Eric Birkeland sent me this photo in April 2006.
He wrote: "Here's a shot of the triple tail DC-4, probably taken by my grandfather while visiting California in the 1930's. Most of my family were professional photographers, but one of his daughters was a stewardess on American Airlines DC-3's. It was probably taken on a trip to see her in California."

Note the the second, upper row of windows; these must be because of the sleeping berths (lost in further development of the DC-4).

The name on the hangar reads 'Northrop', a visit to the competition?

One can read more about this Douglas DC-4E and the DC-4/C-54 in general here.

 

 

This is Fairchild's C-119G Flying Boxcar, manufacturers serial number (msn, a.k.a construction number = c/n) 10678.
It flew with the USAF as 51-2689 and entered service with the Canadian RCAF (22103) 09Sep52 where it served until 03Sep65. At some point it was bought by Hawkins and Powers of Greybull,WY and was registered N8092; after 1990 it probably spent most of its career grounded at Greybull, as a supply for spareparts.
It was donated to the National Warplane Museum at Geneseo,NY in 1991. The museum split up and part of the collection moved to Elmira, but this C-119 remained behind as part of the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group.
A 2018 photo can be found on Kenneth Swartz's gallery on my website.

Bill Reid also sent these:
"Here are a couple of photos I found in a shoebox: North Star 17507 taken in the mid-1950s. Not sure where.

North Star 17507 photographed in the mid-1950s. Location and exact date unknown.

This photo by © Michael Balen was sent to me in Apr.2006

Andre van Loon suggested: "The airplane in question is likely to be N898AL, which was the main Brooks Fuel workhorse at that time. I visited Brooks Fuel during the summer of 1994 and it was the only active dc-4. N898AL was later written off during a landing incident on a snow covered dirt/ice strip with a full load of Diesel onboard...." (C-54G N898AL c/n 35986/380 was written off during landing at Kivalina on 17Apr95 - RL)
Marc Hookerman added: "It was either N90201 (c/n 10828/559 - RL) or N898AL (c/n35986/380 - RL); 8AL came online in 1986 and 201 came online in early 1994. The only thing that points to 8AL are some of the aesthetics of the airplane. The bird in the photo is silver. N44909 and N44911 were in full Biegert paint. 909 didn't last very long - having done a handful of interior flying before being sent to Bronson Creek,BC for the Snip contract. 909 and 911 didn't come online until 1995/96 or so if memory serves me correctly. 8AL was written off at KVL and 201 was grounded after a fire on #2.
By looks of the rudder's paint: it looks to be N898AL. You'll also see N898AL flying into Gold King Creek on one of the Avion Video tapes - "Big Props USA" I believe."

Following photos were found on the Internet (Nov.2009), to illustrate N898AL's demise by nose-gear collapse. By use of Google Maps and Google Earth, it was concluded that there is no trace anymore of N898AL at Kivalina.
Credit for the images:
the smaller ones come from Flick.com by Roland Adams (2005) and the larger one on PicasaWeb by aJ (2002)

What actually happened to N898AL can be read on Page 21, Photos by Friends & Guests...

Brian McDonough sent me this photo of Convair CV580 (c/n 480), taken at Washington-IAD 13Sep04.

This aircraft was built as a CV440/ C-131E for the USAF (57-2551) and delivered on 06Jan58; it was transferred to the CAA (N104) on 06Jan58 and converted to CV580 for re-delivery 16Jun61; it was reregistered N30 for the FAA on 30Jan75; this changed again to N74 on 11Oct76 and to the present N39 in May87.

N39 was offered for sale on an auction in July 2019 (with N49), but FAA's N-inquiry in Jan.2020 did not show a new owner.

Thanks Fred (and Doug!). I am sure, like myself, many vintage prop fans would like to witness that gathering some day!

C-124 Globemasters at the Will Rogers Int'l Airport

Have a look at this page with (1997) photos of C-47B ZK-BBJ, taken/sent by Brad Pilgrim and John Pratt.

