Planes_Trains_Ships

03/08/2024

Planes_Trains_Ships, 8/3/24
7/13/24, American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA. “Wildcat Flight Demo”
FM-2 Wildcat N11FE (Bu. No. 86680, c/n 5734) participated in the American Heritage Museum’s Pacific War Re-enactment event. She’s seen here before, during, and after her demo flight on Saturday afternoon.

I've also included a snippet of video recorded while she was warming up for flight.

15/01/2024

6/2/74, NAS South Weymouth, MA. "Sunday Afternoon Skyhawks "

The Weekend Warriors of VMA-322 were busy on this pleasant Sunday afternoon. Seen here is a two-ship element of VMA-322 A-4E Skyhawks taxiing to Runway 8 and taking off.
A-4E 149985 (QR-50) served with VMA-322 from 1973 to 1985. She was finally sent to AMARC (the "boneyard") in October 1993 and salvaged (i.e., scrapped) in March 2002. There' a very nice photo of 149985 at http://tinyurl.com/Hildreth-149985
A-4E 150058 (QR-53) served with VMA-322 from 1973 to 1983. She was retired to AMARC in August 1986. As of March 2019 she was preserved in Blue Angels markings on the roof of the Nauticus Museum (near the U.S.S. Wisconsin) in Norfolk, VA.
Photos 1–3. Three views of QR-50 & QR-53 taxiing to Runway 8. BTW note that QR-53 has a straight in-flight refueling probe and QR-50 has the later “bent” in-flight refueling probe.
Photo 4. Lining up on the runway
Photo 5. They took off sequentially with QR-50 leading. In this photo, QR-53 is just lifting off with QR-50 some ways ahead. The smoke trail from QR-50 is just discernible.
(Repost from 6/28/21)

22/12/2023

9/29/93, Quonset Point, RI. “Thunderbird #8”
The USAF Thunderbirds were the headline performers at the 1993 Quonset Point air show. Thunderbird #8 (an F-16D) is seen here taking off Saturday morning for what was probably an orientation flight for a media personality or other local “notable”. Look closely and the flame of the afterburner is discernible.

18/12/2023

6/7/92, Quonset Point, RI. “SLUF (A-7D) in Action”

Late on an overcast Sunday afternoon, the pilot of A-7D 70-1028 was finally able to head back to Tulsa, OK after a weekend on static display duty. ‘028 was assigned to the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 125th Tactical Fighter Squadron and in 2023 serves as gate guard at their Tulsa, OK base.

She’s seen here during engine start, taxiing, taking off, and during a final flyby. The last shot provides a good view of the bottom-side camouflage pattern, I think.

17/12/2023

6/7/92, Quonset Point, RI. "Static SLUF (A-7D)"

The Ling temco Vought A-7 Corsair II was popularly known as the SLUF for Short Little Ugly…Fellow (the polite version of the nickname.) The A-7 entered service with the USN in October 1966 and in 1970 with the USAF (as the A-7D.)

The Oklahoma Air National Guard’s Tulsa, OK-based 125th TFS, 138th TFG flew A-7D 70-1028 to Rhode Island to serve as a static display duing the 1992 Quonset Point air show. The inscription unde her starboard windshield indicates that her crew chief was SSGT Glenn Logue. He was certainly keeping her shiny! The pilot’s name under the port windshield was Lt. Brent Ramsey (although he wasn’t necessarily flying her on this trip).

The OK ANG flew 028 from 1979 to the early 1990's. The National Museum of the USAF Loan Program took charge of her after her eventual retirement and she’s on display (as of January 2023) at the entrance to the Oklahoma ANG base at Tulsa, OK International Airport (along with an F-86D, an F-100D, and an F-16). You can find these aircraft on Google Earth at 36°13'12.90"N, 95°52'28.79"W.

The last of the three pictures in this set is a screen capture from Google Earth dated January-2023. She appears to be preserved in the same basic camouflage scheme she carried in 1992.

28/11/2023

5/16/87, Chino, CA. "Avenger"
The Planes of Fame Air Museum’s TBM-3E Avenger N7835C (Bu. No. 91624, c/n 7154) participated in flying displays during the museum’s 1987 annual airshow at the Chino airport. She’s seen here parked on the flight line late on Saturday afternoon after the airshow and also making some “airshow passes” during the show. She's painted in the three-tone camouflage adopted for USN carrier aircraft in early 1943. The white tail marking was carried by aircraft assigned to the U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-10) during January - July 1945.

