Visit to an Airline Boneyard

Me ^ | 7-18-05 | Me

[Central Scrutiniser]

I went out today to visit a local airplane boneyard. It was damn hot, over 110 degrees. The airport is Chandler Memorial, a small aux. strip built during WWII for the nearby Williams AFB. During the Vietnam War, it served as a repair station for the infamous CIA "Air America" and today they run a C130 hangar there.

DC7 "African Queen" So named as this plane was deployed to Africa as a pesticide sprayer, however, it was damaged by a missle and they managed to get her back home, its been sitting since 1988

DC7C "Seven Seas", from Denver Ports of Call Airline, this was once a Brannif Bird as well. Its been there since 1988.

Former Delta DC7C

A really beat up C54D (DC6), US Navy.

4 DC 4's, in various shape, belong to Biegert Aviation

MacAvia DC6, and 2 DC7C's

DC7B, DC6

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Maybe you need to take a person from the ACLU up in the DC-6s and see if they change their minds ?

[Paleo Conservative]

Heathrow's QC2 noise restrictions.

I meant QC4.

[4CJ]

Aviators and their crews, and te men who maintain those beasts (planes) are simply a breed apart.

A friend from work and I buzzed the bosses house last week. A Godly man, he and his loved it.

[4CJ]

I've had a few close calls, once almost rear-ending a truck. INSTANTLY your thoughts are of God!

Regarding flying with someone from the ACLU, interesting notion. I'm sure my friend could perform a few barrel rolls, spins and dives. Somehow watching the ground rise up to meet you at terrific speed has a motivational effect on many ;o)

[BluH2o]

The Denver Ports of Call DC7C was flying out of Denver's Stapleton back in the 1970's. A business acquaintance of mine was a member and periodically he and his wife would fly down to Mexican resort cities like Mazatlan on this aircraft. Denver Ports of Call had a membership drive at one point and invited those interested to visit their facility and airplane at Stapleton. Out of curiosity I dropped by one evening and went aboard the aircraft, which appeared to be in excellent condition; however, I didn't take them up on their invitation to join the travel club.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

lol ....
Yes,,, that is amazing.
Even though, I believe in GOD, there have been times, were I had doubts whether GOD really existed ( and if most were honest, everyone sometimes in their lives have had doubts ) , even the Apostle Thomas doubted, but, I think, GOD is patient with his own, who may have doubts, in comparison to those who flat out refuse to believe in GOD.
Check out my tag line... it says it all.
I fortunately have not had a bad flying experience on a airplane, not even the turbulence bothered me.
The only thing that bothered me on a long haul flight was my back and behind bothered me for sitting for 14 hours.
The turbulence I already expected it ( and I never flew on a plane when I experienced it ) .

[BluH2o]

4 DC 4's, in various shape, belong to Biegert Aviation

This past weekend there was a special tribute to John Wayne on one of the TV channels. Since it was hot, humid and murky outside I decided to stay indoors and watch a couple of his old aviation related movies in A/C comfort ... "Island in the Sky" and "The High and the Mighty". Both adaptations from Ernest K. Gann books by the same title; anyway, in "The High and the Mighty" the aircraft featured was the DC-4.

[hattend]

The airframes are probably recoverable/restorable. The problem is finding the engines for them (IIRC: PW 2800s for the -6 and Wright 3350s for the -7). Everts Air in Fairbanks, Alaska has the largest fleet of DC-6 planes still flying.

It's amazing to fly into Fairbanks and see a whole fleet of DC-6/7s sitting on a parking apron. About 10 of them are parts suppliers for the flying fleet. Everts also machines new parts for worldwide users.

[hattend]

Yep, watched both movies. Love the DC-3 footage in "Island in the Sky" and kept expecting to see Leslie Neilson in "High and the Mighty"

I love in "The High and the Mighty" when the guy with the gun was waving it about and everybody promply forgot about it. Like it was a common occurrence. Or the guy with a fifth of whisky just pounding it down. LOL!!

What a difference 50 years has made in American society.

[Central Scrutiniser]

I meant gold as a euphamism. As in paydirt or some other expression.

[Central Scrutiniser]

I flew on Egypt Air a few years ago (just before the pilot crashed one) on a 777 from JFK-Cairo. Upon entering the jetway, an attendant gave me two tiny bottles of wine. I asked her why. She said that they don't serve alcohol in flight!

I was not pleased, however, once we took off, all the Egyptians pulled out bottles of rum and whiskey and passed them all around the plane!

[Central Scrutiniser]

I thought the one in High and the Mighty was a DC6. I watched it, good flick.

[Central Scrutiniser]

I remember Ports of Call bringing in Convair CV550 turboprops into PHX in the early 90's, that plane was rivet city.

[hattend]

I was not pleased, however, once we took off, all the Egyptians pulled out bottles of rum and whiskey and passed them all around the plane!

Allah can't see you when you are out of the country.

[Central Scrutiniser]

They were a good airline, jumbled fleet, but no problems. I once did a IL62M across the atlantic, not fun.

[hattend]

I once did a IL62M across the atlantic, not fun

You have more guts than I do. I don't think I would ever want to fly on a Russian airliner.

I used to see them land at Lajes Field, Azores when I was stationed there. They may look modern on the outside but I've heard horror stories about the inside (and the noises it makes in flight)

[ken5050]

Thanks for the pics...evey time I see these "airplane graveyard" photos..I always remember the early scene from "The Best Years of Our Lives"..shot from the nose of the bomber flying over an airplane graveyard. Thousands of bombers, parked. One character says "man could we have used them a few years ago!"

[Central Scrutiniser]

It was a last minute switch out by the airline, CSA Czechoslovakian Airlines (now they are Czech Air). They had 2 A310's, but one went to C check. I was flying standby, I was happy to get on. They went overboard with service, as they were embarassed to be flying the IL. We got little gifts, flight bags, and more beer than you can imagine.

On taxi, it was storming at JFK, so we spent about 30 minutes on the tarmac, the attendants started serving us! Then the plane started taking off, people were up, the carts were in the aisle, etc! It was pretty funny watching everyone scurry back to their seats.

[4CJ]

The Good Lord knows I had my doubts at times, as my good friend Ff--150 can attest. Most of it can be attributed to a lack of understanding - our limited human comprehension fails us. I do believe that God imparts additional knowledge to those dead to this world and brought back to life through His grace.

I have never had any motion sickness of any kind, and turbulence is fun - especially in a little puddle jumper at 1000 feet. It keeps the ol' heart tickin' ;o)

[Ff--150]

"I have never had any motion sickness of any kind, and turbulence is fun "

Negative!!!! Some fool hasta clean it up, Jack!

Flying to the Azores lightening struck and I was on the HF radio with the A/C length wires when when St. Elmo's Fire came aboard uninvited.

Went to the cockhouse on pilot's side, played around as he knew we couldn't catch him, then co-pilot's, then snuck under instrument panel and I saw him through the porthole on the cabin door to whereever St. Elmo lives...