kalamazookid wrote:
Pat Carry wrote:
What is the status of the CAF's C-46 in California? My memory fails me but I seem to remember it was a long term project by the So. Cal Wing.
It was listed as being in storage in a CAF Year in Review publication:
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/9da ... da9fc6a/14I think the plan at one time was to get it airworthy again, but I don't know the current status of those efforts. I saw "Tinker Belle" at Warbirds Over Monroe in November. She didn't fly at their home show, though I don't know if that's unusual. It looked like she was in need of new tires.
My friends at the CAF told me that yes, the plan was to eventually put the C-46 back in the air. They apparently did some initial maintenance surveys on the aircraft and determined that it had a healthy amount of corrosion. Remember, that aircraft has been sitting outside in the saltwater air for some 15 to 20 years, exposed to the corrosive effects of the nearby ocean. The figure I heard to bring it to airworthy was pretty shocking and for the amount, it would be much cheaper to acquire a brand new restored airworthy C-46 which could be used immediately as a "turn-key" operation. In addition to that, the two power-hungry R-2800's make it about the least economical aircraft in the fleet, especially since there is almost no interest in the aircraft for airshows and/or rides. Think operating two Corsairs or two P-47's, but with virtually no interest from the public - that is what they are facing here.
Currently, the aircraft is not economically feasible to put back in the air, but if some big sponsor were to write a substantial check that is way more than what the aircraft is worth, I'm sure the CAF would be happy to put it back in the air. Realistically, I don't think we'll ever see that aircraft back in the air under CAF ownership, imo. It will likely sit until they can find some buyer for it, perhaps Buffalo, perhaps some cargo operator in South America, Alaska, etc. It wouldn't surprise me if a new owner is found for the aircraft who would only use it for parts.