One of the really nice things about hosting this website are the photos and videos that arrive on a continuing basis from folks wanting to share them. Some are current, while others go back to the mid-1940’s. While I use some on the “Propliner News” page, not all can be used and I’ve created this page to collect and share these items with visitors to this website. I hope you enjoy them.
Lancaster Fox Field Relics - May 21, 2023
Mark Vaughn recently visited Fox Field in Lancaster, California and photographed Armstrong Whitworth Argosy N1430Z, C-119C N13745, C-97G 53-0272 and T-38A N962NA. They are remnants of the now defunct Milestones of Flight Air Museum and it was recently reported that the C-97G has been sold. To say the least, ownership of the aircraft has been confusing and hopefully none will be scrapped.
Tillamook Air Museum Mini-Guppy - May 20, 2023
Sean Keating visited the Tillamook Air Museum on a rainy day in February 2003 and photographed former Erickson Air Crane Mini-Guppy N422AU. The aircraft was delivered to Pan American World Airways as N1037V in September 1949 and retired by the airline in 1960. Here's a short history of the airplane from the museum's website. "The museum’s Mini-Guppy was originally delivered to Pan American Airways in 1949 as a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser (prior to its conversion), which it flew until 1960 when it was returned to Boeing and sold to Santa Barbara based Aero-Spacelines in 1963. Converted to a Mini-Guppy, it first flew in 1967. After years of commercial use and ferrying such interesting items as NASA's Pioneer 10 Spacecraft (used to explore Jupiter and the Asteroid Belt) and Goodyear's Europa Airship, it was purchased by Erickson Air Crane in 1988 and used for the transport of large Air Crane helicopters until 1994 when it was acquired by the museum and retired." Due to significant wing spar corrosion, it's extremely unlikely that this classic will ever fly again.
Oregon Sea Heron - May 20, 2023
Sean Keating came across De Havilland DH-114 Sea Heron C-1 XR442 on the side of US 97 at mile marker 247 in Chiloquin, Oregon. It’s located on a plot of grass adjacent to Melita’s Restaurant, Motel and RV Park and across the highway from Chiloquin State Airport. Not too sure what it’s doing there and Sean noted that the right wing is mounted upside down. I guess assembly instructions weren't included in the purchase agreement. For more information about XR442, check out the Aviationweb deja vu and Aerial Visuals websites.