At around 1900 GMT yesterday, Two C54s landed here in Reykjavik on a ferry to the UK, to be precise, to North Weald airfield. These aircraft are to be used for some kind of a film work centered around the Berlin Airlift.
The aircraft are N-44914 with “56498” on the tail and is painted in Air Transport Command colours. The other is N-31356 with “44-42914” on the tail and is overall aluminimum with a read chevron. It is how ever looking a little tired and honored the old tradition of finishing the Atlantic crossing on three engines. The No.4 engine was feathered on landing here yesterday, and as this is written the crew is out there in the rain and cold trying to get it operational again.
The scheduled departure is a little bit in the dark, I don´t think they will depart today, as the No.4 engine is not operational yet and the dark is approaching rapidly. Another thing is that I seriously doubt that the aircraft are IFR certified (after seeing the cockpit and instrumentation!!!), so the crossing will probably have to be done in VFR conditions. To morrow is my guess for departure, I will keep you posted!!!
Regards,
Galdri
By: Merlin Power - 8th July 2012 at 21:40
C-54 hope
The thought of these two great planes being lost fills me with dread,but they were listed with sherman aircraft sales at $75k each.Could a flying memorial like sally b be a viable prospect?:)
By: rafmatt - 8th July 2012 at 15:09
The beech 18 is currently being worked on to be re flown. So hopefully should be airborne sometime soon.
By: David Burke - 8th July 2012 at 11:36
Engines/props/cockpits removed and the rest shredded.
By: pagen01 - 8th July 2012 at 10:32
I just hope they don’t go the way of the Weston Catalina.
Realsitically what would the likely outcome be for these two be?
By: Mark V - 8th July 2012 at 10:24
They are both still there – parked next to each other as they have been for ten years (and now joined by a Beech 18 that used to be parked on the grass closer to Hangar 11).
By: springers - 8th July 2012 at 10:16
Does anyone have news abouth the two old props? I have read that perhaps they have (had?) to be scrapped due to needed parking space for the coming Olympic games…..
I could see the fin of one them from M11 on Friday 6/7,its usually possible to see both but the trees/shrubs are obscuring the view this year.
Colin
By: Newforest - 8th July 2012 at 09:10
Interesting as they register aircraft for non US citizens. 😉
I think member G-ANPK is our local ‘correspondent’?
By: Coert Munk - 8th July 2012 at 08:25
According to the US register, both aircraft are reported as sold by Aces High US Inc. to International Air Service Inc. on 10 May 2012.
By: Newforest - 8th July 2012 at 08:11
Could have waited a couple of months for the ten year anniversary of this thread! 😀
By: harvardfreund - 8th July 2012 at 07:28
Does anyone have news abouth the two old props? I have read that perhaps they have (had?) to be scrapped due to needed parking space for the coming Olympic games…..
By: galdri - 28th September 2002 at 19:00
RE: C54 airborne!!
Well, finally it happened!!! C54 number 2 got airborne this morning and should be at North Weald as I write this. It got airborne at 0900 GMT this morning and treated the spectators to a beautiful farwell lowpass before setting course.
The latest rumour going around here, is that this aircraft (N-31356) will be left in Europe after the filmwork is finished. Any idea who is going to operate/preserve it??
It has some pretty interesting history, being used, among other things, as a gun runner in the Biafra war.
Regards
Galdri
By: galdri - 27th September 2002 at 12:25
C54 airborne!!
Well at last it happened!! N-44914 took off from Reykjavik headed for North Weald at 11:45 GMT, after working away for two and half hours of hard work getting the engines started!!! Yesterday they managed to get the No 3 started after much work, and this morning the No 1 started to act very stubbornly, nut finally it burst into life.
The flying time to North Weald is estimated as five and a half hours, so it should be landing at North Weald at approx. 17:15 GMT.
N-31356 is still here, and probobly will not leave until tomorrow, as during runup for departure this morning they found a stuck fuel valve and are still figuring out what to do about that problem.
Regards,
Galdri
By: galdri - 26th September 2002 at 14:01
RE: Two C54s on the way to North Weald!!
Well……even the best laid plans….. The two C54s will not be leaving Reykjavik to North Weald today. I arrived at the airport at 08:30 this morning to watch the departure, and about half an hour ago the flight was postponded, due to the fact (I was told) that North Weald does not have night flying facilities. The scheduled departure was at 10:00 this morning and the start-up formalities were started just before the hour. All went well until the time came to start the No.3 engine on N-44914. It absolutly stubbornly refused to start, no matter what was done. Now the crew is working overtime to get it started, but so far, nothing has happened and they have no idea what is wrong with it. There is fuel going to the engine, and the magnetos are working (already been checked), but no start! The ignition harness is now the prime suspect (maybe damp after all the rain yesterday).
Next try will be to morrow morning, if the engine starts!!!!
Regards,
Galdri
By: EHVB - 25th September 2002 at 23:12
RE: Two C54s on the way to North Weald!!
I’ll understand there is more in the pipeline. I heard a total of 3 DC-4’s mentioned, aswell as several Dc-3’s. But as filming will (also) take place in Berlin, maybe the 3rd DC-4 mentioned is the USAF C-54 gateguard at Templehof. That’s all the info I have. Maybe worthwhile to inform the movie company that the Dutch Connie also participated in the Berlin Airlift. Don’t mind seeing it being (water) painted into a military Connie.
By: philo - 25th September 2002 at 19:46
RE: Two C54s on the way to North Weald!!
Intersting stuff, I assume the ATC schemed one is the one that Roger S mentioned a couple of weeks ago on this forum, if not there will be three in the uk.A trip to NW might be on the cards.
The film, I think, is the last part of the Speilberg/Hanks trilogy,Saving PR, BoB then Berlin airlift (although I had read that originally pt3 was to be Arnhem)thereagain I might of course be regurgitating someone elses rubbish.
By: galdri - 25th September 2002 at 19:27
RE: Two C54s on the way to North Weald!!
This is how N-31356 looked on arrival yesterday. Photo courtesty of Morgunblaðið, an Icelandic newspaper.
Regards,
Galdri
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By: galdri - 25th September 2002 at 19:22
RE: Two C54s on the way to North Weald!!
The planned departure out of Reykjavik is now set as 10:00 GMT in the morning, provided the weather cooperates.
The reason for one engine on N-31356 being feathered on landing was some sort of oil pressure problem. The fix? Get this…It was fixed with a Golf T!!! And were did the get the “sparepart”?? From a Flight Safety Officer of the Icelandic CAA, who is an avid golfer!! CAA´s are not ALL bad.
Regards,
Galdri
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September 25, 2002 at 2:14 pm