NAA Plant in Columbus, Ohio

[Mark Nankivil]

FJ-2 thru FJ-4 Furies were made there as well as the AJ-1 & AJ-2 Savage. Check out the photo of an AJ in the plant at:

http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/ohiopix/s ... =Airplanes

There used to be a nice little museum over on the north side of the airport that closed up sometime in the mid-90s - anyone know where the contents went to? They had some nice NAA/Rockwell International manufacturer's models including the 3 engined Vigilante proposal for the USAF. Also had a Caravelle on display outside.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

[AirJimL2]

There used to be a nice little museum over on the north side of the airport that closed up sometime in the mid-90s - anyone know where the contents went to?

I think the Caravelle was moved somewhere on the field to use as a fire/terrorism practice aircraft, but the rest of the Museum was donated/transferred to the Ohio Historical Society. I assume it is in storage somewhere.

Jim

[bobbrunn]

I had family working there. An Uncle that worked there from after WW II with Curtis Wright through his retirement with North American/ Rockwell. My grandfather retired from North American Rockwell in the security area . My mom worked there in inspections from 1952 thru 1955 . My dad also did a short stint after coming home from the Navy in 55. I still have on of the highball glasses that my grandfather used to have in his kitchen. I used to have a bunch of the pictures from the plant PR dept of the different aircraft under production that he had in his house. Wish I still had them.

[Rauhbatz]

One of my flying buddies at NetJets said the contents and some of the aircraft are in storage at the Ohio Historical Society; including the Goodyear Inflatoplane!

My buddy also got to board the Caravelle a few years back. Lots of bird poop but it was interesting to see the inside of it. Last time I saw the Caravelle it was parked on the north side of the field near the fire dept. Its been towed around the airport a few places. BTW, I think it also had Airborne ABX markings...another example of Ohio aviation demise...

[thundergull pilot]

North American when they were in buisness operated a surplus outlet near the factory in Columbus. One could buy aircraft hardware for pennies on the pound. I still have a good selection of AN bolts, nuts ,nut plates ,clevis pins and bolts that I use arround the farm and on my expermental aircraft. Carl

[Rauhbatz]

Before all of the new office buildings went up in Columbus the sole "skyscraper" was the Leveque tower. My dad used to work in the tower when AT&T ran out of office space due to their business growing (ahhh...those were the days).

Part of the tower's design was to serve as a mooring mast for airships. In looking at the tower you can see this design element very clearly.

I don't think any airship tried to dock but the designers wishful thinking sure turned out a nice building...

[tom d. friedman]

google lockbourne air force base / rickenbacker field & you'll get a wealth of info, & your socks knocked off!!

[skymstr02]

FYI-

Sabreliner/T-39 production was initially at Los Angeles, final Sabreliner production was at Perryville.

Tom-

I'm involved in the current T-39 maintenance, and we have a T-39 at Perryville getting rewinged as I write this. The wing was mated to the fuselage thursday morning.

[Eric Friedebach]

Found this in the hangar a while back. Looks like Mr. Mouse was trying to see what a T-28 part tasted like.




IIRC up until the 90’s there was a McDonnell Douglas sign on the part of the facility that is now a Million Air FBO. I heard that for a few years after WWII there were pre-fab houses being manufactured there.

[DaveG]

I heard that for a few years after WWII there were pre-fab houses being manufactured there.

They made Lustron houses there. Very interesting all-steel house. There are many survivors around still today, including one just about 10 miles from my house.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lustron_house