Bankstown 16th March 2013

[Grahame Hutchison]

Some good weather for a change, so a trip out to Bankstown was in order.

Fairly quite early on, then some reasonable action later in the morning. King Air 350 N412KA was outside the Hawker Pacific hanger with the cowl removed from the port engine. One of the engineers took the aircraft out for a taxi and then back to the same parking spot (engine test maybe). EC135 Polair 4 VH-PHM was towed back into the hanger opposite the Police Air Wing operations hanger, and a Hawker owned Diamond 40 with special decals along the side was parked outside their hanger (maybe done for Avalon).

VH-SSZ Cessna 650 (650-0158) 1988 operated by Sundyne Pty Ltd - a regular visitor I see on ADS-B
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-002.jpg

VH-SSZ Cessna 650 (650-0158) 1988 operated by Sundyne Pty Ltd
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-003.jpg

VH-SSZ Cessna 650 (650-0158) 1988 operated by Sundyne Pty Ltd
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-010.jpg

VH-PWX Cessna 510 (510-0269) 2009 Mustang operated by Flight Options Pty Ltd
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-007.jpg

VH-AGG Piper 76 Duchess (ME-393) 1981 operated by Basair Australia
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-011.jpg

VH-EFI Diamond 40 (40.1172) 2013 owner by Hawker Pacific - decals from Avalon maybe
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-013.jpg

VH-EFI Diamond 40 (40.1172) 2013 owned by Hawker Pacific
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-014.jpg

N412KA Beech 350 2008 owned by Harker Pacific
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-016.jpg

N412KA Beech 350 2008 owned by Harker Pacific
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-018.jpg

N412KA Beech 350 2008 owned by Harker Pacific
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-019.jpg

VH-IAB Beech G36 Bonanza (E-3922) 2009 operated by Gratemat Pty Ltd
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-023.jpg

An old Embraer Bandeirante from the 1970-80s - no identification
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-028.jpg

VH-HFP Robinson R22 Beta (4303) 2007 operated by Nimvale Pty Ltd
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-031.jpg

VH-HFP Robinson R22 Beta (4303) 2007 operated by Nimvale Pty Ltd
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-032.jpg

VH-BRH Beech J50 Twin Bonanza (JH163) 1962 and privately owned
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-033.jpg

[Grahame Hutchison]

VH-GWH Grumman G-21A Goose (B-49) 1944 operated by Air Frontier - still parked in the same place as back in Dec 2012
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-035.jpg

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-037.jpg

[Hugh Jarse]

Nice pix Grahame. I did some of my Class 1 Instrument rating in the early 80's in AGG. I then instructed in it occasionally in the late 80's.

It must be getting on in age now :)

[Rob R]

Hi Grahame,

I think the Bandit is one of the 3 Aerolink purchased in the late 90's from Pacific Island Air in Saipan. 2 of the Bandits were flyable and the 3rd (this 1) came out on a boat, and was to be used for spares. From memory they were 3 of the last Bandits built.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Just uploaded a short video of today's action at Bankstown Airport (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_5CW4f9gNI&feature=youtu.be).

[AdamC]

Unable to view videos private apparently Grahame.

Cheers

Adam

[Grahame Hutchison]

The link should work now Adam.

Bankstown Airport (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_5CW4f9gNI&feature=youtu.be)

[AdamC]

Thanks Grahame,

Interesting to see the police BK doing a hot refuel. Didn't think civilian services did that sort of thing.

Cheers

Adam

[Hugh Jarse]

Been approved for about 15 years, Adam. (with specific requirements).

[AdamC]

Have done heaps of them with work jarse.

It's quiet nerve racking standing next to running helo with a fuel hose running over your shoulder.

Do they have some sort of fire unit standing by just in case?

[David C]

Rob R ... Late model Banderantes had a pronounced tailplane dihedral , this particular one appears to have no dihedral , hence , it must be an early ( pre 1983) model ..

Dave C

[Nigel C]

VH-AGG Piper 76 Duchess (ME-393) 1981 operated by Basair Australia
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-011.jpg



Piper Duchess???

[Grahame Hutchison]

Piper 76 Duchess (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Duchess)

[Nigel C]

So you actually mean Beechcraft Duchess? Piper did the Seminole.

[Rob R]

Hi David,

This one may have been per-1983, and I know VH-MWF (the first of the 3 bandits) had the dihedral (didn't make any difference flying wise) has it also had the later style flap handle. I can't remember if the 2nd (flyable Bandit ) had dihedral as I had moved on from Aerolink by the time it arrived. Last time I saw it was in Saipan in 1997.

