Some good news: H-19 saved

[JohnB]

While doing a Google search on something else, a photo of a H-19 being loaded into a transport aircraft came up. I wasn't too shocked since lots of H-19s were transported that way "back in the day". But I noticed it was being loaded in a C-17....

It seems Kirtland is getting rid of many of its statics. I believe it was home to PJ training and it had a very complete collection of ARS aircraft when I last visited the base in the 90s. Had a number of helicopters plus an Albatross and a OA-10 (PBY).
I noticed that the H-21 has gone to Little Rock, now the H-19 went to McChord.

http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B ... 0CHORD.htm

Anyone know where other Kirtland ac are going, or if they're getting scrapped?
Their disbursement seems to have been under our (and Air Classics) radar.

You'd think the NMUSAF would put out a news release to counteract some if the bad press it has gotten regarding other scrapping (Chanute, Edwards, etc.), but I'd wager a buck that the museum or its PR staff don't know they've gotten any bad press.
From my experiences with their public affairs staff, I don't think they follow the enthusiast media.

Last edited by JohnB on Thu Sep 15, 2016 4:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[mazdaP5]

Good news!

[tinbender2]

Interesting.............


I'll try to stop by KAFB tomorrow and see what is left. I wouldn't be surprised if they bulldozed the rest. I know many years ago they were entertaining bids to do preventative maintenance on them, but i don't think they ever actually let out a contract.

The OA-10 was the most stripped display airframe I'd ever seen, but the helicopters were in much better shape. I'll bet the C-47 gets scrapped.

Gee, with the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History right next door, you'd think they'd just donate them so the museum could have some trading stock.

[Craig59]

I'm sure Sid will chime in to let us know if this aircraft is indeed H-19B, 52-7540. I have an image of it in flight and it was indeed built with a straight tail while others around it were being constructed with the 3 degree sloping tail. According to Sid's database, it was built as Sikorsky Construction Number 55643 and delivered on March 2, 1954.

[JohnB]

I thought all Bs had the sloped tail? I see from my serial list it was built in the second batch of Bs...and the first with FY52 serials. Perhaps the sloped tail was added later?

I wonder if they ever flew them interchangeably...or if they put B tails on As after overhaul?
It doesn't seem to matter at the NMUSAF...for 30 years they've had a B impersonating an A.

[Craig59]

John,

I likely have others but, here are views of two H-19Bs, 51-3918 and 52-7511(see next post), wearing both straight and sloping tail booms. The sloping tails were designed to alleviate the issue with S-55 variants chopping off their own tails and were interchangeable as a fix for existing aircraft as well.

Attachments

[Craig59]

52-7511

Attachments

[Andy Marden]

It's a UH-19F, serial 138499.
Andy Marden

USAMOOS

[SIDSIKO]

It was originally painted as 51-3893, to represent "Hop-a-Long", which took part in the first crossing of the Atlantic by helicopter, in 1952. The Air Force in its wisdom, sold this historical helicopter to the Spanish Air Force in 1962 and was lost in service with them, 11 June 1964.

The helicopter itself was as Andy has said, 138499, which was SOC by the Navy 30 October 1964. I shot it at Kirtland in 1989.



Here is the real Hop A Long



I have no idea why the Kirtland example was repainted as 52-7540, but that helicopter was supplied to the Ecuador Air Force in 1966.

[Craig59]

Thank you, Sid!

Knowing now that is was an HO4S explains the two-piece windscreen and the eyebrow windows.

[JohnB]

Next spring, I'll try to get photos...it will be a good excuse to see their C-124 too.