bernd1151 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 It was to be an uneventful flight from Kokoda east to Madang at PNG’s East Coast. The weather was fine, the plane overhauled and the two pilots were eager to get home after four months in the bush They had been warned that the fuel at Kokoda was of questionable quality, mixed with water, but they had refueled the plane here frequently, so brushed any warning aside. After a wonderful last night with their friends around a large camp fire they had retreated to their tent in order to get some sleep prior to their flight. Slowly they gain speed Then, some two hours into the flight they experience engine trouble. Was there this time too much water in the fuel? The pilot remembers a small dirt strip near an abandoned village not too far away. They urgently need to reach it They are too high, so they decide to take a look first, make a turn and try it from the other side That looks damn short for their plane, but they run out of options fast After they have turned, they try their luck again. Both know they have only one attempt. There isn’t enough power left in the stricken engine to get them up again All is well, but with no flaps to deploy, they come in way too fast. And they are brutally aware of it It’s all over Some ten years later an expedition team was looking for another plane that had just perished in this area. And by accident they spotted the wreckage of the old Junkers 33. No remains of the pilots could be found. The team’s tracker mentioned that he had heard from a distant uncle that many many moons ago a passing tribe had spotted the plane already… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voyager Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Good imagination! LoL I really enjoyed the storytelling. And excellent shot-document of your story! Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Great story and great shots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camo50206 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Ahh man that was really cool to read and follow the pictures. Great job please do more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Emms Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Really nice shots. cheers Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankees Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradB Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Your plane might be a Junker , but this very creative post is first rate . Cheers Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neptune6 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Hi, Nice little story in PAPOUA .. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillwater Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Outstanding shots, but your story beats it! Good to learn more of PNGs history, and even in pictures... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Hall Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Full marks, loved it, please do more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernd1151 Posted October 21, 2015 Author Share Posted October 21, 2015 Well, gents, it seems that you liked my little story and the pictures accompanying it. I have two more in store, if you don't mind, all with vintage planes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Harris Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Yikes! nice set of shots Been reading a bit about the usage of the junkers in PNG in the early gold rushes of the 30s, hauling the mining equipment in, tough gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumbypickett Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Great story and pics really enjoyed. cheers Gumby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VH-KDK Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Exciting story coupled with some fantastic shots. What a wonderful old aircraft too. Shall look forwards to more adventures from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernd1151 Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 Thank you very much my friends for your kind comments Yikes! nice set of shots Been reading a bit about the usage of the junkers in PNG in the early gold rushes of the 30s, hauling the mining equipment in, tough gig. Yes, Tim, t's really amazing, what these planes were used for in those days, they ferried everything that was needed for mining into the bush, as there were almost no roads. And it's fascinating to read some of the pilots' tales. What a tough bunch. They even converted the planes to top loaders, so that they could haul cars or heavier, longer mining equipment etc. Later these Junkers were used to fly Australian miners and their families out to Cairns to save them from the advancing Japanese forces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bermuda425 Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Very cool story telling, enjoyed it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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