I have a photo somewhere of the Bandits parked in Saipan. The colours on the engine cowl give it a way as one of the Pacfic Island Aiirlines Bandits.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Woops Nigel, yes Beech not Piper.

[Paul S.]

Just a question regrding the Bandit's are there any still flying in Australia? As i see a proposed start up Goldair Bendigo may be using one, any one have any ideas? Paul

[Grahame Hutchison]

Looks like six Paul http://www.16right.com/GetRego.php?Mark=&Rhname=&Type=emb-110&submit=Search

[Greg Hyde]

The Bandy could be:

N104EB/110421 which was scrapped in 1999.

Where is the id plate on a Bandy ?

Greg

[Rob R]

Another fact on the 3 Bandits Aerolink imported are they will built to a MTOW of 5900kg (under SFAR41), rather than the standard of 5700kg. Aerolink operated MWF at the reduced weight of 5700kg as operating above this weight would have need far to hard.

[Brenden S]

The dataplate should be up on the rear left side of the aircraft if it is like other Embraer aircraft.

There are certainly some hidden aircraft at Bankstown that no one knows about ie like this EMB-110

The Grumman is ex N121GL and supposed to be based in DRW.

[SteveC]

VH-GWH Grumman G-21A Goose (B-49) 1944 operated by Air Frontier - still parked in the same place as back in Dec 2012
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/D300-20130316-035.jpg

Greetings all. I'm new to your board. I live in the U.S. (St. Louis) and I've been researching the whereabouts of this Grumman Goose. I flew on this plane 30 years ago on a flight from Winnipeg to a fishing lodge in northern Ontario Canada. I was on a fishing trip with my dad. The plane has a special place in my heart because as we were loading our fishing gear on the plane, I wasn't paying attention and I walked straight into the horizontal stabilizer, splitting my cheek clean open. After a trip to a Winnipeg hospital for some stitches and an extra night in Winnipeg, we were good to go the next morning. (I guess you could say the plane has a special place on my face.)

I've tracked the plane from Canada to Chicago, to New Hampshire, Greenland, western Europe and now Australia. So I'd love to continue keeping up with this Goose. Any more photos of her would be appreciated.

Here's a photo of me and a buddy of mine (I'm on the right) standing next to the Goose when it was registered as C-GRCZ in Winnipeg Canada.

http://i48.tinypic.com/25pjpkh.jpg

Here's another:

http://i50.tinypic.com/au9rbb.jpg

I didn't know where else to post these on the board. I hope you don't mind me posting them here.

Thanks.

[Nigel C]

Welcome to the board Steve. Here is as good a place as any to show these photos.

It looks like it's had some work done to it around the windscreens since you flew on it...I wonder if it's had a corrosion issue there and the new shape is a result of repairs done?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Hi Steve and a warm welcome to "The Board" also.

Great to hear that you have such a "close" connection with this Goose, I photographed it back in December (see this thread (http://yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=8907&highlight=bankstown)), and it has remained at this location ever since. There is also a short video clip that includes the Goose on my website www.16Right.com (http://www.16Right.com) (see the 16R Video menu) or Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_5CW4f9gNI).

I have great memories of watching some "Goose" movements (no pun intended) in Auckland harbour in the late 60s, and it is definitely on my list of amphibian favourites.

I will keep an eye on the aircraft for you, and let you know if I hear of any plans for its future.

[SteveC]

Welcome to the board Steve. Here is as good a place as any to show these photos.

It looks like it's had some work done to it around the windscreens since you flew on it...I wonder if it's had a corrosion issue there and the new shape is a result of repairs done?

Thanks Nigel.

From looking back at old photos that I found on the internet, it looks like the windscreen was modified between 1991 and 1993. It was during that time that the plane's detail went from the sea green and white to the red and white that it is today.

[SteveC]

Hi Steve and a warm welcome to "The Board" also.

Great to hear that you have such a "close" connection with this Goose, I photographed it back in December (see this thread (http://yssyforum.net/board/showthread.php?t=8907&highlight=bankstown)), and it has remained at this location ever since. There is also a short video clip that includes the Goose on my website www.16Right.com (http://www.16Right.com) (see the 16R Video menu) or Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_5CW4f9gNI).

I have great memories of watching some "Goose" movements (no pun intended) in Auckland harbour in the late 60s, and it is definitely on my list of amphibian favourites.

I will keep an eye on the aircraft for you, and let you know if I hear of any plans for its future.

Thanks Grahame.

I watched your youtube video. Very nice. It's nice to see the Goose.

I'll check back in from time to time.