Dr. John SmithTracker Graveyard
That arrester hook in the last pic would look very nice in my shed :D.
You can still buy it (apparently!). As the press report I quoted lists Chesapeake Airways as the legal owners of the S-2s under discussion, I checked their website.
The Chesapeake Airways website lists the S-2’s tail-hook(s) as still being available for sale. Go here: http://chesapeakeairways.com/parts.cfm?step=view_category&category_id=31
In view of recent events, the front page of the Chesapeake Airways website is grimly appropriate: it says BREAKING NEWS!
Well, breaking aircraft is what they do…
Dr. John SmithGame over for these airframes as over on WIX theres a pic of heavy machinery grabbing one of them…
Further confirmation here;
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-05-11/wwii-planes-us-1-demolished
Sadly, destruction of these S-2s was as recently as Wednesday 4th May 2011, quote:
“The “airplane graveyard,” which once housed a few dozen vintage military planes for many years, is nothing more than a grass storage lot filled with metal debris today.
Metal salvage workers demolished the last vintage plane that sat in a lot off Avenue A just north of the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office on Wednesday afternoon. A large crane grasped the shell of each plane within its claw and tore apart their wings and fuselage — breaking down the planes to mere pieces.
“The planes were stripped of their stuff of value a long time ago,” said Mark Cass, owner of Fort Myers-based Metal Recycling & Salvage LLC, the company hired to demolish the planes. “All that’s left are the wings and the tail.”
The acre-lot that can be seen from U.S. 1 just north of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office came to be known by locals as the “airplane graveyard” for many years. Well now that local landmark is listed for sale, Record archives show. The lot is listed for sale for $195,000 with RE/MAX 100 Realty in St. Augustine. The price dropped from $199,000 in March.
The Maryland-based company that owns the property, Chesapeake Airways, sells the hard-to-find vintage plane parts to customers all over the world. The planes are no longer made, so the parts must come from other out of commission planes that are still around.
Buyers used the parts from the planes that were stored in St. Augustine to refurbish their own aircraft.
Chesapeake Airways owner, Charlie White, could not be reached for comment.
The S-2 Tracker military planes built in the ’60s and ’70s would take off from aircraft carriers and flew mainly off shore. They were also used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Canadian Forestry to fight against wild fires.
A previous article written in March said the planes were going to be moved from the property in the coming months. At some point those plans changed.
“I’m actually doing this job for free to get the scrap metal,” Cass said.
Cass said it will take nearly two weeks for his crew and local contractors to break down all the planes and clear the metal.
Dr. John SmithTracker Graveyard
Couldn’t get the OP’ s link to load, but you can also check out http://miragebym.blogspot.com/2009/02/airplane-graveyard-of-st-augustine-01.html
Which seems to be the same place (and same aircraft).
If it helps, the link I’ve posted is dated 19th Jan 2009, and the paintwork on two aircraft has not faded so badly that the serial numbers have become obscured. One has the BuAer No. 152804 and the other BuAer No. 14985- (the last digit is partly hidden, but is either ‘6’ or ‘8’).
One aircraft has “NH” and “74” on the tailfin: does that help identify the last unit they were with?
ETA: Scroll down to see some comments – two are particularly relevant, quote: ” I haven’t seen them recently, have they been scrapped? There is a Grumman factory/airbase basically across the street, which explains the planes’ origin” and “there were plans to sell the land and possibly scrap the planes. That was about a month ago. I have not heard if that has gone through or not. I hope not, I will be down there in Feb and would like to revisit for old times sake
Now, that was in Jan/Feb 2009: over two years ago. Are these “Stoofs” still there?
Dr. John SmithVisiting NEAM
If it’s something non-aviation related you’re after, then Washington Old Hall, ancestral home of George Washington (1st US president) is a National Trust property worthy of a visit.
Even better, it is just 4 miles (a 12-15 minute drive) away, making it easy to “make a day of it”, and giving plenty of time to linger at both locations!
Due to the US Presidential connection, there’s usually some special events taking place around the 4th July
Washington Old Hall website is at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-washingtonoldhall
Dr. John SmithLancaster crew prepare for Royal fly-past
Would that be anything to do with this: http://www.itn.co.uk/home/18068/bomber
“Veterans have joined senior members of the Royal Air Force for a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of a monument to thousands of RAF bomber crew who lost their lives during the Second World War.
The Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, central London, will pay tribute to the 55,573 RAF crew who lost their lives in the conflict and will be completed by May 2012.
Those present at the ceremony included leading donors and supporters such as Robin Gibb, of Bee Gees fame.
Some £5.6 million of a £6 million fundraising target for the memorial was achieved after donations from mobile phone entrepreneur John Caudwell and Lord Ashcroft, the former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
The memorial, which will be built from Portland stone, has been designed by awarding-winning architect Liam O’Connor, and will feature a bronze centrepiece of seven aircrew by sculptor Philip Jackson.
