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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2019 3:28:30 GMT -5
Missed this one on my travels. - Laucala Bay in Fiji. The RNZAF has a large Sunderland contigent there up until the early 1960's and Qantas used it for their Sandringham service via Noumea which ceased in 1955. The Qantas repaint for the Sandringham is a WIP this was a test now back to getting it layered properly and see if the aluminium can be made shiny. Need something else to fiddle with now and then when moving and finding scenery objects becomes a chore.
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Post by aerofoto on Jan 20, 2019 18:57:51 GMT -5
"MIKEH" .... dunno if this may be on any value to your scenery intentions, but, sift through the following RNZAF WONZ forum thread which is devoted to the subject of Mechanics Bay, Auckland, New Zealand .... rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/7164/mechanics-bay-terminal-building"PAGE 4" (I think it is) in particular shows an Auckland Harbour Board plan for the layout of the marine air terminal at Mechanics Bay .... and which looks, to me, to assume the late 1940's through 1950's layout. A number of pictures throughout the several pages of this thread (some aerial views) show the actual layout prior to reclamation which resulted in the container terminal being built from the very late 1860's/very early 1970's. Mark C
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Post by aerofoto on Jan 20, 2019 20:58:46 GMT -5
The following link will also take you to "a dozen or so" more pages (National Library Of NZ) relating to F/B operations at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, New Zealand between 30's and 50's .... natlib.govt.nz/items?i%5Bsubject%5D=Mechanics+Bay&text=flying+boatAs you mentioned earlier Mechanics Bay has been subjected to many physical alterations between the 30's and 70's in particular, so, it's been a place of constant changes. I was messing around down there (at Mechanics Bay) for around 6 years from 1984 .... towards the end of SEA BEE AIR (the GRUMMAN amphibians era) and which resulted in this following article of mine .... ECHOES OF AND ERA - The NZ GRUMMAN Amphibian Storytonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/5950/lifetime-interest-27-years-research.... and Mechanics Bay had changed since the 70's .... and since SEA BEE AIR (which voluntarily ceased operations during the early 90's), and whilst it's still, today, a marine air terminal/base for civil and rescue helicopter services, it's changed again ! Mark C
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2019 1:24:01 GMT -5
Thanks for those, yep Auckland Harbour has been reclaimed and rebuilt on continuously since the mid 1800. I found a dissertation and planning document on it and there was not one part of that side of the harbour that had not been added to, rebuild, filled in or otherwised changed. Actually Mechanics Bay itself no longer exists, they filled it in for a container terminal. More like an isthmus. I will check out the above links thanks.
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Post by Stromer on Jan 22, 2019 11:33:05 GMT -5
Nice shots and great idea!
Vlad
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2019 6:58:39 GMT -5
Still working on a lot of stuff. Adding in Papua New Guinea points of interest plus also now creating ADEX files so users can find the Flying Boat Base using the airfield locater. Heaps to go this turned out to be a bit bigger project than I thought. Alas same caveat will apply probably will not produce the same outcomes or visuals without ORBX Global and Global Vector because of the coast and LC issues (FSX is different geographically to MS 2004 and earlier because of the cartography used) also there may be some, a few, ORBX library objects included so they will not show for those not using it Most will be CC Libraries and few specialty like the Turner RAF objects and Misty Mooring great library of objects for water operations plus some common stuff via UKVFR (I think). I will include courtesy of Bruce Kenewell (who did flying boat bases world wide quite extensively for MS2004) all his ports and scenery that I find has worked and is correct in FSX.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2019 7:22:42 GMT -5
Change of pace. Wild river and country flying here Papua New Guinea. Flying Boats used extensively for nearly 20 years. Lake Kutubu Wana in the Gulf Country a complex river system: Kikori another inland close to coast place - Gulf Country and Kerema on the Coast No shortage of interesting places in PNG and nearby for those interested in the Classic period and flying boats.
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Post by jwh on Jan 24, 2019 7:33:29 GMT -5
Superb screen shots. Is that FS9 or FSX?
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Post by aerofoto on Jan 24, 2019 14:06:22 GMT -5
One of the beauties of flying boats and amphibians is/was .... "IF" it was wet (the surface) then they could land on it .... provided such waterways were deep and wide enough or weren't otherwise too restricted to operate onto and from.
A major benefit considering some 70% of the earths surface is actually covered by water.
I'm just as curious about the QF CAT.
AEROSOFT's product I presume .... meaning .... FSX ?
Mark C
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Post by aerofoto on Jan 24, 2019 15:03:17 GMT -5
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Post by jwh on Jan 24, 2019 18:31:27 GMT -5
Back in December 1952 with my family we flew from Brisbane to Sydney in a Sandringham and we were the only passengers on board. My mother organised it through an old RAAF friend who worked for the airline and the aircraft put down on the Brisbane River specially to pick us up as it was going through to Rose Bay for service. My father having been a pilot for the whole six years of the war spent the whole trip up on the flight deck. The comfort was unbelievable compared to today's jets and lunch was impeccable. It was one of the last uses of flying boats from the Brisbane River as the following year they started using Redland Bay south of Brisbane. River traffic was making it too difficult for safe operation of the flying boats.
Even though I was only five years old I still have vivid memories of the flight. Regrettably, my only trip in a flying boat.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 2:02:13 GMT -5
Yes JWH that is FSX with Global Vector and ORBX Global plus Holgar Mesh for PNG plus ORBX trees. Scenery wise I think they are indispensible in FSX.
MarkC - yes it is the FSX Aerosoft PBY Catalina a very nice model indeed.
