Page 67 - Photos by Friends and Guests

Vintage Transports, photos by Friends & Guests (67)

Brad Barker posted 09Jan2025 @FB/Douglas Big Props: "I have a C-54-D-DC, free to a good home. Doesn’t even have to be a good home, just needs to be away from here... You can even have the 3 extra R-2000s that are here with it."
Douglas C-54 N67024 for sale at Houma, LA 2025

"N67024 images posted with Brad Barker's permission. Wild Bill Thomas pictures." This is N67024, ex USN 50871.
Wild Bill is the Chief Mechanic for Brad Barker, of Airborne Support Inc. of Houma, Louisiana. Since 9/2019.
Douglas C-54 N67024 for sale at Houma, LA 2025
N67024 (c/n 10550) was operated by EASI Mosquito Control, @Houma-Terrebonne,LA. Sprayer. EASI=
EnvironmentalAviation Services Inc (Reg'd 20nov85). Pic'd 28jul01 Houma with Airborne Support.
Ln 24Aug02 Houma EAS. see www.airliners.net/open.file/741707/L/ dated 07Nov04.
See also sighted Feb.2010, on my Guestphotos Page_24
Incident 28Nov11 @Houma: upon landing nose gear collapsed. Ln 24Feb13 @Houma-Terrebonne, reported active.
Ln March 2017 see Ken Swartz gallery.
ATDB has/had it destroyed @Houma. Clearly not correct!
SEE ALSO MY VISIT TO HOUMA FOR THE PROPLINERS HERE

My Searchfor..-gallery has 2 recent additions

Unidentified DC-3, Hans van der Vlist collection.
"Can you or your readers help me to identify this Dakota? I photographed this DC-3 on 01Nov1992 at Craig
Mun'l Airport in Florida. Today also known as Jacksonville Executive Airport (KCRG)."
See my relevant Searchfor-page

This a Google Earth (1994) screendump of KCRG (JAXEX), it shows a DC-3 (with wings!) visible: restored and moved?

Behind that DC-3 some earthworks / engineering seem to take place: the reason why the DC-3 was moved?

I received an e-mail from Lisa Ravazza in Nov.2024, in reference to an item I have on my USA 2008 (Hayward):
"I am a resident in the San Francisco Bay Area. Years ago I received a certificate for a free ride in a 1936 Stearman Biplane operated by Bud Field Aviation in Hayward,CA.
For medical reasons I was unable to use that certificate...

Fast forward to today, and locating that photo and certificate, I decided to do some research on Bud Field Aviation and came upon your article and what I believe could be the same aircraft..?
My best friend is a retired Air Force Colonel and I would love to gather more information, especially the current location of this aircraft as a birthday road trip surprise.

John Giambone wrote me 15Dec2025: "I was out in the L.A. area in early October."

"I happened to visit Moto-Art facility in Torrance. I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the facility.
You are probably aware of that company, they manufacture furniture out of airplane parts, and they make plane tags.They had the remnants of several prop aircraft there of interest!
I thought you might find these interesting. One of the aircraft they have there is the cockpit section of the C-123 that was used in the movie 'Con-Air' with Nicolas Cage: Fairchild C-123K (54-709) N709RR.
The photo’s include the cockpit.
And I also have a shot of an ex-AA DC-3 nose section mounted up on the wall. Unfortunately, the person giving me the tour was not able to provide any background information about identity of the aircraft nose..."

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)
Moto Art Studios - planetags.com

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)
Wheeled C-123 cockpit...

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)
The cockpit of C-123K (54-709) N709RR fairly complete, no doubt for interior filming

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)
'Fairchild' pedals ☺

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)
Throttle and mixture levers

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)

John Giambone's visit to Moto-Art (10-2024)
Overhead panel with switches aand cb's
-+-
Unidentified:

John's 'tourguide' could not help with the identity of this DC-3 / C-47 - EMAIL Me

I came across Chris Siderwicz's name again recently, offering a DC-3 for sale through Barnstormers.
DC-3 N137PB for sale

More on this DC-3A (c/n 4128) on my Photos by Friends & Guests #20 and also page #38.

Was to be found at: Newell Highway, West Wyalong NSW 2671.
DC-3 in Bland Shire (NSW)
"The West Wyalong Lions Park offers visitors the chance to have a close up look at a Douglas DC3 Dakota C47A."
Here since 1983, now up for extensive work to deal with wear & tear by the outdoor display.

