Page 65 - Photos by Friends and Guests

Vintage Transports, photos by Friends & Guests (65)

This month a video was published on YouTube of the 1997 scrapping of crashed Bristol Freighter C-FTPA
The scrapping of Bristol Freighter C-FTPA
Screendumps from video. C-FTPA (c/n 13157) R.I.P.

The scrapping of Bristol Freighter C-FTPA
Stills of the 1997 video youtube.com/watch?v=GOx5-beKp0c

The scrapping of Bristol Freighter C-FTPA

C-FTPA Hawkair Aviation Services, crashed @Bronson Creek B.C. 24Apr97: starboard main gear collapsed on landing, fuselage crushed; all spares removed & collected by Bristol Freighter C-GYQS and registration canx 20May97. Crash described as 'ground looped and ran off runway into ditch' [¬Survivors 2007].
See also www.baaa-acro.com/city/bronson-creek

The scrapping of Bristol Freighter C-FTPA
Bristol Freighter C-FTPA truly was a dinosaur!

Also, in the same video and same location (and amazed to see a Lynden Air Cargo Herc taking off there):
DC-4
Brooks Fuel DC-4 N44909, 'totalled in a snowbank'.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster N44909 (c/n 27371) of Brooks Air Fuel crashed 01Feb971 while landing (descent or approach) at Bronson Creek B.C.), on a cargo flight.
After landing at Bronson Creek Airport, one of the main landing gear struck a snow wall. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. No fatalities among the 4 on board, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

These two aren't by far the only planes that crashed at or in the region of Bronson Creek:
www.baaa-acro.com/city/bronson-creek

Dion Makowski published this image on FB's 'Clyde North Aeronautical Preservation Group', on 11Dec2022:
'Pepsi Cat at her new home, Cressy Aerodrome (Vic)'.
The day before Darryl Gibbs wrote: 'On our way home from Rathmines now. Been up there to pick up our Catalina cockpit which had been on loan to the Australian Museum of Flight, then HARS and then to the Catalina crew at Rathmines for over 15 years.' The identity is believed to be an OA-10 Dumbo, but nothing further with any certainty.
Pepsi Cat at her new home, Cressy Aerodrome (Victoria)
A few more details by posted reactions: '..this is a different relic [from 'Our Girl', see below -Webmaster RL], ours
has been in Australia since the war. It was reportedly involved in an accident and later scrapped.'
And: 'this aircraft was known anecdotally in the region when located, the Riverina. Many locals spoke with us and this, along with our thorough examination of the interior, allowed us to come up with a couple of possible identities.'
Another reply by Dion: 'we are obviously after completing this display and are after any cockpit components
surplus to other restorations'.

Steve Wenban posted this on FB's Aviation Wrecks and relics' on 07Dec22.
"This is the restoration I'm working on , and just about to move to a new workshop so no more laying in the dirt."
PBY-5A Canso N7238Z | ex/ BuNo 48412 (US Navy) | 1774

"In April 2013, after a 7 year worldwide search, a Catalina Flying boat (PBY-5A) was located at San Juan Airport, Puerto Rico.
The aircraft, which has become known as ‘Our Girl’, was built in late 1943 for the US Navy. Post war she was sold into private hands and the RCMPA purchased her from the Orinoco Mining Co.

In poor condition, after years of exposure to the weather, Association volunteers made numerous trips to San Juan to work on the logistics of dismantling and shipping the aircraft to Sydney, Australia.
Prior to shipping, there was [sic] many hours spent in cleaning (ready for Australian quarantine inspection) and finally the aircraft was in 5 manageable sections and shipped, over several months, to Sydney.

Restoration commenced in May 2014, with 3 volunteers, to date (?) over 25.000 hours of volunteer hours have been logged and volunteer numbers have grown to 17. It is anticipated that another 10,000 hours will be required to bring the aircraft to static display standards.

The aircraft will be brought back to WWII specifications, with the addition of side waist blisters, bow turret and the tunnel gun hatch. Wartime radio equipment, navigation and pilot instruments will be on display.
Painting of the exterior fuselage and upper wing surfaces will be in a camouflage pattern, dark sea grey and a dark insignia blue. The underside wings and lower fuselage will be matt black."
From ¬rathmines-catalina.com/Our-Girl-Catalina-PBY-5A (no date).