For those interested the range of Australian and Kiwi Catalinas has basically been covered by a variety of repainters.
Jan Kees had done all the paints for the Qantas Cats doing the 24 hour runs from Perth to Ceylon. Plus a couple of others that were used some until the late 1980s in OZ. Jan Kees has also done the early TEAL repaint for the Catalina as well. Matt Levi did the Qantas repaint. Tim Harris aka Meatycus has done the TAA colours for the Cat. And there are few in the infamous black cat colours.
The Catalina for some reason has a special place in the hearts and minds of Australian and Kiwi aviation enthusiasts and simmers as well. Basically all the variants and operators have been covered for Australia New Zealand which is amazing really.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 2:12:11 GMT -5
Back in December 1952 with my family we flew from Brisbane to Sydney in a Sandringham and we were the only passengers on board. My mother organised it through an old RAAF friend who worked for the airline and the aircraft put down on the Brisbane River specially to pick us up as it was going through to Rose Bay for service. My father having been a pilot for the whole six years of the war spent the whole trip up on the flight deck. The comfort was unbelievable compared to today's jets and lunch was impeccable. It was one of the last uses of flying boats from the Brisbane River as the following year they started using Redland Bay south of Brisbane. River traffic was making it too difficult for safe operation of the flying boats. Even though I was only five years old I still have vivid memories of the flight. Regrettably, my only trip in a flying boat. Lucky bugger JWH. A flight in the Ansett Sandringham has remained a shall we say touchy point with my other half. At the time I could get tickets on the last few runs to Lord Howe and Back from memory it was about $210 each return which does not sound a lot but in todays dollars was probably about the same as 2000 bucks. We had the money in savings but she who must be obeyed refused to let me do it and probably because she hated flying even though she was married to a pilot. In the end having a young family and she prevailed and if I have one regret in life it was missing that one (As you can tell still not happy Jan). She has missed out on a lot of great trips here and there as a result not that she seems to mind. I did manage to get an endorsement on the DC-3 but the company went bust shortly afterwards and I never got to use it another marvellous aeroplane, darn noisy though. I got a ride in the Qantas Catalina in PNG as a young bloke, Port Moresby to some place on the Fly River and back - a bit rough comfort wise but absolutely unforgettable experience of the water rushing past those big blisters where I was seated with the beautiful rumble-roar of those PW engines. The view was breathtaking, then again it was pretty good out of the Connie and DC-4 too as a passenger and as we know in those days you always got to get up to the cockpit and hang about as long as they tolerated you. Back at Port Moresby there was the Qantas Otter sitting on the ramp, and the Constellation and the DC-4 and my parents could never figure out why I was so aviation obsessed and later became a pilot but sadly missed out on all of them by the time I go to fly professionally. Still besotted by things with big round engines great era in aviation wonderful aeroplanes designed with passenger comfort in mind, I thought the Connie was luxurious, good windows, plenty of space and big comfy seats. The memory of the synchronised drone of those R3350s has never left me, marvellous sound, even when they flew overhead you just had to look up. Getting all nostalgic now, times have changed but that is why Cal Classic is such a great place to hang about and participate in, keeps the memories alive a bit longer and you can have a go at it yourself.
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Post by jwh on Jan 25, 2019 5:42:32 GMT -5
Hi Mikeh My late mother couldn't remember if it was Ansett or Trans Oceanic that she rang. My father was friends with Brian Moncton from his RAAF days but they also knew quite a few ANA, East West and Ansett people in the post war era.
My father was the pilot of the lower aircraft in the pick-a-back Anson collision at Brocklesbury at the end of September 1940 so he was pretty well known in the RAAF at that time. In 1944 my father organised for my mother to fly to Brisbane in a Catalina as he was by then a C-47 Captain with 38 Squadron operating from Archerfield. They rented a little house on the waterfront right around the corner from where I now live.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 6:29:25 GMT -5
Sure are some stories packed in there JWH. Your Dad had some remarkable luck there.
Never sure about Monckton, he was a personable rogue I surmise. He never had any money it was his wifes, I think she had fit when he bought all the surplus RAAF Sunderlands and then had to do something with them. TOA was not a bad idea, everybody thought flying boats were the go for the Pacific, including PG Taylor, everybody went bust doing it. I have a friend whose father was chief pilot at TEAL and another remarkable character in his own right ex Empire C Class pilot etc but even he could see that there was no future commercially in flying boats and when TEAL refused to budge on buying Solents for the Pacific quit in disgust as he said why would you do that when you could use a DC-4 or DC-6 and that it would send them broke, it basically did.
Brian Monckton always denied being behind the infamous incident where a Qantas Cat was blown up one night at the moorings at Rose Bay. There is an old video floating about the flying boat days where Monckton and a lot of his pilots were interviewed, some fascinating stories there as well.
One of my favourite anecdotes was relayed to me concerning CASA or DCA then and PG Taylor from an old pilot who knew all these guys. Taylor was up for a check flight on the Sandringham and the DCA inspector briefed Taylor about what was to happen and that he would be failing an engine on take off, Taylor who knew the type well, said straight up, not on my aeroplane you wont. Anyway the flight proceeded and sure enough after lift off the DCA bloke failed an engine, Taylor cool as a cucumber merely said to the DCA Inspector - "Handing over your controls" and did, I understand power was restored immediately and that was it. Taylor was no fool, any bloke who would crawl out on the wing of an aeroplane (Smithys Fokker VII) in flight mid Tasman without a parachute to put oil in a failing engine and did was a remarkable individual.
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