Built by General Motors’ Eastern Aircraft Division in New Jersey, she was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 7/19/45 (too late for combat service). She was bought for the museum’s collection by founder Ed Maloney in 1959 and restored to flying condition in 1976. She’s been owned and flown by the museum ever since and is still flyable as of late 2023. A brief history of this airplane can be found at https://planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-TBM-3E.

20/11/2023

10/18/86, NAS Pt. Mugu, CA. “Skywarrior”
Although not formally on static display, VAQ-34’s ERA-3B Skywarrior 144846 (c/n 12092) was viewable by members of the public during the 1985 NAS Pt. Mugu open house. She was delivered to the US Navy in February 1960 as an A3D-2P photographic reconnaissance version. Redesignated an RA-3B in 1962, she was retired to the AMARC boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ on 7/1/71. She was converted to an ERA-3B and returned to service during the 1981-82 time period and served with VAQ-34 from 1984 to 1989.

She was SOC (“struck off charge”, i.e. removed from the Navy’s active inventory), loaned to a succession of civilian defense contractors (Westinghouse, Hughes, and Raytheon), and ended her days as a spare parts source supporting those contractors’ test fleets of Skywarriors. She was finally completely stripped of all useful parts by Raytheon in 1999 and scrapped by the Navy at Van Nuys, CA. While on loan she was registered as N547HA, N576HA, and,N574HA.

19/11/2023

11/3/85, Edwards AFB, CA. "Flight Test Rhino"

NF-4C Phantom II 63-7409 was on static display at the 1985 Edwards AFB open house. Spending most of her service life with the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards, 7409 was retired to the AMARC boneyard in April 1991. She was finally salvaged (i.e., scrapped) in May 2000.

16/11/2023

Edit: Updated starboard-side profile view with 10/1/23 photo.

5/28/23, American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA. “P-40B Pearl Harbor Survivor”
P-40B 41-13297 (c/n 16073, NX284CF) was on indoor display at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA. She was positioned in such a way that with a long reach it was possible to obtain a number of photos of her cockpit while standing on the museum floor.
She was delivered to the USAAF in March 1941 and stationed at Wheeler Field, Oahu. Damaged in a ground-loop accident on 10/28/41, she is believed to have been undergoing repairs in a maintenance hangar during the December 7th Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She escaped the attack with no further damage and her first post-repair flight was on 1/9/42. Sadly, she crashed in the hills near Pearl Harbor on 1/24/42, taking the life of her pilot, Lt. Kenneth Sprankle.
After the crash and the recovery of Lt. Sprankle’s remains, the wreckage remained at the wreck site until 1985 & 1989 when most of the wreckage was recovered with the intent to build an airworthy P-40B. This effort came to fruition on 1/12/07 with the post-restoration flight. She was damaged again in a landing accident on 10/29/14 and on 1/29/16 ownership passed to the Collings Foundation of Stow, MA. She is said to be the only surviving December 7th Pearl Harbor aircraft which is still flying.
Further details of 41-13297’s history can be found at the Aerial Visuals website (https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=23711) from which the details given here were extracted.

14/11/2023

7/25/92, Westover ARB, Chicopee, MA. “Fuddy Duddy: Engine Start & Taxi”
B-17G N9563Z (44-83563, c/n ) participated in the flying program of the 1992 Westover Air Reserve Base Airshow. She's seen here being taxied to the active runway. She's painted in the 1945 markings of "Fuddy Duddy", an aircraft of the WWII 447th BG. The 447thBG was based at Rattlesden, UK with the famous 8th AF ("The Mighty Eighth") from 11/30/43 through 8/2/45.

N9563Z was originally delivered to the USAAF as B-17G 44-83563 on 4/7/45 and placed in storage immediately. She was pulled from storage a month later and assigned to cargo and passenger-carrying duties until retired by the USAF as a VB-17G in June 1955. She had colorful subsequent history including appearing in movies including "The War Lover" and "Tora!, Tora!, Tora!".

At the time of these photos, Fuddy Duddy was operated by the National Warplane Museum of Geneseo, NY. She's been with the Lyon Air Museum in Santa Ana, CA since 2009 (see http://www.lyonairmuseum.org/exhibit/boeing-b-17-flying-fortress).

10/11/2023

10/01/23, American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA. “Messerschmitt!!”

