tiabunna's photos with the keyword: Auto Rokkor PF 1:1.4 58mm

When Ipernity member Herb Riddle recently posted a photo of a fog bow, it seemed I was one of the very few who had previously seen one. Herb asked if I had a photo from my sighting and this is it, taken on Kodachrome slide film at Macquarie Island (a very foggy place) in 1968. Maybe view large. Explored.

Short Sandringham "Beachcomber": from a slide taken in early June 1974, shortly after arrival from Sydney. The image in the note shows the aircraft in relation to the two large mountains at the south of the island, Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird, as we headed toward the shore in the motor launch. Our flight out to the island was smooth and itself an unforgettable experience. There is no comparison between the modern airline ‘cattle class’ and the 1930s style timber-panelled ambiance, large windows, and generally spacious and relaxed style of the old flying boats. Unlike the pre-packaged fare dished out now, our breakfast was cooked fresh on the aircraft by the Purser! The 'downside' of flying boats was that the airline timetable depended on the tides! The state of the seas also meant that flights often could not be operated in rough weather.

There were no aerobridges for flying boats! Arrival at Lord Howe Island by Sandringham involved going ashore in an open boat. Here the aircraft's Purser (they used nautical terminology), having tied the mooring line, watches from the front hatch as the passengers depart. The inset note shows the approach to the island, which is mainly National Park and has the world's most southerly fringing coral reef. Flying boat enthusiasts might enjoy this video about flying boats at the island: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmTVKs15n4U

I'm just home from travels and still catching up, so here's a favourite archival image, copied from a Kodachrome slide. These two DC3s (then still in regular airline use) were at Melbourne's Essendon Airport in 1965. The nearest was owned by Bush Pilots Airways, the other by Ansett - both airlines now long since gone and the airport turned to general aviation following the opening of Tullamarine Airport a few years later..

Lord Howe Island - looking north toward the lagoon from the start of the "Lower Road", the ledge around the cliffs at the south of the island. Taken in 1974 on slide film.

During my visit to Lord Howe Island I took a side trip to the saddle between the two mountains at the south, Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird. Trips to the area were possible only with a guide, as it was necessary to traverse a precarious ledge around the cliffs known as the "Lower Road" (identified by note). I understand there are fixed ropes along this ledge now, in those days it was 'just hang on and be careful'. Copied from a slide.

Shortly after the flying boat lifted off from Sydney Harbour, we passed one of the old Manly ferries heading out from the city, then (inset note) we banked right over the early convict-built fort (and also convict prison) known as "Pinchgut" , en route to Lord Howe Island, some 800 km (two and a half hours) distant to the north east. From a 1974 Kodachrome slide.

This photo of a Short Sandringham was taken at the former Rose Bay flying boat base in Sydney Harbour, prior to departure for Lord Howe Island on 7 June 1974. This was the world's last airline route still operating flying boats : they ceased operations in August that year when a new runway at Lord Howe Island came into service. Copied from Kodachrome slide taken exactly 40 years ago today: more in a set to follow soon. I'd suggest viewing on black. Any flying boat enthusiasts might enjoy a video I found, of the same aircraft departing from Sydney Harbour. Be adventurous and put the sound up, to enjoy the sound of the four Pratt and Whitney engines.