The website added following identity and history details: N7238Z | BuNo 48412 (US Navy) | 1774 | PBY-5A Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Trust, Rathmines, NSW and located at Kilaben.
BuNo 48412 (US Navy)/N10024/ N96R/YV-P-EPX/ YV-P-EPZ/ YV-O-CFO-4/YV-56CP/ YV-585CP/YV-485C.

PBY-5A Canso N7238Z | ex/ BuNo 48412 (US Navy) | 1774

Nelson Little shared on Facebook photos of Catalina RK-A photos of RK-A @Moorabi Air Museum a few years ago.
Catalina RK-A @Moorabbin Air Museum

Shared on FB's 'Consolidated PBY Catalina'. A former houseboat, see more on this subject MY GALLERY.

Aidan Curley wrote me 27Oct22 and he included C-47 (C-117?) photos: 'I came across this place by accident having just left the Victorville airport on 22Sept22; they are easily visible on the right side of the road after a few minutes when travelling south on Hwy 395.
There are 3 C-47 types and a C-45 as well plus what appears to be a test rig of a forward section of a 787.
The chaps there were friendly and had no problem with me walking around the fence of their premises, but they
refused entry on the grounds of that old chestnut: Insurance.
They didn't know the identify of the airframes and of course there are no external serials, but they did say they
came from El Mirage and that one of them is earmarked for a conversion to a food truck..!'

C-47s @HD Trailers LLC, 13926 Hwy 395, Victorville,CA.
The address is: HD Trailers LLC, 13926 Hwy 395, Victorville, CA.'
Any clues to their identity would be useful! EMAIL

C-47s @HD Trailers LLC, 13926 Hwy 395, Victorville,CA.

C-47s @HD Trailers LLC, 13926 Hwy 395, Victorville,CA.
A fine airframe among a gaggle of Airstream caravans!

C-47s @HD Trailers LLC, 13926 Hwy 395, Victorville,CA.

C-47s @HD Trailers LLC, 13926 Hwy 395, Victorville,CA.
SEE ALSO MY CALIFORNIA 2018 PROPLINERS ROADTRIP

Antonov An-12BP UR-CNN (c/n 7345004) of Cavok Airlines
An-12 UR-CNN of Cavok Airlines

On 15Oct22 photographed on the Industrial Ramp at St. John's Int'l Airport.
For more details see Neville Webb's gallery on my website HERE...

End of the road for former TransNorthern's C-117D N29TN:
C-117D of Viper Transitions, ex/ TransNorthen, will be scrapped @Anchorage
C-117D N29TN of Viper Transitions, ex/ TransNorthen, will be scrapped @Anchorage

C-117D of Viper Transitions, ex/ TransNorthen, will be scrapped @Anchorage
For N29TN's history and Viper Transition's decision, see updates on My Visit to TransNorthern Aviation in 2012.

Michael O'Rance shared this photo on FB/Aviation Wrecks and relics in Oct.2022.
He wrote: "Port Moresby, PNG Airways Hotel."
C47B Port Moresby (PNG), Airways Hotel

For its identity and history see my Off-airport Asia gallery

JoeJoe wrote: 'Bethel this afternoon [25Sep22].
DHC-2 N5143G at Bethel,AK 25Sep2022, by JoeJoe Prince

For more see JoeJoe's GALLERY on my website

My Abandoned Plane Wrecks of the (Arctic) North has posts (2009 & 2017) of C-46F N67982,
abandoned @Nullaq Lake, Alaska. Jacob C. wrote me a July 2022 update, with aerial photos!

Curtiss C-46F Commando N67982, abandoned at Nullaq Lake,Alaska by Jacob C. See link above for much more!

Walter van Brempt visited Alaska in June this year and sent me some excellent results!
He wrote: 'After 20 years I've revisited Alaska, June 18th - 27th, visiting a.o. Anchorage and Fairbanks.'
Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Douglas C-47A, N44587 (c/n 12857) of Desert Air on the ramp at Anchorage 20Jun22.
See also my visit to Alaska in 2012, which features info on N44587 and much more.

