Madras Airport getting crowded

[Pogo]

Thanks for the enlarged version and story behind it Larry. I've been reading your posts for quite a while, never doubted it was "real".

Hope you get to fly Chuckie, be mighty interesting to hear what you discover regarding flight characteristics with the turrets.

[Matt Gunsch]

Thanks for the enlarged version and story behind it Larry. I've been reading your posts for quite a while, never doubted it was "real".

Hope you get to fly Chuckie, be mighty interesting to hear what you discover regarding flight characteristics with the turrets.

and more than one engine running

[Pogmusic]

What, other than speed, do the MD-80s bring to the fire fighting game?

[BigGrey]

Larry, thank you for taking the time to post all of this. Best thread lately by far.
A trip to Madras is a must this year.

Les

[shrike]

What, other than speed, do the MD-80s bring to the fire fighting game?

Speed, for faster transit times between base and fire. Also faster transits between bases when not fighting fires.
Better fuel availability and support. Faster turnaround with single point refueling and more airports able to serve Jet-A faster and easier than massive amounts of 100LL
Better support on the airframe and engines - not only newer, but the DC-9 family ran to 2400+ units vs the DC-7's 350 or so

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

Larry,
Great job on the pictures. The B-25 was flown up from So-Cal on Saturday and Jack was there to greet his new addition to the collection. As far as the flying part goes for those who asked, During the fire season there will not be a lot of flying due to the fact that Brent and Doug will be on contract. I do know that everyone would like to get all of the airplanes exercised more. One interesting fact is the PBY when flown over from Tillamook it was the first flight for the Y boat in something like 10 or 11 years! Doug said she flew great.

Scott.....

[Warbird Kid]

So heres my question….

What was the reason for the original P-47, B-25 in the collection to be sold off? Only now being replaced. And for that matter, how may other aircraft would we want to see repainted to represent a more accurate scheme?

P-51
F4U-7
PBY

Any others?

[Pogmusic]

What, other than speed, do the MD-80s bring to the fire fighting game?

Speed, for faster transit times between base and fire. Also faster transits between bases when not fighting fires.
Better fuel availability and support. Faster turnaround with single point refueling and more airports able to serve Jet-A faster and easier than massive amounts of 100LL
Better support on the airframe and engines - not only newer, but the DC-9 family ran to 2400+ units vs the DC-7's 350 or so

Thanks for the info. Are they as maneuverable as the ones they will replace/augment? Just curious.

[Stoney]

I always thought the F4U-7 looked better in its french paint Suez war scheme.

[Lightjug]

Wow, thank you for sharing these pictures... great stuff!

[mustangdriver]

Nice to see our Old P-47 in good hands. That aircraft was painted at Air Heritage in Beaver Falls, PA

[Larry Kraus]

I can't give any insights as to the workings of the museum.I'm just a tanker pilot working for an associated company.I've never been to Tillamook and I don't know about anything other than some of what is going on in Madras.

I went to see the B-25 today and here are some pictures from this morning:









































The sun was a bit too bright for good pictures with my little camera from the right side of the airplane today.I'll see what I can do once it moves inside.By the way,I looked up the Million Fire (from my avatar) and it was in 2002,not that it matters.

[K5DH]

Larry, don't worry about your "little camera". Keep those pictures coming! I'm enjoying them.

From what I've seen so far, Madras appears to be Radial Engine Heaven!


On the down side, seeing that former Spanair jet on the ramp makes me grind my teeth. My wife and I had a flight booked on Spanair from Barcelona to Venice a couple of years ago and the damned airline went outta business! I never did get my money back (about $500).

[Sasquatch]

Great shots Larry; thanks!

"Heavenly Body" is--or was--Mike Pupich's old bird from Van Nuys, CA. So do I understand correctly that she is now part of the Erickson museum collection?

Thanks...

-Tom

[Speedy]

I was wondering the same thing. I knew that Heavenly Body was for sale, but wasn't aware that Erickson had bought it.

Several years ago, Tillamook had the old Bill Arnot Silver Lady B-25...but they sold that to Rod Lewis who put it in the Russian scheme.