C‑47A‑DK (Dakota III) A65-23 (c/n 11973) Royal Australian AF - Preserved @downtown Lions Park, West Wyalong
Identification by 'Survivors' ( Roy Blewett / Gatwick Aviation Society, 2017) and confirmed by
ATDB.aero (online aviation database).

DC-3 in Bland Shire (NSW)
A link was forwarded to me: "
www.miragenews.com/dc-3-dakota-warbird-on-move-bland-shire-1358228/

'The Douglas DC3 Dakota was located in Lions Park on the junction of the Newell and Mid Western Highway's, West Wyalong. It will return here after much needed maintenance, probably again for decades of display.

Built in 1943 in Oklahoma City, the plane was donated to the West Wyalong Lions Club.
Bland Shire Council received state funding to restore the DC3/C47 to its former glory.
The DC-3 was originally designed in America in 1935 by the Douglas Aircraft Company for a long range passenger aircraft for American Airlines. The type was first flown in December 1935.
The RAAF used 124 Dakotas. In commercial guise ANA/ANSETT-ANA operated 70, East-West Airlines operated 7, QANTAS operated 20 (owning 8), and TAA operated 23 DC-3s.'

www.visitnsw.com/ - - - /west-wyalong/attractions/douglas-dc3-dakota

Location:
Location Dakota III A65-23, at West Wyalong

DC-3 Dakota Warbird On Move: Bland Shire

'Bland Shire's iconic warbird, the DC-3 (C-47) Dakota aircraft was recently relocated to begin a significant and thorough restoration, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
The historic aircraft, which has been a part of the local landscape since its relocation from Cootamundra to West Wyalong Lions Park in March 1983, is being carefully restored to maintain its historical significance.

Once the warbird is back to its former glory, the DC-3 will be placed back in Lions Park to continue to be a popular drawcard for locals and visitors alike.

Thanks to a grant from the NSW Government, Bland Shire Council is overseeing the extensive repairs and upgrades, which includes site improvements, concrete work, paint removal, and re-coating the aircraft.'
www.miragenews.com/dc-3-dakota-warbird-on-move-bland-shire - 15 Nov 2024 5:24 pm AEDT

Thanks to Ken Swartz for forwarding me the initial link.

Tom Littich reacted to a webpage of mine, compiled many years ago, about DC-3 N569R
Remains of DC-3 N569R
Exif data show date: 2000:04:14. This is in reaction of research into a DC-3 airframe, progress on Search For..

Tom Littich of Munich, Germany still has parts for sale:
Remains of DC-3 N569R
Write me for his email adress EMAIL

Remains of DC-3 N569R
Detail of what..?

Remains of DC-3 N569R

Tom wrote (Nov.2024):
"I used to own this 'plane' and sold it to the cinema; it came from Technik Museum Kiemele, @Seifertshofen round 1997. While dismantling, I found paper tags on the seats, showing "IBERIA".
I would like to get in touch and share information about it."
Follow up: "Wolfgang Falch from Austria bought the cockpit section after closing down the cinema I believe this is his museum https://hangar-sw.at ("Gelegen am Flugplatz Reutte-Höfen in der Naturregion Lechtal").

His 3rd email:
"I do not know very much about the plane but I would have some leftover parts of it (fuselage and pitot tube). As far as I can recall the cockpit was auctioned on Paypal and later on sold again (maybe to UK?)
When we prepared the plane for transport and decoration of the cinema, we ripped out virtually everything and cut it in pieces...
Some stuff (oil coolers, wings, seats etc) was scrapped, some like center pedestals sold on ebay (very cheap).
Never had the engines, tail section was already cut off and missing.
I have some paper pictures of the built, not digitalized yet, could scan and send them..?
Good to see, some people take care of aviation history."
Tom

Ken Korba went into Canada's wilderness to visit the wreck of DC-3 CF-ILQ

For more photos of Ken's CF-ILQ exploration visit my Abandoned Plane Wrecks of the (Arctic) North

Winter has arrived in Montana! (18Nov2024)
Miiss Madison N486C in 2024 winter conditions (Ennis, Montana)

Update for the 38 North Aviation LLC DC-3 (N486C c/n 6325) in Ennis (Big Sky Airport), Montana: "Miss Madison standing tall! The main gear stands are on! Thanks to Juan and Ed for their long hours and hard work to make Miss M
a proud bird again!
DC-3 Miss Madison

'Miss Madison' is a 1942 Douglas DC-3 former airliner project restoration and future bed and breakfast.
Congratulations Danielle on the progress!

