Anyone here want to help me save a C-82A "Packet"?

Chaz Harris · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:35 pm

I learned recently through Simon Beck that one of only 6 Fairchild C-82A Packets in one piece left in the world may be sold for a very low (scrap!) price in the very near future! :shock:

It is C-82A-FA s/n 45-57783, PP-CEL, former N7855B, located in Manuas, Brazil. It appears complete and looks very fixable, unless it has a lot of corrosion, of course.

http://www.c82packet.com/ is Simon's website and has lot's of good info on them.

Looking for:

-Funding, any donation accepted, $1 to $100,000 ( no website yet or method for it, just send me a PM if you want to donate, I will contact you when it's all set up.

)

-R-2800's and props; must have minimum 2,100 takeoff HP, rebuild kits and parts will suffice

-People that live in Manaus willing to look the plane over for me, check for corrosion, damage, see if the props turn, etc.

-People that are willing make C-82 windows or that can give me the basics on compound-forming plexiglas and lexan.

-Anyone willing to help me work on it!

-Any C-82A parts anyone has lying around! ( I'll get lot's of responses on this, I'm sure. :wink:

)

I know its not a sleek, sexy F-4U-4 or the like, but I think it would be a great shame if it gets made into cheap pots and pans. ( Also, anyone who makes a large contribution gets his/her name on the nose.

)

Thanks for reading,
Chaz

(First post here, by the way.)

BHawthorne · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:22 pm

I think it's a pretty cool looking aircraft design.

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

5 C-82 Packets were used during the Berlin Airlift. Mostly they were used to bring odd shaped items and the like. Most of the runway building equipment was cut up, flown in via C-82, and welded back together for use in Berlin.

A complete power plant was brought in as well, again in smaller, odd shaped pieces.

I had the privilege of Gene Powers giving me a personal tour of his C-82 at Kansas City Downtown in 1998. Man, that cockpit is like a living room.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:13 pm

Kevin, The Berlin Airlift group wouldn't want a Packet to add to there collection would they? :wink:

Chaz Harris · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:54 pm

I don't think anyone but me has much want for this one :wink:

: http://www.myaviation.net/search/search ... gnr=PP-CEL

But it still needs a home.

That's cool about it flying in a dissasembled power plant, all I heard was trucks and small dozers!

-Chaz

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:57 pm

I sure wish that one could find a good home! :cry:

Rotting birds makes me cry at night! :cry:

Holedigger · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:57 pm

Perhaps the problem is we have more realists than dreamers. Or folk who have been down this road before only to get burned. The cost to buy is one thing, to get her airworthy to bring back home......open ended can of worms! If one were able to get a museum group on board, it would be a different matter. My two cents

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

No, we've got more than enough to handle right now..

No Packets, thanks.. We actually looked at the Hagerstown bird early on before H&P had it. Then decided that a 54 was the best way to do what we do.

The 97? Well, like I said, we've got our plate full as it is...

Chaz Harris · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:23 pm

Hi,

"holedigger",

Yes, I certainly do not think that it will be a cakewalk after I buy it!

But, I will also say that I have machining capabilities and major overhaul capabilities (although it's automotive, so some stuff for the large bore radials will need to be purchased), so it will be MUCH easier for me than someone who doesn't have that. If I was paying someone $50-100 per hour, it would be impossible! (Just think, $100,000 divided by $100 = 1,000 hours labor, where as 1,000hrs = 100 days work at 10hrs a day! :shock:

) I currently don't have the B.S. AP/AI cert, but will get it whenever I can.

Kevin,

I guess that means you looked it over at ANC in '88-89?

Hope you can keep that C-97 flying!

-Chaz

Rajay · **Posted:** Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:50 am

Chaz,

I applaud your initiative and your enthusiasm. It is not an insignificant thing that you propose to undertake. It seems to me that the best help you could get would be to enlist the aid or interest of people or groups who already have a vested interest in a C-82, such as the Fairchild Museum folks in Hagerstown or former Hawkins & Powers folks for examples.

It would also help people who might be interested in helping you know more about you, such as where exactly you are located, what technical resources you really have available to you and how likely you are to actually be able to visit this airframe in Brazil (there’s nothing like a personal inspection.) I’m not sure how much I’d trust “locals” that “offer to help” look it over for you. Are they in any way involved in “selling” services or even the actual airplane to you?

Dan K · **Posted:** Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:38 am

Chaz, I think most of us admire your passion. It's truly what fuels dreams to fruition. I think you've also come to the right place for help, as there are a number of good-hearted and passionate folks who lurk here who could help you avoid "re-inventing the wheel" in a number of areas.

I must admit that I am still a bit confused about what you are proposing to do, other than attempt to obtain the remains of a C-82 in Manaus. Are you planning on moving to Manaus to work on the aircraft there? Or are you looking to recover the craft to carry out restoration wherever your home currently is?

I suppose there is one more option... :roll:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfCG6p-225s

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:16 pm

I was reading this thread waiting for the Flight of the Phoenix reference!

"Ok Mr. Dorfmann, start pullin'!"

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:17 pm

Guess I should have chimed in earlier!

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:32 am

"Now let me tell YOU somethin', Mr. Dorfmann. That engine's rated at two-thousand horsepower..and if I was ever fool enough to let it get started it would shake your patched-up pile of junk to pieces and cut us all into mincemeat with the propeller!"

One of my favorite movie quotes of all time. A couple years ago my brother and I were looking at the NMUSAF C-82, and I turned to him and delivered the line in my best (pretty awful) Jimmy Stewart impression. We both laughed, but my wife and his girlfriend just rolled their eyes...

Seriously, though..I hope you're able to save the old girl.

SN

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:00 am

Hi Chaz, I wonder if this is "your" C-82?

This is a frame grab from the film Grand Slam, which was filmed in 1966 in Brazil - after most of the Cruziero birds were scrapped. Only difference seems to be the lack of the angled stripes on the verticals, unless they were stripped off.

Good luck recovering PP-CEL!

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