Caldwell NJ abandoned twin engine a/c

[BrianB]

If you Google Earth Essex County NJ airport and look at the N.W. corner at the end of the un-used runway there is a mid sized twin a/c that has been there for many years. It looks like a military type. The large building with the black roof that is across the fence from that ship is the former Curtiss-Wright Propeller Division plant and headquarters from WWII. Can anyone I.D. this aircraft.

[TAdan]

I was there a year ago for a ride on the EAA Ford Tri-motor. I remember seeing the aircraft your talking about.

I want to say it was a Grumman Tracker or something similar.

I'll have to check and see if I got any pics of it when I get home.

[daveymac82c]

Yeah, definitely looks like a Tracker or something very similar, Tracer, or whatever the other varients were called.

-David

[Todd Hackbarth]

This aircraft is most likely the Yankee Air Force Northeast Division's Hunting-Percival C.51 Pembroke, N51973. It is ex-Belgium Air Force RM-1 and ex-OT-ZAA. It is up for sale or trade.
See: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0012297/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0284624/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0871855/M/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0866619/M/

[TAdan]

I am pretty sure it wasnt the Pembroke. From what I remember it looked distinctly like a Tracker/Tracer type (although this was a year ago, and I saw it for only about 30 seconds from the seat of a Tri-motor).

[Airlift48]

Last time I was at CDW, I saw the Pembroke there. I believe that is still the aircraft in question.

[TAdan]

Last time I was at CDW, I saw the Pembroke there. I believe that is still the aircraft in question.

Ok I guess my eyes just deceived me As I said I only saw the a/c briefly about a year ago.

Between you and Todd confirming its ID I guess its the Pembroke.

[BrianB]

Some Curtiss-Wright trivia. If you look directly north of that aircraft about 300 yards, there is an office building that is the entrance to the former C-W prop factory. In the center of that building is a round reception lobby. If you peel back several layers of old carpet there is a large hand in-layed mosaic of the C-W propeller insignia in the marble floor. It is probably 10' in dia. and very beautiful. There is also a "secret" tunnel that is about 1/4 mile long that runs from this building to another office building across the street where classified design work was done in the late 1940's. It was not publically connected with C-W back then.

Curtiss Wright is still in business making flap transmissions and other mechanical assemblies for Boeing and Lockheed, but I don't know if they still own the building, but someone in that area should try and save that mosaic, or at least document it and get some pictures.

[TAdan]

Some Curtiss-Wright trivia. If you look directly north of that aircraft about 300 yards, there is an office building that is the entrance to the former C-W prop factory. In the center of that building is a round reception lobby. If you peel back several layers of old carpet there is a large hand in-layed mosaic of the C-W propeller insignia in the marble floor. It is probably 10' in dia. and very beautiful. There is also a "secret" tunnel that is about 1/4 mile long that runs from this building to another office building across the street where classified design work was done in the late 1940's. It was not publically connected with C-W back then.

Curtiss Wright is still in business making flap transmissions and other mechanical assemblies for Boeing and Lockheed, but I don't know if they still own the building, but someone in that area should try and save that mosaic, or at least document it and get some pictures.

Thanks for the info. I always love hearing more about NJ's history, especially aviation related stuff.

How did you know the logo was under the carpet?

"Weird NJ" has published a few articles about exploring the old C-W buildings and tunnels around the state. Fascinating stuff.

Found a link w/ some NJ C-W factory pics. http://www.abandonedbutnotforgotten.com ... ilding.htm

[BrianB]

I worked for C-W back in the 1990's in North Carolina and visited this facility several times. The pictures in the link that you found were from the abandoned engine plant in Woodridge N.J..... You can see the rows of test cells for the 3350's, 1820's and J-65's still standing but covered in weeds. That building was 1 million square feet and turned out over 100 radial engines per day during WWII.

[K5DH]

Not to hijack the thread, but...

In the early 1960s, Curtiss-Wright developed an experimental Wankel rotary engine that was intended for the automobile market (no, Mazda was NOT the first!). They obviously need a car to put it in, and they chose a brand-new 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2! It was outfitted with a variety of non-standard instruments along with a stripchart recorder which sat on the passenger side front floor. Believe it or not, that car still exists and has been restored to its original condition! I've seen it in person, and it's been featured in a couple of the Mustang magazines over the years. The owners actually drive it!

Neat stuff!

[ElBando]

I am pretty sure it wasnt the Pembroke. From what I remember it looked distinctly like a Tracker/Tracer type (although this was a year ago, and I saw it for only about 30 seconds from the seat of a Tri-motor).

That is a Pembroke at Caldwell NJ. I know because I flew that exact aircraft from Belgium to the USA back in 1978. I see it every time I land at Caldwell.

[mrhenniger]

This one is in the Locator...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Essex County Airport - Pembroke

...which confirms it is N51973.

Mike

[stumac]

if someone can post pictures for me I will send you the pictures from when Paul Redlich and myself got that airplane ferriable

[stumac]

how about this http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/ ... RunUp1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b356/ ... llThru.jpg[/img]