TomcatVIP:
…I heard the same over the local news that the FDR was found but was in bad shape & with critical items missing. Are we talking here about the ‘memory chips” ?? were there any photos/link of this release in Europe?? BTW the movement of every knob, toggle switch is recorded into these memory chips depending on the a/c model & updates made to it. Going back to my notes on AF 447!!
p.s notes fm “The Wall Street Journal, (U.S) Th 26 Mar 2015.
French Investigators Extract Voices, Sounds From Black Box … (G/W Flt 9525).
FAS FG-1D Folks:
Greetings fm this side of the Pond!
..the magic of losing/locating some a/c pictures!
While doing some digging/archaeological venture deep in the archives found this FAS FG-1Ds pic below. It shows 4 poss 5 “gull grey” (L/S) FAS FG-1Ds. at Ilopango c. ’58-’59. The intriguing sample, is the one at the three 0’clock position (green circle), with a mixture of dark blue at the tail, a dark blue R/Wing & still showing the FAS markings in a ‘gull grey fuselage. I may be going out on a limb on this one… but if this aircraft is not the long missing FAS 201 left semi-abandoned in El Paso, TX c. ’57 … then what other a/c could it be??
I seek some comments/opinions fm the F4U league, modelers folks while I wait fm an enhance photo version of it. Maybe someone else may see other details while a better pic appears fm someone’s attic or shoe box in the El Paso, TX or Ilopango area. I could be wrong.. since FAS a/c changed Reg sequence often, but my feeling is that we’re not only into the perimeter of things but.. heading in the right direction for now. 2 B cont..! Any other details/stories plz post. Tks in advance. Photo via FAS forum c. 2002/3.
FG-1D FAS 201 Folks:
Good Day Fm across the Pond!
Among the latest findings about the missing “gull grey” FAS 201 is this sole sample of a FAS FG-1D pasturing c.’68-’69 at their boneyard. Most of the FG-1D FAS samples show some weathering ..& the picture below is no exception. However, this L/H side view show some other details of further paint oxidation due to exposure to the elements. The Left/Wing root do show some traces of a poss “gull grey’ scheme underneath indicating that some sanding was done but not to the bare metal. This sample shows a number at the tail area but it’s not legible in this picture for now. We are trying to get a better pic or resolution of it. 2 B Cont..!
Flyer:
Good Day!
Tks for the pics, info & data again!
Pictured below is the most likely scheme used by FAS on their ‘gull grey’ FG-1Ds. The yellow schemes are 50/50 on this Feb 2015!! They’re similar to your decals/drawings. We do have photo evidence of the yellow schemes being used on the dark blue samples. c. 1960s or so. We ‘re still digging in!! Tks again. Photo via AEC.
FG-1D FAS Folks:
Good Day & Greetings across the Pond!
While doing some more digging for the whereabouts of FAS 201, (No, this one was not buried), or found in Midwest barn but in a Missouri farm as the story goes. It was in deep storage for some 15 years by the late Bob Hood in his farm. Then, later on some of its FAS FG-1D fuselages/ cousins were found c. 2004-2005 in a scrapyard lot S. of the Border near the former Ilopango Airport still semi-complete in a corner yard. We hope to see some pics of the stash now in S. Florida. (at least 5 fuselages) according to sources.
We also found another interesting drawing (see pic below of a FAS 211, a poss Buno 67087 in ‘gull grey” scheme perhaps not accurate for that era but with a poss link to the former FAS 201! We’re still working in a few loose ends!! If anyone has some more details about this drawing plz post. Tks in advance.Photo via AEC.
FG-1D FAS 201 Folks:
Good Day!
..slowly but surely! Ran into a poc that happened to have a 1/48 model of an FG-1D FAS 201 based on what a photographer saw c.’57-’58 at El Paso TX. His named is Mr. Brian Baker in a transient flight at El Paso Int, airport. Brian has been taking a/c photos for years & he just could not pass this F4U parked near a taxiway by the main ramp. The capture is important historically as it documents/establish the FAS 201 scheme during its unfortunately short ferry flight fm Litchfield NAS, AZ. Photo via JJennings.
FAS FG-1D Folks:
Back to our FAS 201 tale. Did Lt. Sanchez come back to fly FAS 201 once fixed?? Did FAS 201 got fix in place?? We do not believe so. By March ’58 when the fund$$ were authorized for the repair FAS was also struggling with FG-1D parts & maintaining the 19 aircraft already at home. Five more airframes were ordered just for parts plus the repair of FAS 201 c. March ’58. The five spare FG-1Ds took a long time to arrive, so long that FAS was forced to contract IRAN maint for about 7 aircraft of the fleet with SALAS of Costa Rica c.May ’60 plus placing some 10 aircraft in long temp outdoor storage..See photo below.Via FAS Forum.
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