Yesterday, 12Oct24, I visited a fleamarket and ran across a copy of a 1938 magazine, Het Leven ('Life').
Stinson 1938 advertisement

Het Leven 1938 copy
'Het Leven', copy of Saturday 26Nov1938. Reporting on a visit by King Leopold,
King of Belgium, to The Netherlands. Many photos of in Amsterdam, including
a subsequent tour from Central Station to Monument of the Dam. Credit of
its quality photography went to Gevaert Photoproducten N.V. of Antwerp.
This copy was the 33rd year of publication!

Visit to the Fokker Aircraft factory during the royal visit

Het Leven advertisment 1938
Publication of a book by Peter Thoene, 'Conquering of the air space'. Foreword by Frits Koolhoven.

Miss Madison in a fine sunset
Miss Madison by 38 North Aviation, LLC

See also my Photos by Friends & Guests #64 - that page has more details

UPDATE SEP.2024 ON FACEBOOK / HISTORIC AUSTRALIAN AIRCRAFT
PBY-5 VH-ASA, restoration by HARS for the Powerhouse museum (2024)

VH-ASA on splendid display.
See my Down Under 2005 visit to the Powerhouse Museum which has its history detailed.

Benoit de Mulder contributed DC-3 C-FBVF for below item on Don McDonald's memories of his 1970s
flying career on the DC-3 and DC-4. This airframe here was (also) previously operated by Terra Mining.
DC-3 C-FBVF - (c) Benoit de Mulder collection

DC-3 C-FBVF - (c) Benoit de Mulder collection

See Don McDonald's gallery for more

Updated Don McDonald's gallery with 2 images of his flying career with Terra Mining and Exploration in Canada's North. Here's one of them, taken in -38C!
DC-3 in winter ops (c) Don McDonald

One Gerry Pinkney reacted on Facebook to my post: "I flew BVF for a year at Terra Mines. This was a very low time DC-3, around 12.000 hours back in 86/87. Interesting company to work for to say the least."

From the Airhistory.net Newsletter #8 2024
Websites saved of those who died
Good news! Joe Baugher's website was often read for research after international travel,
helped many a time to identify an airframe I'd photographed. Geoff Goodalls only for certain
aircraft types, but people like these two provided valuable information. I fear researchers
like them is a dying breed, and we'll only have the pictorial databases e.g. Airhistory.net.

Graham Robson sent pics of Super Guppy F-BTGV being scrapped @Bruntingthorpe (2020) plus its fate.
Super Guppy F-BTGV scrapped at Bruntingthorpe 2020
Super Guppy F-BTGV scrapped @Bruntingthorpe. Graham added details of ownership & more; see my UK 2003

Super Guppy F-BTGV scrapped at Bruntingthorpe 2020
Super Guppy Turbine (SGT) F-BTGV was retired to Bruntingthorpe in 1996 following 25 years service with Airbus,
where it had been preserved as a static exhibit. This is def'ly the end of the road as a whole aeroplane.
See also a 2013 photo on my Photos by Friends & Guests #36.

A recent addition to my gallery Amsterdam Mun'l Airport 'Schiphol', the Old Days...

KLM's DC-2 'Rietvink'

Kenneth Swartz sent me this photo 31Aug24.
"The Hawaii Mars is now parked next to a CV580, A-26, Tracker and a Tradewind at the B.C. Aviation Museum!"

More of Kenneth Swartz's vintage aviation photography on KEN'S GALLERY on my website.

See my CANADA 2019 REPORT on both Martin Mars C-FLYL (above) and C-FLYK.

Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar, 53-8074 at the Flying J Ranch in Arizona. Copyright Cassidy Cristello, Aug.2024.

Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar, 53-8074 at the Flying J Ranch. Copyright Cassidy Cristello, Aug.2024.

Cassidy found my report on this Flying Boxcar and visited the ranch recently. See my 2027 REPORT & his update.