You'll find a 2021 update for its new future!

Douglas DC-6B, N92BL (c/n 43825)

Anthony Perry wrote me in Feb.2006 and sent me these photos.
"I was in the Royal Air Force and was on detachment in Belize in the late 1980s. I took these photos back in 1988 from the military site I was working on. It was a good vantage point as it was right by the taxiway for the runway. I never took many photos, as this type of aircraft was the norm every day. I regret that now.
I walked round the Stratofreighter and was even asked if I wanted a look inside! But I had to go back to the worksite.
Two lads went up in a DC-6 or DC-7 and went to Miami via Guatamala. One of the Douglas aircraft crashed in Guatamala. I have sent you these photos for your interest but also the fact that you have some photos of the Stratofreighter in storage in Miami, which I thought was a great coincidence as I was searching the Net for info on that very aircaft.
[The photo on my website Anthony refers to can be seen on my page USA 1992 -Webmaster RL].

N92BL is a Douglas DC-6B with construction number 43825 and line number 315. It was delivered to Western A/L as N91305 on 15Jan53; it was leased by Alaska A/L and went to FAA as N114 in 1963 (may be reregistered N46 for a while).
Bellomy Lawson bought it in 1978, registered it as N9042G, converted it to a DC-6B(F) in 1980. It was flown by Trans Caribbean A/L (1982), Wylie Air Cargo (1983), Bellomy Lawson (N92BL, 1983), Aerial Transit Company (1985), Bellomy Lawson (1991), Aerial Transit (1991), Carga del Caribe (XA-SEA, 1992).
It crashed shortly after take off from Cancun on 15May93.

History of Douglas DC-6B c/ 43825, by ATDB.aero (Jan.2020).
Notes to the above: when owned by B-L 'converted DC-6B in 1980; dba Trans Caribbean 10/82-1/83', and when leased by
Wylie AC it carried no titles.

Unidentified C-97 Stratofreighter landing at a worksite in Belize.

Anthony: "I had come across my old photos in the loft of my house and wondered if there was any info on any of them."
These photos were taken approx December 1988 / January 1989; the DC-6s / DC-7s were in at least every week, the Strat was much less regular, I only saw it a couple of other times.
The photos were taken from the Rapier air defence missile site that was a permanent site. I was on this site once a week every four weeks so the Strats could have been more regular of course."

Here is HI-468 in better days, 1991. It was later rereg'd as HI-468CA for Agro Int'l.
Anthony: "The other two C-97 I cannot be sure of their identity, one certainly is not HI-468 (top) as one can see by the unpainted tailfin."
Agro Air operated several C-97s for hauling freight.
HI-181 (c/n 16687) had a red cheatline plus a dark blue tail (it was destroyed, operating for Belize Air Int'l, at MEX).
HI-473 (c/n 16932) was metallic plus a dark blue tail; rereg'd HI-473CA with Agro Air Int'l.
N8540D (c/n 16984) was probably not used for flight operations (parts?); it did not have the dark tailfin.
HI-472 (c/n 17107) had its acquisition cancelled.

HI-468 is a Boeing C-97G with c/n 17026; it is former USAF 53-0244. It was scrapped by BMI in 1993.

By deduction concluded this C-97 must be HI-473 or HI-468

Michael Clayton forwarded me this photo of VH-BPL on transport to the Qantas Museum at Longreach.
The photo was again forwarded to him; I was unable to trace the photographer for due credit; if he makes himself known I would be more than happy to credit this person hence forth.

Gil White R.I.P.) offers the following history on VH-BPL

Here is how VH-BPL turned out after restoration, as VH-EAP, on JetPhotos.net.

VH-BPL was bought by Laurie McIver of McIver aviation, but though it flew into Hoxton Park, from Cairns, it required some work to keep it airworthy. Laurie was working on doing it up and had borrowed some aircraft jacks from Richmond.
When returning the jacks to Richmond the vehicle Laurie was in was hit by a truck and unfortunately Laurie was killed...
According to the document online at:
www.aamb.com.au/documents/LaurieMcIverProfile.pdf Laurie was killed in 14/7/1995.