Me 109G-10 Wrk No. 610937 is on indoor display at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA. She’s currently owned by the Collings Foundation as N109EV. I have found conflicting narratives regarding this particular airplane’s history. They agree however that 610937 was manufactured as (or upgraded to) a G-10 in Germany during WWII. Although none of my references indicate that 109’s ever used a pale blue paint for the cockpit, it’s clear that she’s been restored beautifully. She’s painted in the distinctive “tulip nose” marking carried by Erich Hartmann.

26/06/2023

Edit: Updated starboard-side profile view with 10/1/23 photo.

5/28/23, American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA. “P-40B Pearl Harbor Survivor”
P-40B 41-13297 (c/n 16073, NX284CF) was on indoor display at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA. She was positioned in such a way that with a long reach it was possible to obtaina number of photos of her cockpit standing on the museum floor.
She was delivered to the USAAF in March 1941 and stationed at Wheeler Field, Oahu. Damaged in a ground-loop accident on 10/28/41, she is believed to have been undergoing repairs in a maintenance hangar during the December 7th Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She escaped the attack with no further damage and her first post-repair flight was on 1/9/42. Sadly, she crashed in the hills near Pearl Harbor on 1/24/42, taking the life of her pilot, Lt. Kenneth Sprankle.
After the crash and the recovery of Lt. Sprankle’s remains, the wreckage remained at the wreck site until 1985 & 1989 when most of the wreckage was recovered with the intent to build an airworthy P-40B. This effort came to fruition on 1/12/07 with the post-restoration flight. She was damaged again in a landing accident on 10/29/14 and on 1/29/16 ownership passed to the Collings Foundation of Stow, MA. She is said to be the only surviving December 7th Pearl Harbor aircraft which is still flying.
Further details of 41-13297’s history can be found at the Aerial Visuals website (https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=23711) from which the details given here were extracted.

19/04/2023

Excellent video from a passenger seat of a Boeing 707 taking off.

Probably the shot of my lifetime. This video has it all: great plane in a great country, great weather, slats, engines, great apron below, fighters mountains...

06/02/2023

8/18/73, NAS South Weymouth, MA. "VMA-322 Skyhawk"
Several views of VMA-322's A-4E 149985 (QR-50) on static display at the 1973 NAS South Weymouth airshow.

Also shown is a recently completed model of that airplane (from the 1/48th scale Monogram kit). Note that the “VMA-322” marking was applied to 9985 at a later date than the 1973 photo.

21/01/2023

4/28/85, MCAS El Toro, CA. "Tomat and Outlaw"

The static displays at the 1985 MCAS air show included A-4M Skyhawk 160043 (c/n 14545, WL-01) of VMA-311 (the "Tomcats") and OA-4M Skyhawk 154623 (YU-03, c/n 13741) of H&MS-13 (the "Outlaws"). Both squadrons were based at El Toro.

A-4M 160043 was retired to the “boneyard” at Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ on 8/13/92. She left the boneyard on 12/4/95 for resurrection and sale to Argentina as part of the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. After refurbishment and updating she was delivered to the Argentine Air Fore in December 1997 and served as A-4AR Fightinghawk C-931.

OA-4M Skyhawk 154623 was retired to the “boneyard” at Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ on 9/25/89. On 4/9/2009 she was transferred to HVF West of Tucson, AZ and subsequently scrapped.

22/12/2022

Planes_Trains_Ships, 12/21/20
1/19/90, Palm Beach International Airport, W. Palm Beach, FL. "Gooney Bird Maintenance"

With her starboard engine removed and her port engine undergoing an uncowled engine run, it appeared that DC-3C N300MF (c/n 15676/27121) was receiving some significant maintenance attention. From a New Englander's perspective, it's worth noting that even in January outdoor maintenance on a DC-3 was normal in southern Florida. By the way, she was one of at least 5 seemingly airworthy DC-3s at WPB on 1/19/90.

N300MF was originally delivered to the USAAF on Jan-10-45 as a C-47B-20-DK (s/n 43-49860) and was soon thereafter transferred to the RAF as s/ KN250. She served with the RAF until the early 50's. After a typically varied post-military career, she was acquired by Missionary Flights (MFI) on Oct-11-81. She served with MFI until acquired by Florida Air Cargo on Jul-9-15. (see https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8773697). She is still active with Florida Air Cargo as of 12/21/22 (see https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N271SE and https://floridaaircargo.com/portfolio-posts/n271se/).

Photo 1. N300MF
Photos 2-4. N300MF engine run.
Photos 5-7. Close-ups of N300MF's port P&W R-1830 engine.
Photo 8. Starboard-side forward fuselage of N300MF.
(Edited repost from 12/9/19

24/11/2022

6/6/87, MCAS El Toro, CA. “This is the Police!”

