What is this?- Zeus photos added!
Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:58 pm
Just curious... what is the aircraft in the top left corner of the photo? Is it a BT-13? Also, for you rare warbird nuts (like me), there is another pretty rare bird just behind the one in question. Anyone have an idea what it is? (Hint- only one made.) And no right clicking to get a cheater's hint!
kevin
And a closeup...
kevin
And a closeup...
Last edited by tulsaboy on Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:28 pm
Seversky BT-8 sitting in front of the Spartan Zeus.............
Tom-
Tom-
Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:32 pm
Tom-
Thanks for the ID of the Seversky! And way to go on the Zeus. It's interesting to me that the Zeus is sitting there in the Spartan facility in 1944, as there were all sorts of stories about it going to Europe to be a part of the Spanish Civil War, and of it going to Mexico. Maybe this means it just was scrapped in Tulsa.
kevin
Thanks for the ID of the Seversky! And way to go on the Zeus. It's interesting to me that the Zeus is sitting there in the Spartan facility in 1944, as there were all sorts of stories about it going to Europe to be a part of the Spanish Civil War, and of it going to Mexico. Maybe this means it just was scrapped in Tulsa.
kevin
Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:47 pm
Kevin-
The question of the Zeus demise is made even more interesting given this photo, with some effort you should be able to date the photo. Personally I would think it was after the buildup began for the war which seems to preclude it going to Spain. I have an ad from the 70's that has a car (Buick) sitting in front of a weather hangar with what looks like the nose of the Zeus peaking through the open doors? It's probably a Curtiss CW-19/22 but there's not enough visible to be positive.
Tom-
The question of the Zeus demise is made even more interesting given this photo, with some effort you should be able to date the photo. Personally I would think it was after the buildup began for the war which seems to preclude it going to Spain. I have an ad from the 70's that has a car (Buick) sitting in front of a weather hangar with what looks like the nose of the Zeus peaking through the open doors? It's probably a Curtiss CW-19/22 but there's not enough visible to be positive.
Tom-
Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:40 am
The Zeus was kept as a mechanic's training aid throughout the war years from what I've been told. The BT-8 has the late-war insignia, and the photographer's logo in the lower right corner has a '44 on it. The Zeus probably ended up out back with the B-24, Seafire, AT-9, etc., etc...... 
Kevin, which hangar do you suppose this was? It appears to be the large airframe classroom hangar, but it's hard to tell for sure. Regardless, it won't be standing for much longer.
Scott
Kevin, which hangar do you suppose this was? It appears to be the large airframe classroom hangar, but it's hard to tell for sure. Regardless, it won't be standing for much longer.
Scott
Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:20 pm
Tom-
Can you post the ad, or a portion of it? Would be interesting to see...
Scott- we need to go back and look at the photo of TUL that I posted a while ago, to see if we can see the Zeus next to the B-24. I'm going to guess that's Hangar 5, just because of all the wood... but I'd have to look again at the windows to be sure. Sad that they're going away.
Here's that photo again...
kevin
Can you post the ad, or a portion of it? Would be interesting to see...
Scott- we need to go back and look at the photo of TUL that I posted a while ago, to see if we can see the Zeus next to the B-24. I'm going to guess that's Hangar 5, just because of all the wood... but I'd have to look again at the windows to be sure. Sad that they're going away.
Here's that photo again...
kevin
Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:58 pm
Kevin,
The framework and trusses in that first photo are steel, I believe. I have a feeling it is one of the hangars across the street to the west, and the more I think about it, it may be the southmost one with the current test cells beside it. I don't see the Zeus in the overhead photo, but it could be inside the hangars as a training aid--or worse. Excellent material to study, though.
Scott
The framework and trusses in that first photo are steel, I believe. I have a feeling it is one of the hangars across the street to the west, and the more I think about it, it may be the southmost one with the current test cells beside it. I don't see the Zeus in the overhead photo, but it could be inside the hangars as a training aid--or worse. Excellent material to study, though.
Scott
Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:12 am
Kevin-
I scanned the photo and PM'd you requesting an e-mail and will forward the ad scan. Not much airplane peaking from the open hangar, and not many good images of the Zeus, but it looks similar.
Tom-
I scanned the photo and PM'd you requesting an e-mail and will forward the ad scan. Not much airplane peaking from the open hangar, and not many good images of the Zeus, but it looks similar.
Tom-
Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:46 am
Scott- You're probably right, I'd just have to look again... supposedly Hangar 5 will not be torn down for a bit, as the new tenant is going to start his business in there while his replacement hangar is constructed. Maybe we'll be able to get some good photography in there yet?
Tom- Thanks so much! Haven't received the PM, though. E-mail me at univtulsa@!yahoo.com, without the ! in there. I'll post some other photos of the Zeus later. Got some good ones that you'll salivate over...
kevin
Tom- Thanks so much! Haven't received the PM, though. E-mail me at univtulsa@!yahoo.com, without the ! in there. I'll post some other photos of the Zeus later. Got some good ones that you'll salivate over...
kevin
Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:50 am
Zeus photos, as promised... Tom, what do you think? I think the cowling is definitely different from the Buick ad. Pretty confident the airplane in the Buick ad is not the Zeus. Below are three rare photos of the Zeus. Enjoy! I've got more, by the way... 
kevin
kevin
Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:23 am
Kevin-
Great Zeus pics, still not sure what the plane is in the Buick ad, the Zeus cowl diameter tapers front to back and so does the CW-22 cowl and the ad plane appears to have no taper. However what looks like the RH gear leg in the rear window matches the Zeus gear leg/door. After 30+ years I'm still not sure what it is.......................
Tom-
Great Zeus pics, still not sure what the plane is in the Buick ad, the Zeus cowl diameter tapers front to back and so does the CW-22 cowl and the ad plane appears to have no taper. However what looks like the RH gear leg in the rear window matches the Zeus gear leg/door. After 30+ years I'm still not sure what it is.......................
Tom-