Rumor S-55's in Casa Grande, AZ. scrapped. Anyone confirm?

[Craig59]

The 75 Sikorsky S-55/H-19/HO4S/HRS airframes in a "boneyard" in Casa Grande, AZ. are rumored to have been scrapped.

Can anyone confirm or (I hope) deny? There was one in there my Dad flew...

[JohnB]

Were those the ones mover from Chandler Memorial a year or two ago?

[Craig59]

Yes, same ones.

[Cherrybomber13]

considering how bad we need some parts for our H-19, I am surprised no one ever mentioned theses airframes...

[skippyscage]

they were mentioned plenty of times and airframes were offered to anyone that could transport them away - must have been quite a few months ago now

[Craig59]

they were mentioned plenty of times and airframes were offered to anyone that could transport them away - must have been quite a few months ago now

By chance, are you perhaps thinking of the S-58 airframes in Tucson instead? Yes, these were heavily mentioned here and the pile was photographed by me during a visit. I'm certain I would remember any mention of the S-55's in Casa Grande...

considering how bad we need some parts for our H-19, I am surprised no one ever mentioned theses airframes...

Andrew,

These airframes are (or were) being held in reserve by Whisper Jet in case they ever decided to do any more S55QT conversions. It seems like the existing S55QT's have seen more use the last couple years. If the rumor is true then, they obviously gave up on that idea. Besides blades, what do you need? There may not have been any blades available anyway as they are replaced in the conversion process.

[WallyB]

By chance, are you perhaps thinking of the S-58 airframes in Tucson instead? Yes, these were heavily mentioned here and the pile was photographed by me during a visit. I'm certain I would remember any mention of the S-55's in Casa Grande...

Mentioned as recently as this January, although buried in a long thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=43090&start=112

[Craig59]

By chance, are you perhaps thinking of the S-58 airframes in Tucson instead? Yes, these were heavily mentioned here and the pile was photographed by me during a visit. I'm certain I would remember any mention of the S-55's in Casa Grande...

Mentioned as recently as this January, although buried in a long thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=43090&start=112

Yes, I'm familiar with Mike's visit and posting as of a couple months ago. They were obviously there then. Skippyscage alluded to them being offered for sale, etc. and I think he may be thinking of the thread about the S-58's in Tucson.

[skippyscage]

I'm sure there was thread about moving the H-19s from Chandler Memorial and the fact that airframes were available if you could transport it yourself?

Or was that about S-58s??

[skippyscage]

dup - delete

[JohnB]

I'm sure there was thread about moving the H-19s from Chandler Memorial and the fact that airframes were available if you could transport it yourself?

Or was that about S-58s??

From what i read here: The S-58s were in Tucson, the H-19s were at Chandler. Most of the S-58/H-34s have been scrapped.
As late as 2003, the Whisperjet S-55 mod people were still marketing the helicopters, I saw them at the HAI convention in Dallas. I don't know if they've given up yet.
If someone has a number, I'll call and ask.

[Cherrybomber13]

Reaching out and seeing what happens.

[The Inspector]

Reaching out and seeing what happens.

Did you PM Mike Henninger and ask about directions or names about the yard full of S-55/H-19's he took pictures of in his recent posting about the desert odyssey??

[Andy Marden]

The aircraft concerned are listed below.
Andy Marden
USAMOOS

Casa Grande N32.88996, W111.78886
A large number of H-19s trucked across from Chandler are stored in a yard in an industrial area just NW of the town. There appeared to be no changes in Feb11. The numbers in the code column have been painted on by hand.
138585 {1} Sikorsky UH-19F NAS Glynco, ex 2E/42 USN Mar09
51-3939 {2} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
53-4450 {3} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
57-5974 {4} Sikorsky H-19D AMARC sale 46-0031 lot 31 US Army Mar09
130264 {5} Sikorsky CH-19E MAMS-17 USMC Mar09
--------- {6} Sikorsky S-55 N750A Mar09
130212 {7} Sikorsky CH-19E NAS Atsugi USN Mar09
52-7542 {8} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
57-1624 {9} Sikorsky H-19D US Army Mar09
--------- {10} Sikorsky S-55 N742A Mar09
56-1557 {11} Sikorsky H-19D [XB072] US Army Mar09
53-4452 {12} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
53-4421 {13} Sikorsky H-19B [HB019] USAF Mar09
55-3206 {14} Sikorsky H-19D [XB049] US Army Mar09
57-5935 {15} Sikorsky H-19D [XB052] US Army Mar09
56-1535 {16} Sikorsky H-19D US Army Mar09
{17} Sikorsky H-19 AMARC sale 46-0031 lot 33 Mar09
(close analysis by a Sikorsky expert leads to the conclusion that it is a FY56 H-19D, ex US Army)
59-4974 {18} Sikorsky H-19D [XB071] US Army Mar09
52-7610 {19} Sikorsky H-19B US Army Mar09
51-3968 {20} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
52-7541 {21} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
130258 {22} Sikorsky CH-19E ex HC-4 USN Mar09
130263 {23} Sikorsky CH-19E [2H042] ex HT/85, HC-4 USN Mar09
52-7586 {24} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
52-7616 {25} Sikorsky H-19D [XB0_9] US Army Mar09
51-3914 {26} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
51-3945 {27} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
52-7581 {28} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
129022 {29} Sikorsky CH-19E [2H039] ex UP/80 HC-1 US Navy Mar09
51-3942 {31} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
52-7575 {32} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
51-3907 {33} Sikorsky H-19B [HB089] USAF Mar09
52-7561 {34} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
53-4438 {35} Sikorsky H-19B [HB041] USAF Mar09
55-3193 {36} Sikorsky H-19D (r/r I-10 south 10Nov07) US Army Mar09
(52-7)567 {37} Sikorsky H-19B [HB075] USAF Mar09
51-3918 {38} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
51-3954 {39} Sikorsky H-19B [HB066] USAF Mar09
142430 {40} Sikorsky UH-19F NAS Monterey USN Mar09
51-3902 {41} Sikorsky H-19B [HB061] USAF Mar09
130164 {42} Sikorsky CH-19E [2H038] USN Mar09
130149 {43} Sikorsky CH-19E ex HT/82, HC-4 USN Mar09
56-1555 {44} Sikorsky H-19D [XB070] US Army Mar09
51-3913 {45} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
52-7487 {46} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
138590 {47} Sikorsky UH-19F (marked as HO4S-3) [XB054] USN Mar09
129030 {48} Sikorsky CH-19E HC-4, ex HT/81 USN Mar09
53-4420 {49} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
51-3916 {50} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
--------- {51} Sikorsky S-55 N741A no tail Mar09
55-3226 {52} Sikorsky H-19B ex Med Co US Army, no tail Mar09
57-5946 {53} Sikorsky H-19D US Army Mar09
51-3903 {54} Sikorsky H-19B USAF Mar09
56-1551 {55} Sikorsky H-19D on side US Army Mar09

[Cherrybomber13]

Did you PM Mike Henninger and ask about directions or names about the yard full of S-55/H-19's he took pictures of in his recent posting about the desert odyssey??

I just spoke with Ron Mander from Whisper Jet, a really friendly and knowledgeable gentlemen. For the record there are no plans to get rid of anything , it is just a rumor. Always easier to go right to the source.