Comments (2) - Air Rhodesia's B720s - "a riddle wrapped in a mystery"

[Eddy Norris]

Our Rhodesian Heritage (Incorporating R.A.N.A and C.A.A ) Rhodesia's Civil Aviation Tales

 

 

Comments (2) - Air Rhodesia's B720s — "a riddle wrapped in a mystery" Bob Fletcher (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- G'dday to you - for your blog should you choose. I could no work out how to post on the site directly, hence this email. I rarely do this, but I was so incensed by the higginson post on your blog, I posted on the "They served Africa with Wings" facebook page. Transcript for your info below. Mitch Stirling Some 'interesting' comments are being exchanged on the Air Rhodesia operation in general, and the Boeing 720s in particular! Bob Fletcher Mitch - what comments and where please Mitch Stirling I'll e-mail the link, Bob. The story of the B720s (and others) is in an Eddy Norris blog called "Our Rhodesian Heritage" Bob Fletcher Mitch, just read the blog and a comment by Chris Higginson really saddens me. After all this time, why??? Nothing to be served by such caustic comments. As a point of interest, my comment (above) was "liked" by Nicky Pearce (Jock Elphinstones daughter) - as you know she worked for Affretair and was/is well liked and respected. Those three B720's gave me and others in Air Rhod an opportunity to join, learn and experience a new era in aviation, even though they were a bit dated, they still sparked all of us up. the aeroplanes were far more than just a commercial purchase. Through them I and others were given the opportunity to learn new skills. I ended up with A and C licences on 720's and 707's with avionics approvals then became an F/E. When I was interviewed by CX I they were impressed with my knowledge and I achieved 100% in their F/E's interview exam -(not many did, some even failed it...incl Aus, and BA applicants. I think some Affretair F/E's also applied, some succeeded ). My point - Those 720's were the catalyst to all this... All good to Pat Travers and all involved both in Air Rhod Ops and Engineering, I will be forever grateful!! Ian Hunt (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- Gee Whiz - (I would normally use something stronger!!) – I don’t normally burst into print BUT I do feel that this outburst against RH is totally unfair and under the circumstances (the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the B720s) unwarranted! Everyone is entitled to their opinions but to come up with such unsubstantiated statements……..??!! As already said ‘so sad’ that ORAFS and this blog have been used as the medium to air these views! In the aviation industry, perhaps more so than other industries, there will always be the prima-donnas and ass-holes with mega egos and I guess RH was no exception, but I think the majority of us who worked at RH look back at our time there with pride and great memories of camaraderie and fun – I certainly do! I am sure that mistakes were made but to make such a statement ‘The purchase of the 720’s was a mess’, I find repugnant and some of the other statements very hard to believe! RH was the National Carrier for ‘Rebel’ Rhodesia and as such, could not purchase, register and fly aircraft under ‘flags of convenience’ and thus the options to purchase jet aircraft were virtually non-existent! The morning after the 720s arrived (15th April), the atmosphere at FRSB was electric and palpable – I was very proud to be working for RH!! (Gaborone, Botswana) Cacho Cabral (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- Well, well… all I can comment is that I am eternally grateful that I came as a 21 year old from Uruguay to Rhodesia and that I joined RH and then Affretair, for what was without a doubt the most memorable years of my life. Today, after having made a successful business career, I can only look back and be very grateful for those wonderful days, with great people that achieved so much, that pioneered so much, from whom I learnt a lot. In many flying hours with Affretair, I observed that a few aircrew were never happy and always ready to criticize… eternally having full ownership of the sole truth. I learnt much from that too! So, thank you guys!! Warmest regards to you all, (Bantry Bay, Cape Town) Linda Maclean Writes:- My father, John Heap, was so very proud of the 'triplets'. If I remember rightly, they arrived in the middle of the night, all beautifully dressed in their Air Rhodesia livery and little identification. As an 'air hostess' they were great to work on and I have many great memories of happy flights and great crews.