Neville Webb, avid plane wreck hunter back in the day, has researched the 1942 crash of B-26 Marauder @Saglek, Labrador. See Neville's gallery on my website.
B-26 1942 crash site at Saglek, Labrador

B-26 1942 crash site at Saglek, Labrador

Eric van der Linden sent me photos of C-47A cockpit section, c/n 10100 (ex/ USAAF 42-24238) - one from mystery Searchfor pages - visit page for more details and peculiar history.
C-47 c/n 10100 at RIAT Fairford 2024 by Eric van der Linden

C-47 c/n 10100 at RIAT Fairford 2024 by Eric van der Linden

John Giambone sent me also: "Just saw on your site some pics of N26BP arriving over there in Europe. I was fortunate to catch her as she passed through Indianapolis-IND on her way over the pond... Here are comments from that day.

Ex/ USAAF 41-39359, N91281, CF-BMR (Tanker #321), C-FBMR
"Well, it was a cruddy day, rainy, low dark overcast, low visibility, not good shooting conditions, but hey, it is not every day an A-26 flies into town, so when it does, you grab your camera and head to the airport and get what pictures you can (01Jun24)."

'Former US Air Force 41-39359, was registered N91281 by Aero Union in the 1960s and converted to a firebomber. The aircraft was Tanker 21 in Conair's fire fighting fleet 1970 - 85. Owned by warbird collector Jerry Janes 1985 - 87, it went to the USA as N26BP'. FAA's N-inquiry page has it reg'd on 13Jun2023 to Marine Aviation Museum.

Cropped from a larger picture showing the full aircraft while nearing touch down.
"Rumor has it that this aircraft is owned by the owner of Million Air, and he was on his way to France for an 80th anniversary celebration D-day event... A-26 N26BP (41-39359) "Million Airess" shown arriving and
departing 23-R this afternoon. Looked like they had trouble getting the #1 engine to fired up, but she is on her way. This was my first time to catch an A-26 in flight, and to my knowledge, this may be the first time an A-26 has
been here at least since I started shooting out here in IND since 1989."

"This was her routing: (ESF-IND-SYR). From SYR, she went to: -YYR-UAK-RKV-WIC-ANR-CER-WMI."

John Giambone sent me this fine 'walk around' of N500EJ which he had recently! Date 18Jul24.
"I spotted this aircraft on the ramp of KANQ (=Tri-State Steuben County Airport (IATA: ANQ, ICAO: KANQ)
is a public use airport in Steuben County, Indiana /Wikipedia) earlier today (07-18-24). Almost had a heart attack.
I have driven past this airport dozens of times over the last 17 years, and not once had ever seen any aircraft there!
So, imagine my surprise when I saw this beauty sitting there. I had to drop in and check it out..!
C-54 N500EJ 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)
BAHF's C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24, photos by John Giambone

C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)
The proud DC-4 / C-54 of the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation (BAHF) may have been visiting on a fundraiser..?

C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)
Douglas C-54D, N500EJ (c/n 22178/630, ex/ N9015Q Tanker 152)
Procured by BAHF to replace c/n 27370, which allegedly moved to North Carolina to be used as a prop or a bar.
Afaik N500EJ (@) is based at Walterboro,SC (RBW)..? EMAIL me

C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)
"To commemorate 'Operation Vittles', the 'Berlin Airlift'. "

C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)

Stepping into the 'front office'...
C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)
Serial No. is used to describe its USAAF identity here and Factory No. used as its Manufaturer's Serial
Number (msn) or Construction Number (C/n).

C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)

C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)
We can read the new tailnumber, N500EJ, on the instrument panel here.

C-54 N500EJ / 317228 18Jul24 by John Giambone (c)
See also my Photos by Friends & Guests #61 and Photos by Friends & Guests #63

Interior and volunteer
Interior of BAHF's C-54

In reference of Bob Prescott's photos a research thread resulted between him and Graham Robson,
on C-119s and C-123s found in the 1990s. Fine photos of Propliners in storage then.

The C-123s (in DMI Yard) were:- 54-0619, at the very southeastern end of the yard (above)
and 54-0706 at the base-line fence next to the C-119s. See my Searchfor page as also mentioned below.
More on the C-119s on my C-119 Dossier Page Two.