The individuals who restored 708Z were:
Samuel Knaub
Walter Gomez
Marc Hookerman
Douglas Castillo
Edwin Vilchez
Pablo Guzman
Martin Gomez
Some familiar names in the world of "round engines" ! They did a great job.
N708Z (c/n 36067) is destined for use by its owner Brooks Fuel at Fairbanks,AK.

Many years ago Ian MacFarlane came across N708Z in Florida and it looked quite different then. One even can say N708Z improved with age !
By end-Apr06 or early May06 N708Z it was expected to be ferried to Fairbanks,AK. But by during late Oct.06 it was still there, with no.4 engine removed for overhaul. Another photo by Nigel Aylmer, taken in July 2007, showed not much change either (though engine no.4 is off, not no.2), look here.

Sadly, N708Z never made it out of storage here at Douglas,GA. The owner, Roger Brooks, closed the doors of his company Brooks Fuel (in Alaska) many years ago and this C-54 (DC-4) is probably for sale without takers.

This screendump for N708Z's history is from ATDB.aero, an excellent online aviation database. (Jan.2020)

Peter Layne is co-author (with Richard Waugh) of the book SPANZ - South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand and their DC-3 Viewmasters.
Peter is working on another book, about National Airways Corporation (NAC), which is about to go to the printers in December 2006.
Peter, Richard and Graeme McConnell plan to use DC-3s to launch this book... Ideally they would like to see 3 DC-3s and a Dominie fly in support, but time will tell.
Here is the first NAC book newsletter, which also contains details of the planned 10-day tour.
Click here to have a look in Acrobat Reader format.
Here is a link to a publisher who has more of Peter's work: Craig Printing Co.

Gil White wrote a history on ZK-AMS.
Pionair sold ZK-AMS and c/n 9286 was registered to Classic Wings Pty Ltd on 14Mar06. It was seen at SYD-Bankstown 28Mar06 with Pionair titles removed and the new registration being applied: VH-CWS. Cairns is expected to be its new homebase. Thanks to Michael Clayton for the update.

More on ZK-AMS at my page Photos by Friends & Guests (20)

Update Feb.2016:
Last noted at SYD-Bankstown 02Jan2016, being dismantled, and gone by 29Jan16; VH-CWS is being shipped to a military museum in S.Korea.

Mike Condon clarified for me the recent moves of Pionair's Convairs:
ZK-PAL and ZK-KSA are owned by Pionair; the latter only since recently as it was initially imported to our region (NZ) to fly for King Solomon Airlines (KSA) and was based in Cairns for many years do very little work. Air Chathams then bought the aircraft back to NZ and it retained its KSA scheme and operated for them. Then the airline in Tonga collapsed and Pionair sent 2 DC-3s to service the island nation as Peau Air Vava'u which is owned by one of the Princes of Tonga. Then, another outfit decided to set up shop out of Tonga, called Reef Air, an offshoot of a cargo company. That is when ZK-KSA flew up and operated out of Tonga with the titles of Reef Air. The deal was not successful and ZK-KSA returned to NZ and changed ownership to Pionair who have in turn repainted the machine in its current livery and sent it to Australia to work for a living.
In the meantime, Air Chathams have placed Convair 580 ZK-CIE up in Tonga, flying for Peau Air Vavau and to this day still is doing so.
Pionair will also send their original Convair ZK-PAL to Australia and replace it here in NZ with a 50-seater from the USA in March/April of this year.
TAUCK is a travel company in the USA who once had a big contract with Mt.Cook Airline here in NZ. It was lost to Pionair some years back and this is when Mt Cook Airline stopped flying to Mt Cook and Manapouri. Pionair have since had landing rights approved at Mt Cook and also run to Manapouri. Not on a scheduled basis, just charter work.
TAUCK have only ever had enough work for one aircraft in New Zealand so ZK-PAL will remain until the 50-seater arrives.
Thanks Mike!
Webmaster's note:
1. Pionair has its homebase at Christchurch,NZ and its 2004 fleetlist listed 3 DC-3s (ZK-AMS "Dulcie", ZK-AMY "Lady Jane" and ZK-AWP "Skyliner Lucille") and 1 Convair CV580 (ZK-PAL "Joan the Jetprop").
2.ZK-KSA was in Wellington,NZ in Nov.2001, registered (23Apr98) to Air Chathams but operated by Pionair. The latter acquired it 04Nov05 from Air Chathams.