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Douglas C-47A, N59314 (c/n 12363) of Desert Air, ANC 20Jun22.
History of C-47A c/n 12363 (N59314)
History (Sep.2022) by ATDB.aero, the online Aviation database.
Note: The FAA database ('N-inquiry') has c/n 12363 still reg'd to Barton M. Tiernan (19Jul2017),
the previous (?) owner of Bush Air Cargo, another operator in Alaska (current, @Palmer).
See als my dedicated page to N59314!

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Nice line up of Desert Air's piston DC-3's: N272R (c/n 13678) + N44587 + N59314

History of c/n 13678 only shows the following tailnumbers: 42-108983, NC88824, N272R.
TWA had operated it as NC88824 nov45-jan52. Piedmont Air Cargo flew it for a considerable time, in The South, already registered.N272R at that time.
It was named 'Miss Catharine' whene operating for Cascade Air Service.
Jeff Jordan bought N272R in the summer of 2005, with a partner, for fish hauling contracts; DC-3 N91314 was also part o their project.
Next it was registered McCollough Holdings LLC (Parker,CO), on 06Jun06, but continued operating for Cascade Air. It was based at Ephrata,WA when not out on charter.
In May 2010 N272R was bought by Desert Air Transport Inc..

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Douglas C-47, N305SF (c/n 6208), stored/derelict at Palmer (26Jun22).
Over past decades I came across this C-47 a few times, see for its history my AlCan 2003 Report.

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
N400MF served Mission Flights International of Florida for a long time: 38 years! In 2015 they sold N400MF
(c/n 26877/15432) and it moved to Alaska. Performs flightseeing flights from Palmer,AK allegedly.

'Ordered by the USAAF as C-47B 43-49616. Delivered to the US Navy as R4D-6 50822 in 1944. To North Central Airlines as N2400 in 1956. Returned to the US Navy in 1962. Sold in 1966. To Missionary Flights and Services in 1984. Reregistered as N400MF in 1994. Still current on the register in 2021 owned by N400MF Inc. based at Anchorage, AK.' [¬www.airhistory.net/photo/423174/N400MF]

'Registered to Kingdom Air Corps, former Missionary Flights that was flown to Alaska a few years ago and parked at Palmer Municipal Airport. Very nice airplane with a very nice pax interior.' [¬www.airhistory.net/photo/277193/N400MF]

UPDATE Dec.2022 (by Scramble's Propliners section): 'Golden Era Aviation in Palmer (AK) has parted with this DC-3 N400MF. It will continue its tourism business with their other DC-3 N763A.
This ship (N763A -Webmaster) sustained serious damage in a snow storm before the 2022 season. They hope the sale of N400MF will supply them with funds to repair N763A before the season 2023 starts.
The airplane (N400MF -Webmaster) was ferried to Aurora (OR) in September 2022, where it is offered for sale at $625K.'

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Douglas C-53, N763A (c/n 4894), 'Ozark Air Lines', does flightseeing by Golden Era Aviation.
Information about its history can be learned from Photos by Friends & Guests #60 and Photos by Friends & Guests #62.
Update Dec.2022: see info above with N400MF.

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
BT67 N115U (c/n 33567) of Desert Air (20Jun22). Its history was recently described on JoeJoe Prince's gallery.
Douglas C-117D, N27TN (c/n 43332). Reg'd 04Jun09 to TransNorthern but unused except for parts. Wasilla 21Jun22)
For its history see my USA 1992 + Photos by Friends & Guests (27).
Douglas DC-6A/C-118A, N100CE (c/n 44662) landing at Fairbanks (23Jun22). See my Skytrucks @Fairbanks 2012.
Douglas C-118A, N251CE (c/n 44612) of Everts Air Fuel, taking off @FAI (23Jun22). See my FAIRBANKS 2003.

