Another Bird on the Texas road side....Oh Gary!!!!

[Ztex]

I saw this one last month in a auto salvage yard on I-35 near Elm Mott (north of Waco) Today when we drive by there seemed to be much less of one airplane...the one on it's side.

I'm afraid they won't last long...

There was no one around today to ask about where they came from or what the plans are...

I'm not real sure what the type is...I'm thinking Convair.

[Obergrafeter]

Hard to get a scale from those pictures, but I'm thinking C118.

[warbirdguy]

It's always depressing when you come across something like that. Thanks for sharing!

[mlenoch]

Is that an AN104 antenna on top of the Convair's fuselage?
It would be worth 'securing' for someone's project.
Thx,
VL

[Andy Marden]

My guess is that this is Convair T-29A 51-7901/N2823F, which was auctioned for scrap from Waco/TSTC in August 2008.
Compare it with Zane's photo:
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/113175.html

Regards,
Andy Marden

USA Military Out of Service

[soko121]

Yep, Andy your right, i stopped by there last week after nearly crashing the car upon seeing it! It is indeed the T-29 that used to be at TSTI Waco. Wings already scrapped and what you see is what is left, we spoke to a couple of guys that work there, they said no current plans to scrap fuselage due to price of scrap taking a dive.
Simon

[viking73]

Aw man, what a shame. Can't believe that they sold it for scrap and most is already gone. Thanks for the photos Zane.

Here's my photos of her from December 2005:








Is there a T-33 there at TSTC in Waco somewhere? I've heard of rumors of one but haven't ever seen any pictures, anyone?

[Ztex]

Well rats...I did go by TSTC on the last few trips down there (Family in Waco so we make that trip fairly regular) So I didn't know it was gone.

That airplane has been at TSTC for at least 25 years. Sad to see it go.

What a shame.

I wonder if the cockpit would look good in my back yard...wonder if there is enough room for a bed...I'm sure my wife would insist that I use it...


And there used to be a T-33 there too...I saw it in the late 80's ... don't know where it is now.

[LadyO2Pilot]

For any one that goes up and down 281 between SAT and DFW, there is a twin something (non warbird) sitting on somebody's land fairly close to the fence along 281....IIRC between Johnson and Burnet....hey I know that's not close but I can't remember really....think it's closer to Burnet. Wings are scattered beside it. I have always wondered the story (how it got there and why is it still there...LOL) and I never have a camera. Anybody have a clue?????

[Obergrafeter]

It's a Navajo, don't know the story.

[Andy Marden]

The T-33 that used to be at Waco/TSTC was N10265, the former 58-0542. It is now pole-mounted outside the JROTC Gen C Powell Hall on Hwy 67 in San Angelo.
Regards,
Andy Marden

USA Military Out of Service

[viking73]

The T-33 that used to be at Waco/TSTC was N10265, the former 58-0542. It is now pole-mounted outside the JROTC Gen C Powell Hall on Hwy 67 in San Angelo.
Regards,
Andy Marden

USA Military Out of Service

Thanks for the info. Andy! Another mystery solved...

[retroaviation]

Thanks for posting.

Gary

[viking73]

Well I finally had the time to stop at this salvage yard this past Saturday. I was hoping to get in and take a close-up look at this poor T-29s remains and see if there were any parts left worth salvaging. I stopped on the access road and took some photos.

When I was done with my picture taking, I drove close to the main gate of this place. Just as I did that, this young guy in a pickup pulled up to the gate just a few moments before me. Wow, good timing I thought to myself. He got out and was walking towards the gate and so I got out of my car and started first by asking him if he was one of the owners. He said that his brother was one of the owners out there so I then I asked about going in there and looking for a few parts off the plane. As I was making my "sales pitch", this old guy wearing overalls and a hat walked up to open the gates for the younger guy and before I could finish, he said "nothings for sale". I told him I had cash and again he repeated that nothing was for sale.

Crap. At least I tried but still, I'm not feeling very satisfied about the whole episode. If that old guy hadn't of walked up there, I feel that the younger guy might have been willing to help me out…

Has anyone here tried to get inside the place to take a close-up look at the remains? I thought about calling and acting interested in a car and then kind of change the subject to the T-29 but I don’t know what to do now.

Thanks to the high winds we’ve had around here lately, looks like part of the fence has blown down/away so a little more is visible.

-Derek

[retroaviation]

That would be a neat one to have/save. But it sucks dealing with people who just won't even consider talking to you about stuff that they're likely never going to do anything with...other than scrap it. I recently had a similar experience with a fella's secretary (she wouldn't let me talk to the owner) who had a C-47 nose section similar to the one I had here at my place.

All I can say is keep on trying.

Gary