Anyone in the Northeastern US or East coast (BT question)

[Mark D]

know what happened to the BT-13 and all those parts that sat at Sikorsky Field?? I think the guys name was Harry - a WW 2 vet who flew C-47's in Europe

Thanks - Mark D

[Warbird Kid]

I remember that BT well. The last old ramp queen at the Sikorsky Memorial Airport. I remember she was put up on Barnstomers a year or 2 ago and was in excellent condition despite living outdoors for an ungodly amount of years. I don't remember what the price was but I believe it was fairly low. I do remember hearing that the new owners came up and worked on the plane for a couple of weeks then just flew her down to Flordia! I think. I may need a little assistance from Jerry O'Neill or anyone else who might know.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Mark,
I have the new owners name somewhere, but I just got back from Vacation in Mexico so I'll have to find it.
He bought the aircraft two winters ago and I have some photos of it when he was preparing it for the ferry flight to Florida. He said he was going to use it as a flyer for a bit and then he might sell it. The parts that Harry Vanech had at his home in Stamford were not in the best shape, but they went to the new owner's friend up in New Hampshire some place. Give me a little bit of time and I'll PM you wit the info.
Blue skies,
Jerry

PS: If you want some picks of it while being worked on, send me your e-mail in a PM and I'll send you them.

[Dan Jones]

I spoke to him on the phone when he was sorting out his stuff to sell. I think Courtesy ended up handling the sale of the package either for him or after he passed. He had all his stuff set up in a tent at the airport at one time. As I recall they had quite a few pictures of it all on their website.

Dan

[Larry Wielgosz]

I have 2 photos taken in 1988 of a BT-13 at the Sikorsky Airport . There is no "N" number on it. It looks in good shape considering being outside in New England close to the sea. The fuselage and inner wing panels are painted white. The outer wing panels and the tail feathers are painted yellow. Additional wings panels/fairings are not installed. The aircraft has no engine/prop. A tarp over the cockpit. Probably the same aircraft.

How about the North American AJ-2 Savage that was used by Lycoming for engine testing that sat at the airport? Wish I took a picture of that. The only survivor. Now at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola.

Does anyone recall any story behind the BT or what happened to the BT-13 that sat for years at the Griswold Airport, Madison CT? The internet info states the airport closed in 2007. I have a photo of the BT-13 taken in 1988. The N number is partially covered but it looks like N69158 which is listed on the FAA web site as a BT-15 in Pennsylvania. This aircraft sat for years again outside near the sea. I recall a lot of corrosion. No outer wing panels. No engine/prop. Sad sight to see.

I have hundreds if not a couple thousand photos of warbirds. From the Pratt & Whitney 50th Anniversary Fly-In back in 1975 to air shows /west coast museums to Arizona scrapyards to visits inside the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in the 1970s, 80s, 90s. If I get the time and equipment, I would sure like to share them with this group.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Harry's BT was a long time resident at Sikorsky Airport.
I first saw it in 1975 and it had been there for many years before that.
Here's a pic from November 22, 2008 as it sat in Three Wing Aviation's Hangar while the new owner prep it for the ferry flight to Florida.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11465521@N ... 452169487/

The BT that was at Griswold Airport was purchased back in the early 1990's by two guys from Geneseo. At the moment I can't remember their names or if they were part of the group that went to Elmira. There were cowlings and another BT tail assembly in a near by hangar, but I never saw the wings or engine anywhere.

I have a bunch of slides of the AJ when AVCO owned it. Never got to see it fly though.

Jerry

[Larry Wielgosz]

Thanks for the photo Jerry. Same bird I photographed. The paint matches. It looks in good shape. Glad to see the BT at Griswold got saved. Wonder how she's doing these days. You were lucky to get the AJ-2 photos. It would be interesting to compile a list of past & present warbirds in CT. All types. Even the UH-1s & AH-1s on poles. A small state but it would still be fun. I'm sure that you must have seen the Avenger at Simsbury Airport. Any idea where that one went? Thanks.

[Jerry O'Neill]

The Simsbury Avenger was acquired by Len tanner and then later by Corky Meyers who restored it to flying Condition. Not sure who owns it currently.
Jerry