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Topic: Never show this Film to the Manager

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 15, 2018 11:58 PM

Well that's what I was told back in 1978, when I shot some Super 8 film at the aero club during my time as a mechanic for them during my 10 year stint.

It was during the time the aero club were involved in the "Kingsford Smith" airshow that I decided to use the Bell and Howell Filmsonic 1230 camera.

Now you my wonder, why I was never to show this to the manager. Well I used some of my creative skills on the editor, showing the chief engineer during our morning tea break playing darts, however later I would wind the clock to show different times of the day, editing that early footage of them playing darts, giving the impression that he had nothing better to do than spend the hole day playing darts.

Of coarse this was not true, but I was told never show the manager this film, in case he was to think they were.

40 years later...."today" that manager is now retired and involved in the photographic crowd at the heritage park. I mentioned last week, that I had some film of him leading the formation, so today I took in my little ST180 projector, and ran that very film.

We had a good laugh over it, and I finished by saying that the chief engineer who is sadly now long gone, would be looking down from above and saying "I told you not to show him that film"

Here a couple of screen shots of those long ago days...

The dart board....

...Me.. doing a walk around...sorry this screen shot was a bit blurry

...Me....again.....1978...hard to imagine its now been 40 years

.....The Manager leading the formation in the Arrow with the gear down. When I showed him this film today, it certainly brought memories of his time there, and for me the other four that I worked with, in keeping the 19 aircraft we had flying constant, from early morning till dusk.

This last screen shot taken in the early morning as the sun was rising is my favorite, taken just as the doors were opened for a new day. For quite a while I would work full time for the aero club, but also part time work, two evenings and a Saturday as a motor mechanic for "Avis" as well...they were good times.

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Stuart Reid
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 720
From: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Registered: Feb 2009

posted May 16, 2018 01:27 AM

Graham, what a fantastic slice of history to revisit after 40 years! Thank you for sharing.

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted May 16, 2018 02:01 AM

LOL Graham...Great story and you are so lucky to have documented so much on film. So many good memories you have. I didn't have a still camera or a film camera when I started flying. I spent a lot of time at the San Carlos Airport washing our Ballanca Super Viking. It doesn't look that big...but when you were done it was like you had just washed 3 cars. I actually did get to fly it once in awhile... of course it was very clean [Smile]

This is the only photo of me I could find. This is also 1978. Where did those years go?

[ May 16, 2018, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 16, 2018 01:48 PM

Thanks Stuart [Smile]

Janice what a brilliant photo [Smile]

we used the Cherokee 140 as a trainer and it was excellent for that task...a very forgiving aircraft and quite hard to put into a stall during flight tests.

I found my old logbook and found my first solo was on the 19th of August 1976. I have been thinking for a while now, about the chance of the aero club letting me take a 140 for a fly, under a instructor of course, just to see what I can remember [Smile]

I think I can still do it [Roll Eyes]

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted May 16, 2018 04:23 PM

Yes Graham... some planes stall easier than others. I trained in a Cessna 150,...that plane was pretty easy to stall and so was the Cessna 182. However, the Bellanca was extremely stable and although just one prop it could fly at 300mph. Before we got the Bellanca we had an old Piper Tri-Pacer....it too was very difficult to stall. I have to admit stalling the plane on purpose was not my favorite procedure. However, when taking friends for rides many requested I do a stall...go figure [Confused]

If you want to test your piloting skills again Graham... go for it.However, it's a lot more expensive to rent a plane these days.

Post some pics if you do.

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 17, 2018 05:33 AM

I will check things out price wise, it might be to expensive but will see what I can come with.

When I started we received $100 worth of flying a year, which was really good as it was only costing $23 an hour back then, plus over the 10 years I worked there, we did test flights about once a fortnight, after an annual or engine change. I don't think they do any of that now, as I have had little contact with the place since I left.

I have just posted that Super8 film onto my Facebook tonight. I used Moviemaker on Windows 10 to smooth out some of the splices and scene transitions, but other than that have left it as original. [Smile]

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