Fundraisers also need to raise a further £2 million for maintenance of the memorial.”
Looks like the BobMF Lanc flypasts over the capital are getting to resemble the proverbial London bus service – nothing for ages, then two come along at once!
Dr. John SmithRAF Jetstream T1 XX500 on the road
A quick check on the Everett Aero website reveals that they have recently acquired two ex-Royal Navy Jetstream T2s. These will presumably be the ones put up for disposal in late 2010.
A photo on the Everett Aero website shows one of their recently-acquired Jetstream T2s to be XX484 (“566/CU”) and the other to be “563/CU” (serial not clearly visible). The description attached to XX484 states “last flown 11th March 2011″
XX500 was acquired in July 2005, so it looks to be a case of “one out and two in”. It will be interesting to see where XX500 turns up.
By the way, did anyone see the wings of XX500 “road running” with the engines still attached? On Jetstreams, it often seems that the engines have more intrinsic resale value than the rest of the airframe! (I’m presuming that whoever acquired the fuselage also bought the wings…)
Dr. John SmithDakota at Singapore Poly 1970s
lauriebe
Thank you! It seems was approximately correct with what I knew in regard to 43-48886. Thanks to your reply, it seems certain that the Dakota as Singapore Poly c.1978 was NOT 43-48886. The colour scheme (natural metal undersides, white topsides) was something of a giveaway!
Which is progress, of a sort. We now are fairly certain which airframe it wasn’t. Any speculation as to which airframe it was?
My speculation would now shift to an ex-civilianised DC-3/C-47. Malaysia Airlines (the forerunner to today’s Singapore Airlines) used a large number of them in the 1950s and 1960s…perhaps it was one of those
Only useful thing I can add is: perhaps we should ask the Poly! Singapore Poly still exists, and still has a school of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering. Their website is at http://www.sp.edu.sg/wps/portal/vp-spws/schmae.home
Perhaps showing them the OP’s photo will ring some bells – even identify some of the Poly’s “old boys”?
Dr. John SmithDakota at Singapore Poly 1970s
Aha! A little more at http://www.qam.com.au/recoveries/C-47.htm
Quote:”This is the C-47 which was scrapped on Sentosa Island. Its identity has been a mystery for some time but it is now believed to be C-47B 43-48886 c/n 26147. This aircraft was later converted to C-47D and EC-47P (note the elongated nose). It was operated in SE Asia by the USAF and was subsequently issued to the South Vietnamese Air Force who operated it with the code “WB” until 1975 when it was returned to the USAF who presumably issued it to Singapore.
When inspected on Sentosa it was showing traces of the serial 886 and the code WB. The aircraft is also reported to have been carrying the number “707”. By the time the QAM recovery crew arrived on Sentosa the C-47 had been reduced to scrap although QAM were successful in saving both props which will be used in the restoration of a Lockheed Ventura.”
None of which explains how the aircraft in the OP’s photo is not in the standard USAF early-1970s “south east asia” camo scheme, whereas 43-48886 definitely is!
So we could still be talking about more than one C-47…
ETA: C-47 43-48886 was broken up at Sentosa Island sometime (but not long after) after May 1987, according to this thread: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=88755
Dr. John SmithDakota at Singapore Poly 1970s
43-48886 (c/n 26147) converted to EC-47P. May have been seen in Singapore in 1987 having come from Vietnam. Broken up in 1989.
There’s a picture of this DC-3/C-47 at Sentosa Island, Singapore dated 22 August 1986 at http://abpic.co.uk/photo/1276385 However, the caption disagrees slightly with you
“Scanned from slide. Not easy to get a clear shot of this Dak and now unfortunately not possible as it was scrapped on site in 1987. Ex 43-48886 and became 348886 of Vietnamese AF.”
No info stated as to when this Dak arrived in Singapore, so any connection to the one at Singapore Poly is purely circumstantial. Unless it was resprayed in camouflage sometime in the early 80s…
ETA: 43-48886 Was at TSN with 360th TEWS, USAF at least from Sept. 1970 to Sept. 1971 Was Transferred to SVNAF in late 1971/early 1972. To 718th TEWS SVNAF EC-47 Squadron. Perhaps it made its way to Singapore in early 1975 with the fall of South Vietnam? That would give an appropriate date “Window”…arrived Singapore c.1974-75, scrapped 1987-89
However it may have been an ex-Singapore Air Force SAFTECH airframe, as parked nearby were Gloster Meteor WA880 (ex-SAFTECH-2) and Hawker Hunter F.4 XF311 (ex-SAFTECH-11)
Dr. John SmithEarly Lightning cockpits
Perhaps it is relevant to this thread to mention that the cockpit of an early Lightning was auctioned as recently as two days ago (April 16th)
See http://www.cjmasset.com/GroundEquipmentSupplies.htm
The Lightning in question was XM191, which crashed on 9th June 1964 when with 111 Squadron, she suffered an engine fire on approach to RAF Wattisham. While she landed okay, the damage to the airframe was such that she was not repaired, so she was stripped for spares and most of the aircraft was scrapped.
