Warbird Information Exchange

Ouch! GWNLT!

Wow, that's really an awful thing to see in this day and age. There's got to be a reason it is not being parted out or offered to museums. Scrap metal prices are way down right now and I'm sure this thing would bring more in parts and pieces on ebay than what they are going to get for the scrap. Is there a liability issue? Are they just making sure it does not wind up with the competition? Surely the cockpit section and the engines are worth something as museum pieces. I'm confused, what's the story here? Somebody on WIX must know.

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

The horror..The horror...like a diamond bullet shot trough my forehead.

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

I'm guessing no one wants it because it is technically not a Lockheed P2V-7, it is an Aero Union SP-2H with its own Type Certificate (the jets were removed, requiring re-certification) so its really only good for aerial firefighting, and because the USFS does not want it, its a special use aircraft without a use.

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/a26f4cdc8ec0f3d886256e0d005e5ead/$FILE/A24NM.pdf\

Perhaps museums don't want it cause its been stripped of all the Navy ASW gear..so its not very authentic?.. I think there is only one museum operating a P2V-7, the MAAM:
http://www.maam.org/neptune/p2_1.html

Perhaps they aren't airworthy anymore? Just a thought, but still, the parts should be!

I know there's got to be a local volunteer fire department that would love to get one for scrap price, if they could be used to fight brush fires. Especially here in Texas. Wish my county VFD would get one, I know where they could get a pilot!

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Mike

By the way, why did they remove the jet engines?

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Mike

The deal with getting them from DOD may have had the stipulation that upon conclusion of use it is to be cut up and no parts sold.Just remember its gubmint.

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Hang The Expense

That sounds like the best reasoning, looking at the conditions of sale for everything coming out of AMARG these days.

I'm so glad the government is saving us from ourselves!

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Mike

Like the fate of the Tomcats they probably don't want the Iranians getting a hold of it.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got a VERY close friend who's first husband died in a Neptune crash in Laos. Is it possible that I could get the contact information and see if I could get a part or two if it's legal?

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Hi Mike, I think the jets were removed because they did not provide much thrust for their cost in extra weight and drag.. they were semi jokingly referred to as "fuel dumps"

Hi Ryan, I don't have any contact info, I have not worked at Aero Union in over ten years, place has changed owners a few time since then..Scott Apple was able to get in contact with someone there, I am curious if he will have any success getting parts, looks like aircraft probably belongs to a scrap metal dealer now..

I dug out some old pics from the attic:

Ground testing new constant flow retardant tank Chico, CA 1993


Constant flow tank drop Murphy, CA 1993.. Nice and straight!


Delivering spare parts in a Cherokee 6. Porterville, CA 1995


All four SP2H's lined up for Winter Maintenance 1996 Chico, CA


Some of the aircraft Aero Union has operated over the years..

Talked to aerounion today, and nothing is being offered for sale. Sorry guys! Still looking for wheels!

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Scott Apple
Experience on the following aircraft: B-17, B-25, He111, T-6/SNJ, C-45/D18S, O2A, L-19, Various General Aviation, and Corporate Aircraft.

Scott, any explanation on why nothing was being offered for sale? It is a real shame to see a Neptune scrapped.

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Jim
Santa Rosa,CA


OH they are chopping #2 & #3 today - by tonight all three will have been chopped and ALL the parts are going to a scrapper
with a written contract that No - I repeat No parts are to be sold for aircraft use - SCRAP only !!!! The CEO is a "above the Law" Lawyer !! He will not accept
any liability for aircraft parts on other planes!! They actually scrapped good engines and a warehouse full of new parts for P2V's - had it all crushed.
A friend of mine tried to buy a couple engines and they said "No we have plans for them" this is what they were !! These three planes were actually traded to
a seller, and AU claims he didn't move them quick enough so they scrapped them - He was supposed to get a stop order from a court Friday eve - guess the
judge had other priorities?? Hope He Sues the s__t out of them, as he had them sold for fire bomber use in Texas. What a shame.. I found out last night -- there
is a lot more to the story - but not worth writing now!! You are right - "Things like this happen everyday in the aviation world" -- but most of the time - they are
derelict carcasses, NOT flyable /usable planes. Too little - Too Late--