Surf Birds

[mexchiwa]

In this month's Outside magazine (or last months' or next month's - I'm not sure) there's an article about the surf companies Billabong and Quiksilver (I think) converting Grumman Albatrosses to carry surfers. Not sure if this is in any of the warbird mags (haven't looked at them lately), but there's your news. Anyway, this is great. Not sure which specific Albatrosses are involved, but it looks good.

[Chad Veich]

I came across a "Billabong" Albotross at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona a few weeks ago. The airplane was finished in a white/brown/yellow scheme and was immaculate. I wrote down the registration but it is at work. It looked like a fine way to travel!

[airnutz]

Mexchiwa..Chad..check here..Chad may have seen ship #2?
www.billabongclipper.com

Nice way to travel.

[helinut]

There was a HU-16 at Halifax international airport last sept, with qicksilver markings over us navy,believe it was from michagan,John Desilva, maybe.Was up here surfing for a few days.

[Chad Veich]

Airnutz, unless they have more than one painted in that scheme that is the one I saw. There are at least half a dozen other HU-16s in open storage at Falcon so it was nice to see one that was being treated "properly"!

[airnutz]

Thanks Chad..I had read "Albatrosses" in Mex's original post. There is
another thread here on WIX from mid-December when "the bird" was
publicly revealed at Newport Harbour. They need to christen "the bird"
with a name, The Billabong Albatross is just to much to say when
referring to their new toy. Of course the Billabong Albatross is probably
fine with them....as far as product identification is concerned.

When visiting Pima a few years back, I did some wondering in that
"neighborhood", and of course took a gander at the boneyard area.
Their were some Albatrosses being actively worked on at a a/c shop
outside the fenceline. In the Billabong website, the shop where this
machine was overhauled looks very similar to that area.

[Chad Veich]

Airnutz, funny you should mention the boneyard at Davis Monthan. I was there, must have been early 2004, and just happened across one of the salvage yards with several Albatross (Albatri?) carcasses. Towards the back of the compound was what appeared to be a fairly complete Albatross being worked on. Imagine my surprise when one of the radials belched smoke and burst into life! Wonder if that was the Billabong airplane?

[airnutz]

Chad..Yup that's what I was thinking. Inside the Billabong wegpage
are some photos of the thorough early-bones of N7973B. If you look
through, there are several photos of some of the guys resurrecting her.
Some of them are named. The website is not complete yet..and in my
opinion a little difficult to maneuver(some dead-ends)..but some good
pics and info. I wonder if the "wrenches" who are in the photos are still
working out of that shop?

[Eric Rogers]

I believe that there may be two of these surf birds, one of the local birds in our area was painted last summer into the billabong colors. If someone has the registration number on the one they saw at Falcon field i may be able to verify if that is the same one that was here in Michigan.

Eric

[airnutz]

Chad, Did you ever find the N# of the Billabong bird you saw..Eric, yours?
Tawlk amongst yerselves..this is Warbird tawlk..no big woop!

[agent86]

On the way to the Reno air races in Sept 2003 we stopped at an airport in I believe Carson City, Nevada. and there were maybe 6 to possibly 10(i could be exagerating) Albatrosses parked next to a hanger .any one know the story on these? Tim

[Chad Veich]

I wrote down N7973B so that would be the one in the picture linked to above. Have not been out to Falcon Field since so I don't have any idea if it is still there or not.

[sknight]

I wrote down N7973B so that would be the one in the picture linked to above. Have not been out to Falcon Field since so I don't have any idea if it is still there or not.

As of Monday, 3/28, the Billabong Albatross was still at Mesa, sitting in front of the Anzio Landings resteraunt. Looked good. Didn't get close enough to see any numbers though.

[T J Johansen]

On the way to the Reno air races in Sept 2003 we stopped at an airport in I believe Carson City, Nevada. and there were maybe 6 to possibly 10(i could be exagerating) Albatrosses parked next to a hanger .any one know the story on these? Tim

Didn't Dennis Buehn restore Albatrosses out of the Reno area somewhere?

T J

[RickH]

Nice place, nice people and good food. Last time I talked to Rex he was demounting the fuselage of a twin on that was on the wall behind his bar.

Collings B-24 mural is on the wall of his large room and a smaller room has Flying Tiger memorabilia, ( as well as other stuff) I believe Rex's dad was a Flying Tiger.