Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:01 pm
The Curtiss Comando was well used in Bolivia. This picture show CP-987 of Aeros Minas.
That is me in front of CP-1655 flown by Transportes Aereos Universal Ltda.
The following pictures show again CP-1655 short after arrival while unloading meat. The main business of these cargo planes was flying to different farms within Bolivia to upload all the meat required to support La Paz.
Some of the airport and maintenance staff live on the airport. And with every incoming plane people are present to get some of the left over meat. Here a housewife saved something in the shadow of the empennage.
Last picture of Universal’s CP-1655 show the nice logo on the fuselage. In 2007 this aircraft was still present at La Paz El Alto.
The spare part store.
Some aircraft parts find their way into construction building.
Cowlings, stabilizer fragments and other parts. This are the remaining stuff of C-46 CP-1588 once also flown by Aereos Universal Ltda. but destroyed during a crash landing on February 10. 1981. According an employee, the crew had survived.
Douglas C-47B, CP-735. This C-47 get missing in Oktober 1990 while on flight from Bella Vista to La Paz. The wreck was found six years later in the Andes.
DC-3 / C-47 of Aerolineas La Paz Ltda.
An unidentified DC-3 / C-47.
That is me in front of CP-1655 flown by Transportes Aereos Universal Ltda.
The following pictures show again CP-1655 short after arrival while unloading meat. The main business of these cargo planes was flying to different farms within Bolivia to upload all the meat required to support La Paz.
Some of the airport and maintenance staff live on the airport. And with every incoming plane people are present to get some of the left over meat. Here a housewife saved something in the shadow of the empennage.
Last picture of Universal’s CP-1655 show the nice logo on the fuselage. In 2007 this aircraft was still present at La Paz El Alto.
The spare part store.
Some aircraft parts find their way into construction building.
Cowlings, stabilizer fragments and other parts. This are the remaining stuff of C-46 CP-1588 once also flown by Aereos Universal Ltda. but destroyed during a crash landing on February 10. 1981. According an employee, the crew had survived.
Douglas C-47B, CP-735. This C-47 get missing in Oktober 1990 while on flight from Bella Vista to La Paz. The wreck was found six years later in the Andes.
DC-3 / C-47 of Aerolineas La Paz Ltda.
An unidentified DC-3 / C-47.
Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:51 pm
The last set of my pictures show Martin 4-0-4, CP-1738, possibly the last of this type flown in Bolivia. Here she waits to get an overhauled engine. Finally “El Gordo” was lost in an accident on January 15. 1992.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures despite the not all to perfect quality due to lack of proper equipment to scan the original slides.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures despite the not all to perfect quality due to lack of proper equipment to scan the original slides.
Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:59 pm
Bloody excellent thread this one. Thanks for all of the pics.