My Central California Pilgrimage, Pictures (Reno Posted)

[mrhenniger]

My first stop was the airport at Lodi. After listening to that fantastic CCR song for many years I was really looking forward to seeing this place. Well... it isn't Disney World that is for sure. Anyway I had no problem finding the old DC-3 there...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Collierville, California, United States - DC-3

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-47A-1-DK, s/n FZ571 RAF, c/n 12106, c/r N4991E

[mrhenniger]

Next stop was further south in Stockton at the Legion. Stockton appears to be another one of those airports which is undergoing major redevelopment. The street was a little hard to find and appeared to be somewhat rundown. It did't take too much trouble to find the place though.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - American Legion Post 632 - AH-1


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Bell AH-1S Cobra, s/n 70-15987 US Army, c/n 20931

A few people at the Legion indicated the Cobra is for sale. I assumed originally it was an Army loan, but maybe not. Anyway, it would not surprise me if it is moved from here, as the area looks like it is prime for redevelopment. Let me know if it changes hands.

[mrhenniger]

Not far away from the Legion is Taigh Raimey's place. It was still very early, and on a Sunday morning. I didn't expect to find it open, and there was noone there. I took my picutres through the fence. Taigh has been very helpful with identifying the airframes in these photos.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Stockton Field Museum / Vintage Aircraft / Taigh Ramey - 10 airframes


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-26C-35-DT Invader, s/n 44-35372 USAF, c/n 28651, c/r N8028E

I am a fan of the A-26 so viewing an Invader, even a hulk like this one, is a real treet.


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech C-45H Expeditor, s/n 51-11689 USAAF, c/r N5180V


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech AT-11 Kansan, c/n 3991, c/r N701BA


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech C-45H Expeditor, s/n 52-10636 USAF, c/r N314WN



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech E18S, c/n BA-178, c/r N141ZA


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech C-45G Expeditor, c/n AF-220, c/r N9660C


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech AT-11 Kansan, c/r N7351C

[mrhenniger]

Only a short distance from the Vintage Aircraft Museum I found this Beech 18 sitting on the ramp...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Stockton, California, United States - Beech 18, C-45, Draken, L-39

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech C-45H Expeditor, c/n AF-745, c/r N35CB

There is also a Draken parked on the ramp, but it is not viewable from any publically accessible vantage point. Bummer. I like the Euro jets.

[mrhenniger]

Continuing south along route 99 I headed for Atwater and the Castle Air Museum. I had been looking forward to visiting this place for many years. Anywhere that has a CF-100 in their collection must be cool. The B-18, B-23 and B-36 were neat as well.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Castle Air Museum - 50 airframes


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, s/n 61-7960 USAF, c/n 2011



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Consolidated B-24M Liberator, s/n 44-41916 USAAF, c/n 5852



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker, s/n 53-0354 USAF, c/n 17136



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas B-23A Dragon, s/n 39-0045 USAAF, c/n 2731, c/r N880L


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Avro Vulcan B.2, s/n XM605 RAF



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American B-45A Tornado, s/n 47-0008 USAAF, c/n 147-43408



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-26B Invader, s/n 41-39472 USAAF, c/n 7185, c/r N26VC




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American B-25J Mitchell, s/n 44-86891 USAAF, c/n 108-47645, c/r N3337G



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Vultee BT-13B, s/n 42-89678 USAAF



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American Harvard II, s/n 2951 RCAF, c/n 66-2684, c/r C-GDJC



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing B-17G Fortress, s/n 43-38635 USAAF, c/n 9603, c/r N3702G




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing B-29A-35-BN Superfortress, s/n 44-61535 USAAF, c/n 11012




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing WB-50D Superfortress, s/n 49-0351 USAF, c/n 16127



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Avro Canada CF-100Mk 5, s/n 100504 RCAF, c/n C-100/4/404



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed L-18, s/n 1373 SAAF, c/n 2035, c/r N102V



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American T-39A-1-NA Sabreliner, s/n 61-0664 USAF, c/n 265-67



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Canada U-6A Beaver, s/n 54-1707 USAF, c/n 853, c/r N43862



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Cessna O-2A Super Skymaster, s/n 67-21413 USAF, c/n 337M-0119



