VH-EWP Laser Airbourne Depth Sounder
The Navy Fokker F27, VH-EWP flew it's last sortie for the Navy on 15th September 2009. VH-EWP was in Navy service since 1992, surveying waterways around Australia and abroad.
Inside the standard seating arrangement gives way to several electronic rack cabinets, computers and of course the LASER platform.
Opening bay doors in the bottom of the aircrfat just forward of midship provide the LASER with a clear path below. Two LASERS are used in the survey process. One points directly down and is responsible for altitude data. The second, a much more powerful (1MW) LASER scans the ocean floor at depths of up to 50 metres.
Apparently, after talking to the crew I found there are quite often concerned phone calls as the piercing green beam sweeping the ocean is often mistaken as some sort of problem with the aircraft. At night I presume it could even be mistaken for something more sinister. A UFO maybe :-)
This aircraft is fairly young for a Fokker Friendship. Being one of the last built. Also, it's low yearly hours still leaves plenty of servicable life in the aircraft. Look inside and out and you can see this Fokker is in pristine condition. The Navy have obviously looked after her well. It is a credit to the crew that this aircraft has been maintained in almost factory show room condition.
The reason for this last trip to Adelaide unfortunatley, is a sad one. The Navy is about to upgrade to a Dash 8. Servicability issues and cost to maintain and operate have taken their toll. The LASER equipment has been removed from the Fokker and is being installed in the Dash 8.
However, the the good news is the Fokker will be taken over by Fugro LADS and will be refitted with the survey equipment currently in the Dash 8 and will be contracted out. Possibly on commercial survey work. I just hope they look after her with the same dilligence as the navy.
HISTORY-NOSTALGIA
This particular Fokker Friendship is the last Rolls Royce Dart powered aircraft still flying in Australia. She requires copious quantities of Water-Methanol to be injected into the tubines during take-off and go-rounds to develop the power required. As some readers will remember, Rolls Royce Darts had a unique sound. I always felt, this is what a "real" turbo-prop should sound like.
As an aircraft enthusiast one could readily tell when a Fokker was on approach. The distinctive high-wing and the sound of the Darts as it came closer.
As a child flying to Kangaroo Island, South Australia on an F27 200 as an Ansett passenger and loving the aircraft back then, it was the forefilment of a childhood dream to be standing just a few metres away (virtually nose-to-nose) during start-up and taxi. To be able to video and photograph the last flying Fokker Friendship in Australia was a priviledge and I will keep track of this aircraft in the future.
More information, photos and video of this aircraft can be found on the main 5DME web site. www.5dme.net
Story by David H.
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