Gil White offers the following history on Viscount c/n 374.

C/n 374 - Viscount V.756D
First flight 02Jul58 deliverd to TAA on 08Jul58 as VH-TVN, arriving at Melbourne 16Jul58. On delivery the aircraft was fitted with larger tyres, with a low psi of 85, to enable operations on gravel runways on airports such as Mt. Isa and Longreach. Withdrawn from use and stored at Brisbane on 08Oct68 (ttl 24.914 hrs and 16.919 cycles).
Departed Brisbane on 27Mar69, on sale to Botswana National Airways as A2-ZEL, arriving at Francistown on 03Apr69. Impounded at Johannesburgon 25Jul69, together with Dakota A2-ZEB, on court order from Trek Airways for non-payment of UKL 40.000 fees and remained in open storage until late 1971.
Sold to Overseas Holidays and Aircraft Hire (Pty) in Jan72 as VP-YNI.
Sold to Air Rhodesia on 13Feb72 and named ' Sabie' . TFH 28.821 hrs and 20.341 cycles as of 21Jan75. Painted in overall grey anti-missile scheme in 1979, due to the loss of 2 aircraft near Kariba by SAM missiles. Transferred to Air Zimbabwe in Feb80 and reregistered Z-YNI in Oct83.
Damaged beyond economic repair following nosewheel collapse during maintenance at Harare in Jul84. The aircraft was stored, withdrawn from use. Seen parked at Harare on 02Sep91 in Air Zimbabwe's original black/blue cheatline colours, TFH 40.675 hrs, 32.435 cycles.
The end of its career came in 2002, when tail and nose section were damaged during a moving exercise: flipping first hard onto its tail before crashing back onto its nosegear... Subsequently went up in smoke when fires were lit in the fuselage by local squatters.
Source "The Vickers Viscount" (- by Ray G C Kittle, Air Britain Historians Ltd, 2008)

Vickers Viscount V.757 CF-THG (c/n 224) is seen being transported by barge to the B.C. Aviation Museum at Pat Bay,B.C. in April 2005; after having been used as an instructional airframe, followed by years of storage and neglect at Vancouver IAP, it may now face some sort of restoration and preservation. (Photo by Richard Cook).
Mark Ohman sent me photos of CF-THG, taken in August 2007.
In Dec.2008 Sean Keating sent me a link: "update for your website… the Viscount you portray on a barge has now been repainted."

See my updates on my CANADA 2010 report and CANADA 2019 report.

Points North Air Services was founded in 1988 and operated 4 of these DC-3s: C-FCQT (cn9813), C-FNTF (cn12344), C-FNWS (cn12419) and CF-QHY (c/n 26005).

A very nice Oct.2015 update on C-FCQT can be read on Photos by Friends & Guests (43)

My Photos by Friends & Guests #58 has CF-QHY at Basler Turbo Conversions plant at Oshkosh,WI.

