JohnB wrote:
I might be confusing it with Remmert Werner ...how about Lambert?
I flew in a DC-3 they converted from a C-47.
Sorry, I don't know a whole lot more about some of these companies other than the little I was able to find in the references. So, unfortunately, I can't answer that. If you could provide a little bit more background information I might be able to see what I could dig up. One thing that's helpful in these cases is if you include the full name of the company. (e.g. "Conrad International Corporation" instead of just "Conrad" or "Conrad International") I've found it makes narrowing down searches a lot easier and can avoid confusion with similarly named companies. (e.g. a hypothetical "Conrad International
Company")
JohnB wrote:
Also, there is a very long list of organizations who modify and civilianize Warbird Helicopters.
Good point. I didn't even think about helicopters.
I have to question Hummingbird (aka Vertical Aviation Technologies, Inc.) though. Aside from their initial prototype, are the airframes they use remanufactured or are they all new build? Also, did the conversions by Kenmore, Swearingen, Recon Air, and TTC involve actual military aircraft or just civilian models?
exhaustgases wrote:
What about outfits that have used warbirds for their business, like Hawkins and Powers, the Ice Pilots outfit, and some of the old Alaska cargo and fuel hauling places?
I debated adding them as I was thinking more of companies that modified warbirds for sale rather than internal use. However, at the very least they're worth mentioning. After all, I did make an exception for Hayes. So go ahead and suggest 'em if you like. (For what it's worth, the
Warbirds Directory has an extensive list of aerial firefighting companies.)
DoraNineFan wrote:
I don't see Cavalier Aircraft on the list, unless they are outside of the scope for the exercise.
Cavalier's there, it's just alphabetized under "Trans Florida Aviation".
Here's the list of additional suggestions:
- Aero Spacelines, Inc. - C-97
- Aero Union Corporation - P-3
- Bell Textron, Inc. - H-1
- Bird Oxygen Breathing Equipment, Inc. - PBY
- Carson Helicopters, Inc. - H-3
- Columbia Helicopters, Inc. - H-46, H-47, H-64
- Erickson Air-Crane Inc./Erickson Inc. - H-54
- Horizon Helicopters, Inc. - H-43
- Kenmore Air Harbor, Inc - U-6
- Mid-Continent Aircraft Corporation - PT-17/N2S
- Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. - H-19
- Recon Air Corporation - U-1, U-6
- Swearingen Aircraft - L-23/U-8
- Texas Helicopter Corporation - H-13
- Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc. - U-1
- Trans World Airlines - B-17, C-82
While researching the Bird Innovator, I ran into a company called Steward-Davis, Inc. that did the R-2600 Super Catalina conversions as well as C-119 jet pod installations. The Southern California Aircraft Corporation also converted PBYs to Landseaire "flying yacht" configuration.
[1] Finally, a company called Wipaire, Inc. reportedly converted L-20s.
[2]
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