Bob Prescott sent me this 1993 unidentified Fairchild C-123 Provider.
C-123 Provider, 1993, at Dross's ARM yard

An 89-year-old Douglas DC-2 airliner has arrived at Australia’s Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Aviation Museum for restoration. Built-in May 1935 at Douglas’ Santa Monica plant, this historic aircraft will be restored and displayed at the museum at Shellharbour Airport in NSW.
The DC-2 Uiver to HARS for restoration (2024)

The DC-2 Uiver to HARS for restoration (2024)

I visited Albury for this DC-2 'Uiver' in 2005, see my report with several status updates over the years:
OZ 2005 Page #2 (also includes mor einfo on this HARS restoration.

A while ago Hans van der Vlist asked me for the location of derelict planes hidden in Manitoba's bushland...
He came back, after he found it, and identified the mystery Beech Expeditor!
This is my 2007 photo and he solved it!
Mystery Beech Expeditor at Brandon (Manitoba)

Mystery Beech Expeditor at Brandon (Manitoba)

See my 2007 BRANDON BCATP MUSEUM, MANITOBA for his details and 2024 photo

A storm flipped the Douglas C-54 (DC-4 variant) recently (copied 07-2024 from Facebook video - editted using Topaz)
DC-4 at Nenana,AK flipped by a storm

I visited C-54 N82FA (Brooks Fuel) here at Nenana, see my USA 2012 REPORT with much of Alaska.

Posted on FB's Seaplanes group was this photo, editted using Topaz
DHC-2 N590DB crashed 28Jun24 in Alaska

Invader N26BP by Walter van Brempt 2024
N26BP landing at Antwerp, 20240624. Photos by Walter van Brempt.

Invader N26BP by Walter van Brempt 2024
Ex/ USAAF 41-39359, N91281, CF-BMR (Tanker #321), C-FBMR

Invader N26BP by Walter van Brempt 2024
See also photos while in Airtanker configuration: www.airhistory.net

Invader N26BP caught in the landing (the one below is in take off) of Antwerp. They came by mainly because at the airport of departure there was not the necessary administration to be done for entering the UK...
Se here at ANR they refueled some and they passed the customs / airport police.
Next it was onward to Duxford. Worthy of 'D-Day 80' I think!
Walter wrote: "After Duxford they may do 'greetings' at some USAF airfields in the UK and perhaps also to USAF airfields in Germany. They may still go to a meeting in Italy. But they are considering more and more about returning to the US.
Hopefully they pass once more through Antwerp. ☺ "

Invader N26BP by Walter van Brempt 2024
A-26/B26C Invader 'Million Airess' crew routing from Antwerp to Duxford, before long homeward leg.

Phil Brooks wrote me in June 2024: 'Roger, son of the late Larry Zimmerman, photographer, has authorized me to send these to you. Beautiful!'
Pacific Western 'ship 502', by Larry Zimmerman (1966)

Pacific Western 'ship 502', by Larry Zimmerman (1966)

No reg showing but on the tail we can read '502'. Photo taken 1966 @Dawson Creek,

Pacific Western Airlines, 1953-1987; took-over Transair in 1979. Taken-over by Canadian AL and merged 26Apr87.
The C-46 fleet by ATDB.aero-
|
For '502' we can disregard CF-PWD and CF-HYH, since both were destroyed in 1960, while '502' was photographed by Larry Zimmerman at Dawson Creek (B.C.) in 1966.

Googling on +"Pacific Western" +502 brought no results, so I checked my vintage 'Curtiss C-46 Commando' reference guide by Air-Britain (1978) but only found '501' mentioned. Here's some of the (interesting) histories I found in this Air-Britain publication-
C/n 2934 was reg'd 11Mar55 CF-HYI '501'. Rr CF=PWE, cvtd to Super C-46C.
C/n 2940 Bt Pacific Western R15Feb55 CF-HYH. Cvtd to Super C-46C. Rr CF-PWD 05Dec57. Accident 29Nov57. Damaged 23Oct58. crashed on one-engined landing @Port Hardy 29Jan60. No mention of being 'ship 502'.
C/n 22445. Ex/ Civil Air Transport (N8308C)! R..Mar55 Pacific Western, cvtd to Super C-46 (pax). R31May67 to Nordair. No mention of being 'ship 502'.
C/n 22453. Also ex CAT. Cvtd to Super C-46 (pax), Pacific Western R..Jul59. R31May67 to Nordair. No mention of being 'ship 502'.
C/n 22542. CF-CZI dlvd to Canadian Pacific 11Feb65. Cvtd to Super C-46 (cargo). Pacific Western Airlines July 1959. As N9761Z to Intermountain Aviation Inc. of Phoenix,AZ (a CIA cover) 1963. No mention of being 'ship 502'.
C/n 22574. CF-CZJ dlvd to Canadian Pacific 10Feb55. Cvtd to Super C-46 (cargo) 1957. Pacific Western Airlines July 1959. To Bird & Sons Inc. (also CIA cover) N9760Z 1963. No mention of being 'ship 502'.
Help for '502' apprecated! EMAIL

