Looking for vintage aircraft in Houston the area.

[Eric Presten]

I am going to be in the Houston area from this sunday until the end of the next week, and am interested in finding a few pre-1955 military and/or civilian aircraft to photograph for my next book. I am the author of the “Vintage Flyers” book series (see our website at www.prewarpublications.com for the type of work we strive for) and am always looking for interesting aircraft to cover when I am traveling in a new area. If you have an interesting airplane, or have an idea of just who might, please let me know so that I can make contact with the owner and try to set up a meeting time. I am of course always interested in any leads that might result in an Air-to-Air photo session.

I had heard at one time that there is a Thomas Morse Scout in this area (not the Roger Freeman examples in San Antonio) and would like to hear more about that airplane if anyone has a lead on it.

Don’t think that I would not be interested in common or unsung vintage types, as these unrecorded aircraft are my favorites to bring to the attention of my readers. These include pre-1955 homebuilt designs as well.

Thank you for your time and information

Eric Presten
(707) 939-8913

[maradamx3]

Are you looking for strictly civilian owned?
Try the local Confederate (err, Commemorative) Air Force Wings at West Houston Airport, David Wayne Hooks Airport, or drive 50 miles to Galveston to the Lone Star Flight Museum. There is also Tora, but I don't know where their base is.

[Pat Carry]

check Mike Henniger's site, its jam packed w/ interesting sites. www.aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php

[Pogo]

Should be a mother lode of possibilities, I'm thinking. As a life-long local in the Clear Lake area, even I don't know what-all is here. But here are a few shots at it:

1. Ya got this outfit at Ellington: http://texasflyinglegends.org/
2. The Collings outfit also has a good showing at Ellington.
3. The CAF Helldiver seems to be based at Pearland Regional (T02), as are numerous Tora and other such vintage av types.
4. Hobby airport museum, haven't been by in ages: http://www.1940airterminal.org/
5. EAA'ers would be good to ask......?

That's what I can think of offhand, if any more come to mind I'll add 'em to the list. In the meantime I hope there's a lot of response to this inquiry, so maybe I can learn something new also.

[Steve S]

And Galvestion is only about 45 minutes from Houston Home of the finest collection (and volunteers) in TX
- Lone Star Flight Musuem- WWW.LSFM.org

[RV8er]

Try the local Confederate (err, Commemorative) Air Force wings at West Houston Airport, David Wayne Hooks Airport... There is also Tora, but I don't know where their base is.

The Houston Wing at West Houston Airport has 5 flyable ships in the hangar, including a Navy N3N, PT-19, BT-13, T-6/Harvard, C-60 Lodestar, plus a project L-17 Navion scattered in pieces. Hangar is open weekends, plus Wednesday evenings are work days.
http://www.westhoustonsqdn.org/

The Gulf Coast Wing is at Hooks Airport in Tomball, located at the Tomball Jet Center hangar, west side of the field. They're a 2 ship fleet; B-17G Texas Raiders and a new addition, a Stinson 108.

I think the Tora ships are scattered around a bit, but at least 2-3 are based at Conroe while a few more are down at Pearland... I think.

John

[Eric Presten]

Thanks for the E-mails (ericpresten@aol.com) guys, and thank you folks for all the cool information. If there are anymore people out there that are directly involved with these and any other vintage aircraft in the area that might be willing to show me around, please PM or E-mail me so I can set up a visit. Gotta love the Wix crowd.

Eric P.