitted they had no bloody clue where they were.

[QUOTE=Bigbjorn;3020466]

Originally Posted by 4bee

Those ferry pilots flew them across the Atlantic Ocean too. USA to Labrador-Iceland- UK. I reckon many of those women would had had more air hours than most of the force pilots and in ****ty weather conditions over the North Atlantic in new bug prone aircraft. Vince reckoned big problem with the science of aerial navigation at the time was finding the target at night and altitude in a European winter. Navigators often admitted they had no bloody clue where they were.

I can understand that. I think. Plus with all the exploding FLAK bursts & smoke & trying not to have a collision with a Mate would have made it a bloody nightmare.

It would have improved when they started using Radio Cross Beams to intersect over the target area but until then they were buggered.

Pity the Germans used it first though in their bombing visits to Britain.. All that & to top it off, some ridiculous bastard wants to change the name of a Labrador Dog.


Battle of the Beams - Wikipedia

Grab a copy of "The Last Navigator" by Paul Goodwin, the story of his father, Squadron Leader Gordon Goodwin. Grew up in Montville. Navigator in the Pathfinders, then Chief Navigator for Qantas. ISBN 978-1-76087-743-9

Originally Posted by aussearcher

Grab a copy of "The Last Navigator" by Paul Goodwin, the story of his father, Squadron Leader Gordon Goodwin. Grew up in Montville. Navigator in the Pathfinders, then Chief Navigator for Qantas. ISBN 978-1-76087-743-9

Thanks AS, will endeavor to find that.

Originally Posted by Hugh Jars

Hi 4Bee, Thanks for the thoughts.
I'm on stand-down without pay until October, but still have a 'job'. I've been given a couple of days flying in the past couple of weeks just to keep current for 45/90 days. However, my cyclic proficiency check (simulator) expires tomorrow, so I can't fly until I do that one.
When Melbourne was locked down recently that took out the Melbourne simulator. Now that Kweensland decided to lockout Sydney people, that looks like it will prevent Sydney-based crew from using the Brisbane simulator.
Regardless of that, a lot of guys have fallen out of currency (for whatever reason) in both VA and QF, and there is such a huge backlog in the simulators that we are entering uncharted territory with getting everyone back to flying status...

Do the NSW rules allow you to fly to Ballina, have a 14 day beach holiday at your expense, and then apply for a Qld border pass, declare you've been out of Victoria for 14 days and do the simulation in Brissie? Not sure if that is allowed or not.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Do the NSW rules allow you to fly to Ballina, have a 14 day beach holiday at your expense, and then apply for a Qld border pass, declare you've been out of Victoria for 14 days and do the simulation in Brissie? Not sure if that is allowed or not.

I’m not sure, Mick. It sounds feasible, as you theoretically have not been in the “hotspot” for 14 days. No doubt the question will be asked in your border pass application.
Crew work on an exemption, which allows us to transit, or, if overnighting, self-isolate in the hotel we’re staying in.

John R.