Vampire T.35 A79-616 at San Diego, November '71

[Chris Brame]

A79-616 (I'm assuming), freshly surplused:

I believe this is somewhere in San Diego, but please feel free to correct me. Only airplane shot I have in this batch from an estate.

Scott, you can use this for the Registry if you like.

One odd thing: Supposedly the pod of A79-616 is on display in Australia as part of a composite at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, but there's a photo of the pod in Tucson as N11922. Anyone know more?

[sandiego89]

I agree it does look like San Diego, specifically the photo appears to be looking to the east, near the middle area of Lindbergh field with the Convair hangers in the background.

[Stoney]

several of those came thru Lindbergh field in '71, i was working for the fbo and help get them started with ground power. most were going to Denver westair? i think. i asked if i could fly one for them, but they turned me down, didn't why as i had no jet time have a couple of pix i posted here awhile back.

[Martin Edwards]

Thanks for posting your photo.
The Geoff Goodall photo above is captioned "To confuse matters this is also claimed to be A79-616, allocated N11922, at Tucson in October 1977"
I am the author of the Vampire page at http://www.adf-serials.com/2a79.htm and the providence of the RAAF Museum Point Cook's A79-616 has intrigued me for a while
A79-616 at Point Cook is reported to be a composite using the wings and booms off another Vampire A79-827.
It was reasonable to assume that the original booms marked A79-616 went to US with the remains of A79-827 thereby causing confusion about identities
Your photo however throws these theories out the window as it is obvious that the complete A79-616 went Stateside along with numerous others exported from Australia by Westair International, of Broomfield, CO
I will try and find the answer.

May I please use your photo in our datbase?

Below is the A79-616 at the RAAF Museum Point Cook

[Andy Marden]

Martin,
Is there any reason why the machine displayed at Point Cook cannot be A79-816?
Andy

[Chris Brame]

May I please use your photo in our database?

Absolutely! Unfortunately I only have the photographer's first name (Franz); he was apparently a postwar German emigre to San Diego. The box of slides had about 140 cheesecake model shots and ONE airplane .

ETA: I also have this shot of A79-624 I got from the estate of a photographer named Clarence Straitiff in Long Beach, CA; it looks exactly the same as the one you have except I think yours is printed in reverse (note the nose gear door) and cropped at the tail. Use it too if you like:

[Stoney]

San Diego 1971