The week at Shute Harbour

[Guest Maj Millard]

Another interesting week at the Shute Harbour Airport working with Air Whitsunday.

 

We fitted a new overhauled Pratt & Whitney R985 radial to one of the Beavers. This engine is as good as a new one, and comes from Tulsa. Looks brand new, almost too pretty to put on an aeroplane, and complete with the nice enamal P&W badge on the front, plus new cylinders, rings etc.

 

We had intended using it on another Beaver that is nearing a rebuild completion in the hangar, but during a 100 hourly on the other Beaver we found a broken rear accessory case, so it got the new engine instead, complete with a new (as new) overhauled 3-blabe prop. Got to keep the fleet flying, and the Amphib Beavers make as much, or more money than the Amphib C208B Caravans because of their lesser operating cost, plus the customers like the 60 year old Beavers for their sound and nostalgia. Air Whitsundays Beavers are unique in that they have been modified to an 8 seat interior.

 

It was really nice to see an aircraft fitted with a new (old) round engine which is a bit of a rarity these days. And by the way the purchase cost of that engine (fully factory run-in with 8 hours already on it) was only around A$45,000 !!. Dirt cheap really, considering a new 912 cost around A$22,0000 ! and the radials sound a lot nicer !

 

One afternoon we got a call that one of our Caravan Amphibs couldn't get it's water-rudders up after a water takeoff at Hayman Island. This could mean a lot of things, but is usually the result of frayed retraction cables which lead a hard, wet, and dirty life buried deep in the floats themselves.

 

We eagerly awaited the arrival of the aircraft, and as it taxied in and parked we noticed it only had one water rudder remaining, of the normal two !. The other had been completely ripped off the back of the float, causing quite a bit of damage to the rear float bulkhead. The pilot stated that during his heavily loaded, cross swell take off he just couldn't get the rudders up in time. Normally the rudders are retracted during the takeoff once the air-rudder becomes fully effective, and if not retracted get beaten to death during the remaining take-off run. This rudder which was torn from the float trailed behind the float on a cable causing some unusual movement of the aircraft until it finally broke free in flight, and is no doubt now keeping Nemo company somewhere in the Coral sea.

 

We remove the required parts from another set of floats, and the aircraft was back on line in a day and a half, after riviting and resealing the new rear bulkhead in.

 

The FUGRO Cessna 404 Titan survey aircraft has been coming and going out of Shute for a couple of weeks and sounds great on takeoff as it tucks it's gear up passing the hangar. Some of the crew I know from a previous stay in Ingham when they operated a Aero commander Shrike on survey for six months or so. These boys get around, and often travel to Africa, indonesia or India for survey work. The company is based in WA. They left one day for Cairns, but were back at Shute a couple of days later !. Something about the accomodation, girls, mainstreet ?????.

 

It's starting to get a bit steamy in the hangar now, as the warmer more humid weather which is common in the tropics this time of year approaches.

 

The new SEAMAX Amphib featured on our recent magazine cover comes and goes from Shute after fuelling with Avgas (owner lives just to the North). I haven't had a chance to go and say Hi yet as we've been busy but I'll get a chance to give it the once-over shortly. It has a unique sound taking off being a 912 pusher, with an Airmaster CS 3-blade prop, and usually heads east towards the Whitsunday Islands after takeoff. ...................................................................Maj...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Barefootpilot]

Ahh a take off with water rudders down! Happens to the best of us.... well the best of them I mean I've never done it!

 

 

[dazza 38]

Great reading and Nice photos.Thanks Ross

 

 

[pudestcon]

Goodonya Maj,

 

Thanks for the post - always interesting hearing what others are doing.

 

The photos certainly add to the story and that Lightwing of yours is a beauty I notice it appears in 3 of the photos.

 

Wouldn't mind one meself!!

 

Pud

 

 

[Tomo]

Onya Maj, thanks for that, great to see what you're up to, will have to make that a stop over place one of these days.

 

and that Lightwing of yours is a beauty I notice it appears in 3 of the photos.Wouldn't mind one meself!!

Pud, you're not wrong, I reckon it's the nicest Lightwing around - fly's well too!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Thanks, I would like to try and get photos of arrivals and departures at Shute as we get some interesting traffic. Occasionally I'm up to my axxx in oil or grease, or stuck in the tail of an aircraft, and just can't do it, but you know I'll try..................................................Maj...,

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

G'day Major, on your way out could you duck over the town and take a few photos. curious to see the port of airlie development. maybe the strip as well, looks like finally some hardstand! cheers mate

 

Ozzie

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Will do Ozzzie, David Mariner who owns Air Whitsunday is also part owner of Port of Airlie. it is going ahead now and should be completed by the end of the year. Looks like it will liven things up a bit as we will be putting amphibs in there to pick up people, and also Fantasea will be operating their passenger ferries there also instead of Shute Harbour. It is all basically at the Southern end of the main street, and walkable from the main street, so it looks like it will be a winner all round. I'll get some photos when I can for you..............................................................Maj...

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Good to see that something is working right for David. i met him when he was trying to get laguna going. i was looking forward to working for him. But seems some things are not to happen. I was surprised he let the sale of shute airport slip past him. i had my cat moored at muddy bay where they are now building port of airlie. lived on it there for a while as well. saw a few photos in the local rag on line and looks like the town has lost that 'village' feel.

 

must be getting expensive to live there now.

 

 

[Guest Toally87]

G,day Maj looks like your having fun down there, cya next time your back up home

 

Dave.

 

 

[farri]

Hey Ross,Is there anything you can`t do???:encore:

 

Cheer and all the best,

 

Frank.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Hi Frank, I'm just trying to make a living like everybody else, it's not my fault if I get stuck in these picturesque places, having to work on aeroplanes that are older than I am !!!...Somebody has to do it ...........................................................................Maj...