Johan Visschedijk of 1000aircraftphotos.com wrote: "No fleet numbers are kept on our site, the name Pacific Western appears 41 times in 29 files, but not one with a Curtiss C-46.
Also in the Curtiss C-46 production list of Bo-Goran Lundkvist Aviation Research no fleet numbers are mentioned."

DHC-3 CF-IOF, by Larry Zimmerman (1966)

DHC-3 CF-IOF (c/n 6), photo by Larry Zimmerman (1966), reportedly at Dawson Creek (1966).
On 02Apr1965 CF-IOD was damaged whilst flying from Edmonton to the company's Rainbow Lake airstrip with 6 pax. It sustaining substantial damage. Sold DHC on 02Sep1966, it remained at Edmonton for repairs. Sold on by DHC to Thomas Lamb Airways Ltd, and a ferry permit issued on 14Mar67 for its delivery flight from Edmonton
to its new base at The Pas, Manitoba.' This is the relevant timeframe, 1966, full history c/n 6 see below.

From the DHC-3 OTTER monograph by Karl E, Hayes:
Otter number 6 was registered to Imperial Oil Air Transport Ltd on 18th December 1952 and delivered to its new owner the following day. Imperial Oil were Esso's Canadian affiliate. The Otter was based in Dawson Creek, BC and used to support oil exploration work in the Canadian North. It was joined by CF-IOF (24) in September 1954, which was based in Edmonton.
CF-IOD was active in northern BC and Alberta, especially in the Peace River country where hilly sparsely populated farmland soon dissolved into bleak mountain ranges, thick muskeg forests and innumerable lakes and rivers. The Otter supported drilling camps out in the bush. The drilling crew, having trucked in their equipment over hardened ground during the winter, carved a landing strip nearby for the Otter with their bulldozer.
The Otter was also used to service small geological and seismic exploration parties, who camped by a lake or river where CF-IOD had a chance of landing.
A number of incidents were recorded, as it operated from short, rugged airstrips out in the bush.
On 22 June 1953 at one of these strips, the tail wheel dropped into a hole, damaging the rear fuselage. The Otter was flown to Calgary for repair. On 1st August '53 on a flight from Peace River there was damage to the rear bulkhead on landing 30 miles north-west of Beatton River. On 18th April '55, flying from Imperial Oil's Rainbow Airstrip carrying a load of 1,800 lbs of diamond core barrel parts, the Otter was caught by a downdraft landing at Kahntah airstrip and struck a ridge at the end of the short strip, damaging the undercarriage and propeller. This was put down as one of the“hazards of bush flying”... The damage was repaired by Northwest Industries in Edmonton.
As well as carrying personnel and supplies into these camps, the Otter also brought in bags of specially formulated mud used on drilling sites to cool drilling bits and carry rock cuttings to the surface, and the aircraft also brought out core samples for analysis. It was also used for medevac flights whenever the need arose.
Occasionally the Otter came to the attention of the SAR authorities, as it suffered communications difficulties in the course of its travels, giving rise to some concern until it managed to establish contact and report all was well. One such incident occurred on 8th November 1957 when it became overdue at Fort St.John on a round robin flight via Sikanni Chief. Another such incident was on 24th June '58, en route from Fort Providence to Hay River in the Northwest Territories.
There followed years of incident free operation until 2nd April 1965, when CF-IOD was flying from Edmonton to the company's Rainbow Lake airstrip with six passengers. During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a ridge, became airborne and dropped heavily, sustaining substantial damage.

