I don’t know if anyone knows, but the National Air Tour is alive and well again in 2003 here in the States.
It took place originally during the 20’s and 30’s, and hasn’t happened since then. 2003, with the Centennial of Flight celebration, is the perfect year to revive this wonderful aviation spectacle.
There was an article about this Tour in a previous issue of Air & Space. I didn’t dream I’d be able to see many of these planes ever!
Well, they came to a small airport in the town of Bessemer, AL which is about 40 minutes driving time from my school. I got out of class about 11 AM the other day so my roommate and I drove to Bessemer to get to see these very rare aviation treasures. I’ve got a ton of photos so I’ll only post a few to start with, and depending on the response from the forum I’ll post more if anyone is interested.
1931 Bird CK, NC-914V
By: PhantomII - 28th September 2003 at 19:13
Well I take it by the low number of views since the first few posts, that this post was a waste of time.
I had a few more photos, but I suppose shouldn’t waste my time posting.
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:46
And of course a Tri-Motor!
This one is a Bushmaster though.
1966 Bushmaster (used for cargo throughout the run of the Tour).
An interesting thing I learned while reading the sign posted near this airplane is that it has been used to ferry all types of cargo including a horse at one point!
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:42
A bit of a more modern counterpart to the S-39.
This was one of the aircraft someone just flew in that day. I’m guessing it’s a type of Cessna, but I can’t be sure of the model number.
Anyone know?
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:41
Cockpit of the S-39.
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:40
Easily the most unique aircraft on the Tour.
1931 Sikorsky S-39-C, NC-50V
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:39
1931 Stearman 4E Speedmail, NC-485W
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:38
Same SM-8A from a different angle.
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:37
1930 Stinson SM-8A, NC-469Y
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:35
1929 Fokker Super Universal, CF-AAM
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:35
Same WACO from a different angle.
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:28
1932 WACO UEC, NC-12471
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:27
Another view of the “Texaco” WACO.
Note the Yak-52 in the background. Seeing him lift off was quite amazing. He got to the end of the runway and climbed with what seemed like no effort at all.
And with bombs on board. 🙂
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:26
The same plane from the front.
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:25
Another plane I can’t ID. I know I should know this one though….I want to say Stearman, but I can’t say for sure.
Anyone know?
It wasn’t on the program either for some reason.
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:24
One of my favorites of the event!
1929 WACO ASO, NC-608N (what I like to call the Texaco plane)
By: PhantomII - 25th September 2003 at 03:23
I’m not sure about a plane named “Miss Lowie”
There was a rather unique looking airplane which I can’t find listed on the small program I got at the event.
If anyone can ID this airplane I’d appreciate it.
By: DOUGHNUT - 24th September 2003 at 13:18
You posed a couple of questions
the ‘Vistaliner’ is indeed and DHC6 Twin Otter which has been modified with very large windows for sight seeing flights, I belive they were done for Scenic Airlines of Nevada for flights over the Grand Canon.
The Chinese aircraft is indeed an Yak-52, presumably an Ex Russian or Eastern block example. The Chinese originally built copies of the Yak-52 but later produced the Nanchang CJ-5 and CJ-6, these aircraft are quite different they have inward retracting undercarriage and a marked dihedral to the outer wing panels.
Now a question for you. There was a report of a news item on another forum about the crash of replica ‘sports plane’ that was taking part in the National Air Tour. Do you have any knowleage of this. The crash was non-fatal and I think the aircraft was named ‘Miss Lowie’?
DOUGHNUT
By: PhantomII - 23rd September 2003 at 18:27
I love classic airplanes like that.
These planes (the ones part of the Tour anyway) remind me of days long gone by when aviation was nothing but pure adventure and something new was tried every day.
I’ve got more photos that I’ll post soon.
By: OFMC Fan - 23rd September 2003 at 07:47
Nice photo’s there!!Those old bi planes are real gems arnt they!
Does anyone know what happend to Richard Bach’s 1920’s Detroit Parks (?) Bi-plane? Love to know!
Keep those pics coming.We are all interested in them ,even tough it seems we only love Spitfires and WWII stuff.
OFMC FAN
By: PhantomII - 23rd September 2003 at 04:53
And here’s the last one that’s not really part of the tour.
In fact, this one isn’t even a support plane.
You could fly-in to the airport, and visitor’s planes were parked on one end of the airport (this place has a HUGE tarmac…possibly a former military airport a long time ago?), and the other end was occupied by the visitors.
This is a very beautifully restored Russian Yak-52 or it’s Chinese counterpart. I used to know the different, but I can’t remember it now.
This one was painted in Chinese markines, and even came complete with two bombs! 50-kg size maybe?
Sign In
September 18, 2003 at 9:06 pm