Douglas C-54G, N51802 (c/n 35930/324), seen stored for parts at FAI (22Jun22).
Going back a little (data from my -RL- database): 'N51802 Skymaster Aviation, Kingman,AZ. Freighter. ex/45-0477.
Ln Kingman,AZ Apr97. Ln 12mar99 Kingman. Same 01feb00, 20dec00. Ln aug01 @Kingman (Propliner magazine 1988).
Ln 12Mar03 Kingman. Bt May04 R.Brooks and ferried to FAI to replace w/o N44911. R13Jul04 Brooks Fuel Inc.
Ln 30Apr07 FAI with expectations to be oper'l in a year. Ln FAI 27Sep07, wfu. Ln Jan08 under restoration at FAI?
On auction Mar2020 @FAI. Bt Alaska Air Fuel @auction, ln ..Jan21 @FAI.
See my Alaska & Canada report, Page 3.

Evert's storage yard (22Jun22). Some call it a dump, but at one time was referred to as '.. future projects'.
Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Grumman HU-16D Albatross, N20861 (Wasilla, 21Jun22)
My data goes back some 2 decades: 'N20861 (c/n G-425), Upper Limit LLC, Greenville,DE R13Jan04.
Owner Rob Hutchens, no location. Ln 24May09 std Wasilla,AK bare metal c/s.
N-inq: Upper Limit LLC still current. Pic'd 17Jun12 @Wasilla, n/t. Ln 13Jun16 Wasilla AP, same.'
When I checked N-inquiry Sep.2022 I noticed it was still reg'd to Upper Limit LLC, but in Big Lake,AK.

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Fairchild C-123K, N4254H (c/n 20052, ex/ 54-0602) @Palmer-Wolf Lake on 26Jun22, brightly polished.
R18Jun13 for Compass Rose. For its history see my Photos by Friends & Guests #18 & Photos by Friends & Guests #19.

The following information is from a post on AirHistory.net by Tim Spearman: "Built as C-123B 54-0603, converted to a C-123K and later UC-123K. Served in Vietnam before being withdrawn to MASDC in 1981 and sold onto the civilian market as N4254H circa 1991.
Various owners including the Olympic Flight Museum and Discovery Air Charters of Titusville FLA. before moving to Alaska in 2008.
Was to be operated by a local construction company who intended to use it haul materials to remote sites, the aircraft has remained grounded since the death of the owner, John Eshleman, in the crash of their other Provider, N709RR in August 2010."

Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)
Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar, N1394N (c/n 10840), stored. Possibly still owned by John S. Reffett.
When I laid my eyes on N1394H for the first time, during the 1990s, I had hopes it would fly. But that hope is gone!
Its history is detailed on my Propliners on Last Frontier, 2003

A series of deHavilland DHC-2 Beavers at Lake Hood on 19Jun22
Propliners & bushplanes in Alaska, by Walter van Brempt (2022)

DHC-2 N70JE c/n 70. Reg'd N70JE LLC of Eagle River,AK (08Dec2015). It was reg'd N915RC 16May08 to James M. Eule (same owner). Severely damaged on crashing after take off Lake Spenard 07Jun09, no fatalities.
Rr N70JE on 07Jun10.

DHC-2 N310NR c/n 396. R07Jun99 to James M.Jensen. R04Apr2013 to My Holdings Inc, of Anchorage. Opb Trail Ridge Air.

DHC-2 N5162G c/n 658. R25Jun84 (!) to Walter G. Hanni of Anchorage,AK.

DHC-2 N987SP c/n 83. Reg'd to Sportmans Leasing, see JoeJoe Prince's PAGE TWO here.

DHC-2 N715 of Alaska Air Service (20Jun22), R19Apr2018 for William E. Star (of Eagle River,AK).

DHC-2 N4444Z of Rust's (20Jun22).
R13Apr90 N4444Z Rust's Flying Service (Rustair Inc).

DHC-2 N454DB
deHavilland DHC-2, N454DB c/n 1183 (Lake Hood, 20Jun22)
C/n 1183 is ex/ C-GTLT of Yorel Properties Ltd, Campbell River,BC R09Jan09. Ln 20Feb09 @Campbell River.
Reg canx 10Apr19 with FAA Register, N454DB res for Alaskan Bushflights. R11Jul2022 for Aircraft Leasing
of Alaska LLC.

Neil Aird's DHC-2 Master Index has almost all histories of the deHavilland Beavers, in great detail!

Created: 05-Sep-2022
Updated: 08-Sep-2022

Vintage Transports, photos by Friends & Guests (65)

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