The Otter was sold to DHC on 2nd September 1966, although it remained at Edmonton, where it had been taken for repair. It was sold on by DHC to Thomas Lamb Airways Ltd, and a ferry permit issued on 14th March 1967 for its delivery flight from Edmonton to its new base at The Pas, Manitoba.
IOD was one of thirteen Otters to be registered to this well known Manitoba carrier over the years. The company changed its name to Lambair in December 1968. IOD served the communities of Manitoba for five years, until February 1972, when it was one of three Otters (the others being CF-XIL and CF-CDL) sold by Lambair to A. Fecteau Transport Aerien. IOD and CDL were delivered on 16th February 1972 and XIL followed on 1st March '72. With its new owner, IOD proceeded to operate in the bush country of Quebec, just as it had in Manitoba and Alberta before that.
It was not long in service before its first scrape, on 6th April '72. Operating in the James Bay area, it was en
route from Fort George to Cape Jones airstrip with five barrels of aviation fuel. Landing on rough terrain and snowdrifts, damage was caused to the rear fuselage, which was repaired.
On 14th April 1977, on take-off from the hydro-electric power station site GB-1 en route to Great Whale, during the take-off run from the rough snow surface, the bolt holding the right gear strut to the fuselage failed, causing the right ski to fold under the fuselage on the subsequent landing. Damage was caused to the right wing, the strut and the centre tank. Repairs were carried out to C-FIOD, as it was then registered, by St.Louis Aviation at St.Jean airfield, Montreal. Another incident occurred two years later on 5th April 1979, landing at Lac Bolem, Quebec on a flight from Lac Mollet.
The Otter was flying in material and personnel to repair a company aircraft (Beaver CF-DJO) whose landing
gear had collapsed while landing on the rough surface three days earlier. During the landing roll, the left ski of IOD collapsed when it struck a snow-covered rock which the pilot had failed to see. Again, the damage was repaired.

In March 1982 Air Fecteau was amalgamated into Propair Inc, to whom C-FIOD was registered, and with whom it continued to serve the outback of Quebec.
It was here, at Lac Helene, that it came to grief on 14th July 1985...
The float-equipped Otter with the pilot, a passenger, an electric generator and construction materials on board took off from the lake, which was 10,000 feet long and located at an elevation of 500 feet. The aircraft left the water about half way along the lake and began to climb. At about one hundred feet the pilot retracted the flaps and re-set the engine from take-off to climb power. The aircraft then began to lose altitude. The pilot increased the power again but the Otter continued to descend until it struck the ground and cart-wheeled to the left and slid tail first before coming to rest.
Fire broke out which completely destroyed the fuselage and its contents.
The take-off distance exceeded that specified by the manufacturer, probably a consequence of an overload caused either by excessive weight or by water in the floats. As a result, it was at a very low altitude close to the shoreline. The pilot had reduced the power and retracted the flaps at an altitude below that recommended, and was unable because of the low altitude to let the aircraft accelerate to the speed of the optimum rate of climb. The aircraft therefore progressed at low speed and a steep angle of attack. As a result of strong drag forces, it remained behind the power curve. The registration was cancelled on 19th June 1986 as 'Detruit par le feu' (destroyed by fire).
./end quote

Danielle posted this update on Facebook: Miss Madison 'covered' in snow in June...
DC-3 Miss Madison at Big Sky Aiport (Montana)

Danielle ('38N Aviation') sents me regularly pix of DC-3 'Miss Madison', under restoration.
See also my Photos by Friends & Guests #64

These screenshots were forwarded to me by Kenneth Swartz 08Jun24:
Martin Mars to move to Vistoria sooner!

See my CANADA 2019 REPORT with links to previous visits to Port Alberni

Here's another photo by JoeJoe, DC-6A/C-118A on finals ('over the fence') at Anchorage (PANC) 28May2024
DC-6A / C-118A N100CE by JoeJoe

Douglas C-118A N100CE (c/n 44662/629) in a typical nose down attitude, aiming for the threshold.
The DC-6 / C-118 continues service with Everts Air Cargo & Everts Air Fuel, though their numbers decrease.
Their flying commercial careers end when they've reached the end of their FAR 121 lifetime.

JoeJoe Prince Jr opens this new page with a superb shot of Grumman G-21A Goose N703 whilst on touch down.
Grumman Goose N703 by JoeJoe

More details on N703, and more plane photos by JoeJoe, on PAGE THREE | PAGE TWO | PAGE ONE

Created: 19-Jul-2023 | Updated: 19-Jul-2022

Vintage Transports, photos by Friends & Guests (67)

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