One for the West Aussies (if you're older than 35)

[Lee G]

Came across this today - apologies for the scan quality but it's a rather old photo and was taken around April 1983.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Lee, I am over 35 but not a Sandgroper, and have a photograph similar to your Airlines Of WA F28 shot above, this one is at Parabadoo WA in December 1983. I will scan it tomorrow and post it also.

[Lee G]

Grahame,

That would be great. Brings back a lot of memories from my first job in aviation up in Karratha. I still have a soft spot for those F28's!

[Raymond Rowe]

Originally Posted by Lee G

Grahame,

I still have a soft spot for those F28's!

Unless you had to fix the flaming things.Nice aircraft but shocking to fix.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Lee, Here are a couple of the Airlines of Western Australia F28s at Parabadoo, and an East West F28 at Mascot. I also found the East West F28 Safety On Board Card from my collection.

Airlines of Western Australia F28 VH-FKC at Parabadoo on 23/11/1983


Airlines of Western Australia F28 VH-FKJ at Parabadoo in December 1983


East West F28 VH-EWB at Mascot on 4/3/1984. I flew on a couple of the East West F28s and they were comfortable and well equipped
for the day.

[Robert Zweck]

The F-28s were great performers and is why they were known as the "The Pocket Rocket "

In the mid 1970s I regularly had to fly on the MMA F-28s, commuting from Darwin to Kununurra, Gove and Groote Eylandt.

My only gripe was MMA charged the equivalent of First Class fares, the seating was 12 rows of 5 abreast ( like a DC-9 ) and certainly wasn't First Class seating. Especially if you were in Row 12 near the engines

For that cost you didn't always get a bite to eat, either.

Just coffee and biscuits....not good value!

But the crews were always down to earth and very friendly and that made up for it a bit. Jump seat travel was common. ( unlike today )