In 2005, two more aircraft were added to the fleet, which were equipped for firebombing. A Call-When-Needed contract was signed with the Queensland Rural Fire Service (QRFS) to supply two fixed wing firebombers and an observation aircraft. More fire contracts were signed in the following years. In August 2007, an opportunity arose to purchase an operation that specialized in irrigated cotton spraying in Mungindi, NSW complete with two AT-802s; exactly what was needed to continue the expansion in aerial firefighting and Mungindi Aerial was launched with partners Charlie and Bianca Tootell.
Lachlan and Fiona at their office in Meandarra. Lachlan is rarely in the office. Lachlan says the AT-802 is his office. Fiona helps with scheduling and administration duties.
In 2002 Lachlan sold one of the rebuilt aircraft and used the money to buy his first turbine powered ag-plane, a Turbo Thrush. Later that year, Meandarra Aerial did its first aerial firebombing in the Tara and Toowoomba area. Lachlan realized this would be a good opportunity
for the company during dry times of the year when spraying was off, but the fire threat was high. In June 2003, the second turbine plane arrived and by the winter of 2004 Meandarra Aerial had five aircraft and was facing a dry season with the
1. Pilots Roy Dawson and Michael “Curly” O’Connor, both once were operators, but now fly for Meandarra Aerial. 2. Pilot Tony Jones with the RV-7 he built. Tony used to be an operator (Rebel Ag), sold out and now flies for Meandarra Aerial. 3. A handle for the heavy 3-inch hose. 4. (R-L) Fuel, boom wash out, compressed air and pressure washer
There was a another operation, Northern Rivers, in Mungindi that was purchased in December 2007. Now, Meandarra Aerial
hoses on four retractable reels mounted high enough that an aircraft’s wing will not hit when pulling into the load area. There are two sets of mounted reels at the loading area so two aircraft can be serviced at once. 5. Everyone busy, washing down aircraft each night before storing in the hangar. 6. 510GR Thrush takes on another load at the Meandarra base.
January 2017
A-17
INTERNATIONAL
potential for no spray work. However, Western Australia had the largest stripe rust spray run in Australian history, so two aircraft were sent over to sustain the company.