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Cessna U-3A Blue Canoe, s/n 57-5849 USAF, c/n 38004


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech YT-34 Mentor, s/n 50-0735 USAF, c/n G-4


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Beech RC-45H Expeditor, s/n 51-11897 USAF, c/n AF-454, c/r N87681



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Kaman HH-43F Huskie, s/n 62-4513 USAF, c/n 139




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Curtiss-Wright C-46D Commando, s/n 44-77575 USAAF, c/n 32971, c/r N54510




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-47A-90-DL, s/n 43-15977 USAAF, c/n 20443, c/r N230GB



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed P-80B-1-LO Shooting Star, s/n 45-8490 USAAF, c/n 080-1704



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, s/n 51-9433 USAF



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American F-86H Sabre, s/n 53-1230 USAF, c/n 203-2



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Northrop F-89J Scorpion, s/n 52-1927 USAF, c/n N4504



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed T-33A-5-LO Shooting Star, s/n 58-0629 USAF, c/n 580-1314



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Convair RB-36H Peacemaker, s/n 51-13730 USAF, c/n 275



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman HU-16B Albatross, s/n 51-7163 USAF, c/n G-213, c/r N70725



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Convair CV-240, c/r N280P



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle, s/n 74-0119 USAF, c/n 95/A080



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-4E Phantom II, s/n 66-0289 USAF, c/n 2310



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American F-100C Super Sabre, s/n 53-1709 USAF, c/n 214-1



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-101B Voodoo, s/n 57-0412 USAF, c/n 590



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Convair F-102A Delta Dagger, s/n 56-1413 USAF, c/n 8-10-360



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed F-104B Starfighter, s/n 57-1330 USAF, c/n 483-5042



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Republic F-105B Thunderchief, s/n 57-5837 USAF, c/n B074



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Convair F-106A Delta Dart, s/n 58-0793 USAF, c/n 155



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar, s/n 49-0199 USAF, c/n 10436, c/r N13744



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-54R Skymaster, s/n 90407 USN, c/n 27363, c/r N1057R



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-4L Skyhawk, s/n 149532 USN, c/n 12857



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman F-14D Tomcat, s/n 164601 USN, c/n 629/D-34



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - English Electric-Martin EB-57E, s/n 55-4253 USAF, c/n 355


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - General Dynamics F-111A, s/n 69-6507 USAF, c/n 69



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Mikoyan Gurevich-Shenyang F-4 Fresco (NATO), s/n 2705, c/r N1VC



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, s/n 55-3139 USAF, c/n 17255



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing B-47E Stratojet, s/n 52-0166 USAF, c/n 44020



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, s/n 56-0612 USAF, c/n 17295




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Chase Aircraft (Fairchild)-Fairchild C-123B-12-FA Provider, s/n 55-4512 USAF, c/n 20173



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas B-18 Bolo, s/n 37-0029 USAAF, c/n 1890, c/r N52056

There are two other airframes in the apparently in the collection which I did not see...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas RA-3B Skywarrior, s/n 144843 USN, c/n 12089, c/r N571HA
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Vought RF-8G Crusader, s/n 145607 USN, c/r N114NR
...so if anyone has photos of these, feel free to visit the dossiers for the upload links!

[mrhenniger]

About a 15 minute drive from Castle is Merced. I had not problem finding the T-33 there as it is prominently displayed out front at the airport.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Merced, California, United States - TV




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star, s/n 33850 USN, c/n 080-2083

[mrhenniger]

I was hoping for a good opportunity to view these aircraft, but it was not to be. I appears a proper parking lot is being built near the display site. All the construction really prevented me from getting decent pictures. Oh well, I am sure the next guy will have a much better time at it. It would have been nice to see the Mustang up closer though.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Fresno, California, United States - 7 airframes

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Photo - Convair F-102A Delta Dagger, s/n 53-1804


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Convair F-106A Delta Dart, s/n 59-0146, c/n 338


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star, s/n 52-9640 USAF, c/n 580-7825


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - McDonnell F-4D Phantom II, s/n 65-0588, c/n 1492


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang, s/n 44-73972 USAAF, c/n 122-40512


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American F-86A Sabre, s/n 49-1272, c/n 161-266


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - North American F-86L Sabre, s/n 53-0642, c/n 201-86

I apologize for the poor quality of these pics. They were taken with my point and shoot through the fence, so it was the best I could do.