Here is another photo (credit: Dennis Fisher) of C-FNTF:

V5-NCG is a Douglas D-6B with construction number 45564; it is owned and operated by Namibia Commercial Airways (NCA). This DC-6B is the last (of 704 including prototype XC-112A) of the DC-6s produced. More on my page DC-6 info

Keith Gaskell wrote this update in Nov.2005:
"An update about Namibia Commercial Aviation’s DC-6B V5-NCG ‘Bateleur’ following a visit to Windhoek to meet owner Chris Schutte.
This was one of the last two DC-6s to come off the Douglas production line. It has survived thanks to the determination and hard work of Chris Schutte and NCA’s dedicated team. V5-NCG took to the air again in 2001 after an extremely thorough three year restoration. This included the refurbishment of its original passenger interior which had remained remarkably untouched since it was installed back in 1958. As a result up to 60 passengers can still today enjoy a flight on the DC-6B, travelling in true 1950s style and comfort with spacious seating, full galley facilities and even fold-down overhead bunks in the rear cabin! The DC-6B continues to be maintained in superb condition and with low airframe and engine hours has the potential to fly for many more years.
Times are troubled, however. Chris explained why it has rarely flown in 2005. One reason is a shortage of accommodation for large groups of passengers in Namibia. However the main problem is a huge increase in costs - airport handling, parking, fuel, insurance etc. NCA has had no choice but to drastically raise its charter rates and this has led to a serious drop in bookings. For example the popular one hour forty minute sightseeing flights of a few years ago cost just £30 per passenger (what a bargain!) but these cannot now be profitably flown for less than £100. As a result of this upward cost spiral the continued viability of the DC-6B’s operation in Southern Africa is now seriously threatened. NCA receives hundreds of inquiries for a variety of charters and other work, but few are actually confirmed. Chris has also received several offers to acquire the DC-6B but is determined to do everything he can to keep it flying in Namibia for as long as possible."
NCA can be contacted through their website

Douglas DC-5, the forgotten Douglas.... Douglas produced it without any airline backing, which was quite unique. And it did not work. Design started in 1938; accommodation for a crew of 3 and 16 passengers was planned as standard. Customers could choose between 2 engines: Wright Cyclone or Pratt & Whitney Hornets. Prototype NX21701 (c/n 411) had its first flight on 20Feb1939.KLM ordered 4, Pennsylvania-Central (of Washington,DC) ordered 6 and Sociedad Colombo-Aelmana de Transportes A&=233;reos (SCADTA of Colombia) ordered 2. Military orders came from the US Navy, 3 for the US Navy (designated R3D-1) and 4 for US Marine Corps (designated R3D-2). Then WW2 started. The Douglas El Segundo plant, where the DC-5 was to be produced, was needed for the build-up of military hardware. SCADTA and Pennsylvania-Central cancelled their orders. KLM received 5 DC-5s (the only commercial DC-5s) and the military got theirs (7). Prototype NX21701 was reregistered as NC21701 after being converted to 8-seat executive aircraft and delivered to William E.Boeing, named &Rover& and flown for personal use. NC21701 was impressed into military service with the US Navy in 1942; whether this aircraft was part of the batch of 3 I am not certain. Source: Douglas Propliners DC-1 - DC-7, by Arthur Pearcy (Airlife, 1995).

Jan Spanjaard told me he has this photo in his collection because his father flew on it as a Radio Operator (which meant he worked the morse code key, there was no two-way radio in those early days) and found it among his belongings. The photo was taken at Hato,Curacao and shows PJ-AIW Wakago.

Gil White offers the following history on PJ-AIW.

Mick West wrote me in Apr.2006 with the following additional comments:
"I liked the DC-5 photo, in the West Indies. Did you know that the BA DC-5 order pre-War was at the'deposit paid' stage with the shipping arranged and registrations allocated...? This was confirmed recently by the BA museum. The order was cancelled after only 3 weeks when WWII was declared.
I think the DC-5 was quite a practical plane, but abandoned to allow concentration on the 'Dak', and I think it was the very first nosewheel airliner.
Mick
Tom Beudeker sent me another DC-5 photo.

Ian's photo work has been published in magazines and books for many years; thanks Ian !
More of Ian's work can also be seen elsewhere on my website.

Here are Ian's photos of the same aircraft: D-ABEB C-54B-1-DC (10530) Continentale - NCL 29 Jul 1960 - (©) Ian MacFarlane