Bell Mdl 206B Jet Ranger N3202Q (c/n 3938) of the LAPD Air Division was on static display during the 1987 MCAS El Toro air show. I used to hear the LAPD helicopters (and see their searchlights) pretty often at night when I was living in the central San Fernando Valley (Panorama City) during the mid-80’s.

N3202Q was manufactured in 1986 and reportedly was flown by the LAPD until at least October 2019. She’s currently owned by David Lee Aircraft Sales and Leasing, LLC of Wilmington, DE and her civil (i.e., FAA) registration is valid until 10/31/24. According to the FlightAware website, her most recent flight was in Kentucky on 6/28/22.

23/11/2022

6/6/87, MCAS El Toro, CA. “Classic Two-Seat Scooter”

NAS Pensacola, FL-based VT-86 provided TA-4J Skyhawk 158489 (c/n 14294) for static display during the 1986 MCAS El Toro air show.
Seen here in a classic training command orange and white paint scheme, she was retired to the Tucson “Boneyard” in February 1992 and was transferred to HVF West of Tucson for scrapping on 9/15/20.
VT-86 is still a Pensacola-based training squadron and flies T-45C Goshawks.

21/11/2022

8/26/94, Westover AFRB, Chicopee, MA. “Stealth Fighter Arrival”
An F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter is seen arriving at Westover AFRB for the 1994 air show weekend.

18/11/2022

1/19/90, Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, FL. “Liberator”
Several views of the Collings Foundation’s B-24J Liberator N224J (44-44052) as she was taxiing at West Palm Beach on a Friday afternoon. At the time, she was named “All American”.

01/11/2022

1/20/90, Opa Locka, FL. “End of the Line”

Boeing 727-25 5N-AWX (c/n 18256/16) is seen here in the process of being scrapped on a sunny south-Florida Saturday afternoon. She was originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in 1964 as N8105N and was sold to Nigeria-based charter airline Kabo Air in 1987. Kabo Air flew her from 1987 – 1989 as 5N-AWX and retired her in March 1989.

26/10/2022

6/25/92, Norwood Memorial Airport, Norwood, MA. “C-1A Trader w/ Wings Folded”
Grumman C-1A Trader N6788 (Bu. No. 136788) was at Norwood Memorial Airport on a pleasant late June afternoon. The right wing and tail of a TBM Avenger are also visible by the nose of N6788. The Avenger was one of several aircraft on tour with Dave Tallichet’s Yesterday’s Air Force; a contingent of which was also at the airport that day.

25/10/2022

6/7/92, Quonset Point, RI. “Grumman C-1A Trader”
Grumman C-1A Trader N6788 (Bu. No. 136788) was a participant in the 1992 Quonset Point air show. According to Mr. Ken Langlois, in a recent comment on this page, she was operated by New England Warbirds at the time of this photo. Mr. Langlois also commented that she was “one of 4 or so built as Early Warning airplanes with 40 plus antennas mounted all over the airframe, and pods on the wings” and was “later converted to an executive interior and all the antenna mounts patched over.”

Originally retired to the military’s Tucson, AZ “boneyard” on May18, 1983, she was purchased and restored to airworthiness in the mid-80’s and was an active flyer from then until at least the early 90’s. I had a flight in her myself on 9/5/92 in Bedford, MA during the 1992 Hanscom AFB air show.

However, it's been many years now since she last flew. Her FAA registration was cancelled on 4/30/15 due to expiration and she seems to have been stored outdoors at Beverly Municipal Airport, Beverly, MA since about 2010 (or before).

More details of her military history can be found at https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=30603

01/10/2022

1982 - 1994. "P-51D Bald Eagle"

Two more views of “Bald Eagle” (P-51D NL51JB: 44-73029) taken 12 years apart. On both occasions she was painted in markings similar to those carried in 1944 by P-51B 42-106839 ("Bald Eagle", B7-E) of the WWII 8th Air Force's 361st FG.
She's still an active flyer as of 2022 and is still painted as "Bald Eagle", but with a change to a polished aluminum finish instead of the aluminum lacquer she wore in the 80's & early 90's.

Photo 1. 9/12/82, Williamsport, PA. "Bald Eagle" was taxiing when this shot was taken.
Photo 2. 8/20/94, Wings of Eagles Airshow. Batavia, NY. "Bald Eagle" was taking off to participate in the show's flying activities.