\ Gordon Hall (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- My last thoughts on the operation of the above a/c - on the JNB/SAY sector of flight RH161/166 SAA Weights and Balances stipulated that the cargo allocation with a full load of pax was 1000kgs. RH Traffic noted that on many of the daily flights ex JNB, the aircraft arrived with an almost empty rear holds. We knew that there was a cargo backlog ex JNB but why were our aircraft restricted to a 1000kg cargo allocation when there was an average 30% no show factor on the passengers figures. (SAA Reservations controlled the JNB/SAY sector). Our little airline was an utopia and I loved it ! Hew Travers (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- Wow, what an incredibly bitter, and if I may say sour grapes, comment from Chris Higginson. A person that I thought that I knew, but having read his comments I can only say that it could have not come from the person that I thought that I knew. Chris has made a number of assertions, none substantiated so merely his opinions, to which he is entitled. In my opinion, Chris is wrong on every single point that he raises. My time with Air Rhodesia is remembered as the most satisfying period of my career, working with some of the best Aviators, both Civil and Air Force trained, and Engineers both Flight and Ground, and that includes my time flying with other companies and other Nationalities. Flying the Boeing 720 was an incredible privilege, given that Air Rhodesia broke sanctions to get them, and probably had very few other choices, under the circumstances. I find it so sad that ORAFs has been used as ‘clothes line’ to air someone’s bitter view. Francis Fynn (RhAF and RhArmy) Writes:- For s*** aircraft they sure did ok for about 15years! As for the Rhodie jet pilots this chap disses, how come they went on to fly for every major airline in the world? I don't know a hell of a lot about DC8's but I was a cattle rancher! 38t Chiller(export) grade beef dressed out at +- 300kg a side which would put about 123 sides in a DC8 or over 200 passengers at 150 kg each--rugger players! The big Oshkosh lorries from SA used to load +- 25t at Ft Vic abattoir so I’m just asking like. We could probably have got 3t into a Dak pretty easily. Also how did they load a DC8 in Rhodesia? The Colcom guys in Ft Vic could hand slaughter, and dress 200 of my chiller grade steers in 1 and a half to 2 hrs, so I reckon they could have squeezed 123 sides into a DC8 in 30mins or so!! Also I'm not sure what PK had to do with Transport, Export or Finance for that matter, so I find the meeting saga a bit hard to swallow, as well as Mallochs comments!! Just sounds like we have another retrospective antiRhod!! Gordon Hall (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- I have just read Chris Higgjnson`s comments and must say that he is/was totally wrong. I had 23 years with the airline working in the Traffic dept. - aircraft handling, load sheet preparation, liaison with Capts and Operations, Outstations, passenger handing and they were the happiest days of my working career. From working in Livingstone, Mongu and Kasama I knew many F/O's and Captains personally as well- and over a period of time , never ever heard any of the criticism and backbiting Higginson refers to in his message. I played squash with many of the pilots during normal working hours when they were free and I was off duty. I organised a squash team in the 4th League that all squash clubs participated in which varied from week to week depending on who was free to play in the evening - team of 5 players consisting of either 5 or 4 pilots and myself (Traffic). We actually won the 4th League one year ! After the game we always had a few beers and some times more !! The engineers were great guys as well. On the line there were guys like Bill Jones , Gordon Arts, Tony Lea, Paddy Lambert, Bob Madgewick and others who could be relied on to fix technical faults with great attitudes and knowledge. The airline had a great team and spirit. You will always find a fault picker somewhere in the mix - some character flaw that keeps that person only happy when finding fault. You must also remember that our executives could not travel freely with UN sanctions so limits were placed on contacts and availability. Ex airline staff in Cape Town have periodic get togethers. The last one in December had people from the UK, Australia and around . All were unanimous the their airline days were the happiest days of their life. Dave Vermaak (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- The article by Mitch has been read with great interest, as have the comments it has elicited from far and wide. It is evident from some of the comments made that there may be a lack of appreciation on the part of some parties on how necessary it was for Air Rhodesia to acquire jet equipment. The airline was competing on routes where the partner operator was operating the latest jet equipment and thus getting the traffic. To become competitive it was commercially essential for RH to get