Warbird Information Exchange

From:
http://www.azjournal.com/pages/news/Aug ... 05dc3.html

DC-3 Aircraft Remains Unclaimed At Airport

By Tammy Gray-Searles

The DC-3 aircraft that made an emergency landing in Holbrook March 21 remains at the municipal airport, waiting to be claimed.

“It’s still just sitting there,” said Airport Manager Alan Roes. “We’ve tried to contact the owners to see what their intentions are. It’s racked up four and a half months of parking charges and we haven’t heard anything from them.”

The DC-3, commonly referred to during World War II as a Gooney Bird, was forced to land in Holbrook when one of its engines lost oil pressure. TMI Aircraft Incorporated had just purchased the plane in Alaska, and it was en route to its new home in Florida when the trouble began.

After making a safe landing at the Holbrook Municipal Airport, the crew discovered metal shavings in the engine. TMI representatives told Roes that they intended to replace the engine, and would be sending a repair crew when the new engine arrived. To date, neither the crew, nor the engine, has arrived at the airport.

“We’ve locked it up so if someone shows up to fix it we can discuss the charges with them,” Roes noted.

The large DC-3 aircraft isn’t the first military-type airplane to land at the Holbrook airport. In the early 1940s, during World War II, the Navy used the airport as a training ground.

“Right around 1942 to ’43, the Naval Cadets practiced there. I think they were getting ready for carrier service,” explained long time Holbrook resident Teen DeSpain.

Piper Cub airplanes were used for the training. The Piper Cub was a two-seat tandem light aircraft. It is estimated that during World War II, more than 80 percent of all military pilots had trained in a Piper Cub.

Like its larger cousin, the DC-3, the Piper Cub and the pilots it helped train played an important role in World War II.

City officials are proud of the airport’s military history, but are unsure what to do with the vintage DC-3 if it remains unclaimed

tell the airport manager to stuff her in a padded bubble envelope, & mail her postage due to me, & i'll take it from their!! regards, tom

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

So...if I understand you correctly, Mr. Customer, if I show up at your door and pay the storage, postage and handling fees, the bird is mine?

I'll tow that sucker home on I-40 if necessary. Please advise.

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

They could file a landlord's lien for nonpayment of rent and after the appropriate notifications and time passage they could take possesion. It would then be sold at open auction by the sherriff. THEN you could tow it down I40 !

It amazes me what passes for news these days... The county just wants their $150 in tiedown fees no doubt.

Okay. You guys drive a hard bargain. I'll give DOUBLE your fees, $300 clams. That's a great deal, believe me. So now can I hook up the tow bar and "DC-3 In Tow" signs. I've really got to get going.....

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Oh No!!!! I knew I forgot something when I made that pit stop in Arizona. I got to get back down there and pick her back up again.

Dave D

_________________
http://community.webshots.com/user/warbirdman_79

Not if I get there first! Here's the offending gooney I believe
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/883969/M/

Can anyone elaborate on the other piece of interesting news in the article?

Carrier practice with Piper Cubs ?

Did I miss something in all these years ?

L-4's and L-5/OY-2's were flown off of carriers during both WW2 and Korea. It wasn't a normal practice, but was used operationally a few times.

So, you don't want to go all the way to Phoenix, check this "deal" out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1944-DC- ... dZViewItem

"Only needs 20 to 30 hours of work to be ferryable." Ferry: To deliver (a vehicle, especially an aircraft) under its own power to its eventual user.

Sign me up for that ride!

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Should be a quick ride- after all, it does have "speed cowls"!

i saw the pic. looks like she had navy mods from the tail confuguration. she's in great shape too!!! i expected her to be a "little long in tooth." to anybody with the guts / deep pockets to go for her, beware........ in alot of instances these planes sit & languish because they have liens out the ying yang on them. look carefully & deeply!!! tom

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

I have pictures of this aircraft and have done some tire kicking. I wouldn't fly in it unless it really had some work. I mean more than 20 or 30 hours. What this aircraft was used for I have no idea but it was in Canada for a number of years before coming to Texas.

CV, I knew about that, I figured the writer got the wrong info or just wrote it wrong. Never heard of Naval Cadets flying the Cub to practice carrier work. Also didn't know that there was such a high percentage of Cubs used for military training. I've only heard of them being used for glider and liason pilot training. Think the reporter got their facts wrong? Could that even happen ?