The nose was retained and ended up being used by the RAF’s exhibition unit who used to cart her around to airshows and fairs as a recruiting aid.
Masquerading as a 5 Squadron F.6 in this superb shark mouth scheme, some panels were replaced with perspex to give an indication of the construction.
After the mid 1990s and the arrival of several complete plastic airframes for use by the unit, XM191 ceased to be used much. When Babcock got the contract to carry out the exhibition duties, they took XM191 on and she had a brief resurgence of use, appearing at the Newark Cockpitfest in 2004, but was finally put up for disposal in 2006 and sold by sealed bid.
XM191 was acquired by Nigel Spurr and moved to North Scarle, Lincs. Nigel is now selling up his home and business, hence XM191 being put up for action again
No news yet on the successful bidder, or where XM191 is moving to.
Dr. John SmithThe Aviation Safety Network report is at http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=121690 and is worth a look.
Hmmm…why do I keep thinking of those ads that go “Had an accident? Not your fault? Call Claims Direct – we’ll get you 100% compensation!”
(Semi seriously: I wonder how many on board the CRJ700 will be putting in claims for “whiplash injuries“?
Dr. John SmithHe flew from Tunesia according your very quote. I suppose he got there via car or so and flew from there.
Ooops! Yes, of course…subsequent reports are claiming that Musa Kussa (for it is he) got from Tunisia to Farnborough “on a private jet“. Other reports say “in an RAF aircraft“. The source for the latter is the following quote from today’s Guardian website:
“Diplomatically, Muammar Gaddafi suffered a blow as his foreign minister and close adviser, Mousa Kousa, fled to Britain on a specially arranged flight organised by the British intelligence services” (Link at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/31/libya-middle-east-syria-gaddafi dated 8:00am today)
If the latter claims are true, it could have been one of the BAe 125 CC.3s of “C” Flight, 32 Squadron, usually based at Northolt. Any pointers as to where there is a “spotter’s log” for Farnborough covering the past few days?
Perhaps Musa Kussa’s defection is connected with an attempt to being the conflict to an end – in effect, he is the 21st century Rudolf Hess?
Dr. John SmithLibyan Foreign Minister Defects
Breaking news from the BBC is that Libya’s Foreign Minister has apparently defected from the ruling regeme, and turned up in London…
Libyan foreign minister ‘resigns’ and heads to London
Libya’s foreign minister Moussa Koussa has arrived in London from Tunisia and told UK officials he is quitting his post, the Foreign Office says.
more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12915685 but this passage is relevant to this forum
Our political editor Nick Robinson said he understood the minister had flown into Farnborough airport on Wednesday afternoon and had been debriefed, most likely by intelligence officials.
Flown into Farnborough…how did the (I presume) Libyan AF exec jet get throught the “no fly zone” undetected?
Also, could this be the begining of the end? Whilst the phrase that involes “rats” and “sinking ships” may be premature, perhaps the Allied Air Forces’ actions are causing the Tipoli regeme to crumble, and the much-hoped-for “end game” is in sight?
Dr. John SmithRAF “Running out of Pilots”
Front page news on today’s Daily Telegraph is that the RAF is running out of Pilots to sustain operations over Libya:
“Shortage of RAF pilots for Libya as defence cuts bite
The RAF risks running short of pilots for operations over Libya as cuts to the defence budget threaten to undermine front-line operations, The Daily Telegraph can disclose
Since the conflict began, a squadron of 18 RAF Typhoon pilots has enforced the Libya no-fly zone from an air base in southern Italy. However, a shortage of qualified fighter pilots means the RAF may not have enough to replace all of them when the squadron has to rotate in a few weeks.
The situation is so serious that the RAF has halted the teaching of trainee Typhoon pilots so instructors can be drafted on to the front line, according to air force sources. The handful of pilots used for air shows will also be withdrawn from displays this summer.
The shortage has arisen because cuts to the defence budget over the past decade have limited the number of pilots who have been trained to fly the new Typhoon.
There are also fewer newly qualified pilots coming through after the RAF was forced to cut a quarter of its trainee places due to cuts announced in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.
The Government’s decision to decommission HMS Ark Royal, Harrier jump jets and the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft — all of which could have played a role in the Libya conflict — has exacerbated the problem. Serving RAF pilots contacted The Daily Telegraph to warn of the risks to the Libya operation.
“We have a declining pool of pilots,” one said. “There’s less people to do twice as much work. If we are not training any more we are going to run out of personnel very soon.”
Remember the jokes about sending in the Red Arrows to enforce the “no fly zone!? Perhaps its not a joke after all..!
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