jets. That this was achieved by all involved was a magnificent accomplishment to their everlasting credit! Particularly so, when you consider that the odds were stacked against the country and the airline by all and sundry! Under separate cover I am sending you the article from the ABC Airways Magazine , January 1974.The article by Murray Bailey, 'Sanctions Slipping - Air Rhodesia's Boeings are worth a lot.' expresses the commercial aspects and associated factors. You will note that his closing Para. states inter alia ' - but it is a firm sign that the carrier is progressing in the face of surprising handicaps. If for nothing else, it should be admired for that alone.' This for me epitomizes the resourceful endeavors of those who made it possible for RH to progress and, should be to the credit and a tribute to those involved forever and a day! As one who had 32 years with CAA / Air Rhodesia / Air Zimbabwe, in various capacities in BUQ,BLZ,JNB,CPT SAY and HRE, my time with CAA and RH were some of the happiest years in my 62 years in the aviation industry! Call-ups included. Comment by ORAFs The article mentioned in Dave comments will be circulated after Part 2 of this story has been distributed Mike Daly (Air Rhodesia) Writes:- A wonderful story for those of us who were too young and naive, possibly, at that time, to envisage the enormity of what was going on. I was based in the engine/propeller shop at Air Rhodesia, both as an apprentice and as a journeyman. There were always rumblings going on, as to the possible arrival of some Boeings. As far as I can remember, the old car park at the back of the engine shop, was suddenly cordoned off, and construction work began. This must have been in about 1972. Once finished, and the roof on, the old cleaning bay with its “Trich” tanks and so on, was moved out to the back of the new building. Great for us in the shop, as the terrible smells went with them. This also included the disking room, where we used to disc the prop blades on overhaul. Ted Methven, (RIP), was the Foreman of the engine and propeller shop. He was missing for months at a time, and the rumour was that he was looking for Boeings. Jock Bell ran the shop in his absence. If my memory serves me correctly, Ted passed away before the Boeings finally arrived. In the new section, many new machines were installed. Where they came from I do not know. One machine was designed to tip a Boeing engine vertically up on its nose, then lower it into a pit in the floor, so that the guys could work on it. I never saw this section completed as I left Air Rhodesia in August 1973. At one stage, a consignment of two wooden crates arrived one afternoon, and we were told that they contained two or four completely overhauled Dowty-Rotol props for the Viscounts, and that they even had their log books with them! They had been sourced in the States. We were duly charged with opening them for our inspector, Alan Gosnold, to have a quick look at them. When the crates were opened, the said props had actually been scrapped. The blades were well below minimum thickness, they were badly corroded, and were not fit for service! When it came to inspecting the logs books, it was another story. They were there alright – all packed up in waterproof bags. On opening them, it was found that these were indeed the log books for these props., but, only the serial numbers had been entered! They were brand new books, with no history written in them at all!!! I don’t think those props ever got out of the crate!! Another colleague of mine, Derek Smith of South African Eagle Insurance, was contacted just after the Boeings had arrived, and given a cryptic message. The message, as far as I can remember, was that “there were three birds on the ground a Salisbury Airport, and would he please insure them”. This was the day after then three Boeings arrived. Just to jot down a few names of the staff at that time – Eddie Dacre & Norman Miller, (Engine build), Wally Smith, (Reduction gearboxes) (RP 1975), Ginger Ramsell (Inspector), Lou Boerrigter, (Props & P&W 1830 P/Plant), Mike Smith, Bert Berthould, (Engine accessories), Jimmy McGinn , (Constant Speed units), Len Townend, (Chargehand – Props), Reg Rushton, (general) Geoff Dartnall (RhAF) Writes:- If 720's were going at 5 for $300 000 and we got 3 for $3,5 million, what happened to the other $3,320 000? Or is this a can of worms that should stay unopened? End This article certainly generated a lot of interest and comments. Thanks to Mitch for this. Visit. http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2013/05/air-rhodesias-b720s-riddle-wrapped-in.html To view the Blog Home Page - Please Click Here (Please visit our previous posts and archives) Regards Eddy Norris Irene - RSA ora...@gmail.com

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