01/10/2022

6/7/92, Quonset Point, RI. “Bald Eagle”

P-51D Mustang N51JB (44-73029) participated in the 1992 Quonset Point airshow. Her paint scheme was very similar to that carried by P-51B Mustang 42-106839 (B7-E of the 361st FG, named “Bald Eagle”) on 6/6/44 (D-Day).

This Mustang is still an active flyer in 2022 and still carries these same markings (although she is in a polished bare metal finish now.)

15/09/2022

6/7/92, Quonset Point, RI. “Two-Seat Scooter”

Based at NAS Kingsville, FL with Carrier Training Wing 2 (CTW-2), TA-4J Skyhawk 154313 (B-152, c/n 13701) was on static display during the 1992 Quonset Point airshow. Although officially nicknamed the Skyhawk, the A-4 series of aircraft were popularly known as Scooters due to their maneuverability and compact size (for a Navy attack jet).

154313 was retired to the Tucson, AZ “boneyard” on 9/8/94. She was transferred to HVF West of Tucson, AZ on 9/17/2008 and ultimately scrapped.

27/08/2022

5/28/93, Quonset Point, RI. “Warthog Twofer”
There were two A-10’s on static display during the 1993 Quonset Point air show. Note that both aircraft were painted in Europe 1 camouflage.

The MA ANG’s 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) provided A-10A 78-0608 for static display duty. As of 6/19/18, This aircraft was reportedly on outdoor display at the Gowen Field Military Heritage Museum, Gowen Field ANGB, Boise, Idaho.

The 23rd Wing’s 75th FS (the “Tiger Sharks”, based at Pope AFB, NC) provided A-10A 82-0660 for the air show. The 23rd Wing’s A-10’s displayed their heritage as the successors to the Flying Tigers (American Volunteer Group and 23rd FG) of WWII fame with the famous “sharkmouth” nose art and the tail code “FT”. As of June 2020, it appears that 82-0660 was still in active service with the 23rd FG’s 76th FS. (see 202006_FullStop.pdf (reccereports.com)).

Although the official nickname for the A-10 is “Thunderbolt II”, it is universally and fondly known as the “Warthog” due to it’s alleged ugliness (an esthetic judgment which I do not share.)

12/08/2022

5/28/93, Quonset Point, RI. “Aggressor A-4F Skyhawk”
VF-43 provided A-4F Skyhawk 154211 (nicknamed "Cujo") for static display duty during the 1993 Quonset Point air show. I find it interesting that 154211 served as Blue Angel 5 during the 1985 season.

154211 was retired to AMARC (the Tucson, AZ “boneyard” on 4/7/94. She was transferred to HVF West of Tucson on 12/9/2004 and scrapped.

VF-43 was based at NAS Oceana near Norfolk, VA and became an adversary squadron in June 1973. In this assignment, VF-43 supported aerial combat training for Atlantic Fleet fighter squadrons by providing adversary aircraft that were different from the types operated by the squadrons. The squadron continued in this role until it was disestablished in June 1994

05/08/2022

1/19/90, W. Palm Beach, FL. "Gooney Bird!"
In the late 80's, Missionary Flights International's (MFI) DC-3's were a frequent sight at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, FL.

DC-3 N2400 (c/n 15432/26877) was originally delivered to the USAAF on Dec-13-44 as a C-47B-20-DK (s/n 43-49616) and almost immediately transferred to the U.S. Navy as R4D-6 (Bu. No. 50822). She joined MFI's fleet on May-18-84 and her registration was eventually changed to N400MF. She was sold to Kingdom Air Corps, Inc. of Sutton, AK on Jul-21-09. Her civil registration is still valid with an experiation date of 7/31/24 and the FAA shows her owner as N400MF in Anchorage, Alaska. She is still an active flyer with Golden Era Aviation (https://www.goldeneraaviation.com/our-aircraft) of Palmer, Alaska

04/08/2022

11/8/86, George AFB, Victorville, CA. “Shamrock S-3A VIking”
S-3A Viking 160598 was on static display during the 1986 George AFB air show. Note how dark the canopy tinting is.

She was assigned to VS-41 (the “Shamrocks”) and based at NAS North Island, San Diego, CA. She was retired to theAMARC “boneyard” on 12/6/91 and “struck off charge” (i.e., removed from the Navy’s inventory) on 7/25/01. Interestingly, she was still carried on the AMARC (now AMARG) inventory as of June 2022.