[mrhenniger]

This place was one of the highlights of my day. I added this location to the Locator years ago. It is one of those olddly displayed aircraft on a roof. They don't get much more odd than this.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Quik Stop Mini-Mart - BT-13


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Vultee BT-13, c/r N57414

I have not been able to find out any information about this airframe. Civil registration N57414 doe not appear to exist. If anyone has any other ID information for this airframe or knows something about it's history please share! Post a reply here, or use the links in the airframe dossier to add some info.

[mrhenniger]

Heading due south I was going to Lemoore. The first stop was a park just north of the town.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Lemoore, California, United States - A-4


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas A-4B Skyhawk, s/n 139953, c/n 11318

Although I was not hopeful, I was crossing my figures I could find some publically displayed aircraft at the base. I continued south from the park along route 41. The layout of the area was changed since the last sat images on Google Earth. None of the displayed planes are even remotedly close to a public vantage point.

[mrhenniger]

I left Lemoore by heading due east along route 198. The intent was to get back to route 99 so I could continue south to Tularee. I missed by on ramp for route 99. As it turned out this was fortunate. Only seconds after I passed by route 99 I saw the tails of C-130 Hercs in what was possibly water bomber markings, so I made my way to the airport and found these...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Visalia, California, United States - C-130, C-130, C-130

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-130A Hercules, s/n 56-0531 USAF, c/n 3139, c/r NR531BA


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-130A Hercules, s/n 57-0479 USAF, c/n 3186, c/r N479TM


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Photo - Lockheed C-130A Hercules, s/n 57-0466 USAF, c/n 3173, c/r N466TM

[mrhenniger]

This was to be my last stop of the day. This is actually a really cool diner, and it appears to be the meeting place for a motorcyle club.
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aero Dogs - T-29



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Convair T-29A-CO Samaritan, s/n 50-0193 USAF, c/n 223, c/r N1184G

Unfortunately the place was closed. It would have been cool to see the inside of this place and have a dog and fries. Oh well.

[mrhenniger]

Due to getting through Castle much faster than planned and saving some time on my routes I arrived at my hotel about 3 1/2 hours sooner than planned. Still plenty of light for photography. The receptionist behind the desk was happy to cancel my reservation and rebook me for another hotel in their chain in Santa Maria. With the new reservation out of the way I was back on the road headed for the next location.

[mrhenniger]

Next to the Caruthers Valiant, this was another highlight of my day. I have been wanting to visit this B-17 for many years.


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Boeing DB-17G Fortress, s/n 44-85738 USAAF, c/n 8647

It certainly has seen better days. As a restoration project, it is more intact than other projects currently underway when compared to what they started with. Keep your fingers crossed. We may yet see this one go to a good home. Of course, there is another airframe displayed here...


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - McDonnell GF-4C Phantom II, s/n 64-0912 USAF, c/n 1368

[mrhenniger]

I left Tulare and headed south-east for Porterville. Finding the Huey in the park was no problem...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Veterans Monument - 205 / UH-1 Iroquois


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - 205 / UH-1 Iroquois

Identification of this airframe needed! I have not been able to find any published reports about the identification of this airframe. If anyone has an info to share please do!

[mrhenniger]

At this point I screwed up. I had been on the road for about 12 hours, photographing airplanes, I had skipped lunch and was starting to get a little punchy. I should have gone to photograph the A-4 at the airport in Porterville, but missed it an punched the coordinates for Minter Field into my GPS. Oh well, next time. I did find the minter field museum without any problems...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Minter Field Air Museum - 7 airframes


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed T-33A-5-LO Shooting Star, s/n 53-6001 USAF, c/n 580-9533


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky UH-34G Seahorse, s/n 140122, c/n 58-166


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Bell OH-58 Kiowa



URL=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=18539]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star, s/n 138995 USN, c/n 580-9211[/URL]



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Aermacchi MB-326, s/n 493, c/r N153TP

As you can see in these photos at this point the light was dying. I had one more stop to make, so I didn't waste any time.