Planning a Desert Odyssey (CA, AZ & NV)

[mrhenniger]

Thanks once again for all of the contributions. I appreciate the info.

you've got to hit kingman arizona!! man is that town steeped in aviation history!!

I have no doubt. I am aware of two places I could visit...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aero Flite - C-123, C-54
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Army Airfield Museum -
...is there anything I am missing you think I should visit?


I have reviewed the remaining legs of my trip and added more questions to the list. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

Mike



EDIT: The revised list has been moved to a more recent post.

Last edited by mrhenniger on Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:27 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[The Inspector]

You might want to look into the old George AFB in Victorville off I-15. Mostly soon to be beer cans L-1011's, DC8 freighters, and other old retired commercial stuff, but you never know---You'll have a tougher time @ Plant 42, still lots of military stuff goes on there, both U.S. and MAPS stuff and all the buildings are a fair distance off of the streets so you can't just drive up and nose around you're liable to meet a contractor or military security guards. Give Fox Field in Lancaster a look on your way to or from Mojave since it's just off Hwy 14.

[shrike]

Nothing left to see at Memorial outside of Chandler, and you'd have to know how to get there on the unmarked roads anyway.

The bus tours from Pima are weekday only, running on Air Force time with security hoops to jump through. If time is remotely an issue you should probably pass.

[cwmc]

There some PV-2's and a Howard 500 there.
Chris...

[mrhenniger]

There some PV-2's and a Howard 500 there.

Just to be clear... Where? Did you mean Chandler Memorial?

Mike

[16Right]

I just joined the group and I hope I am not too late to post to this thread.

Don't forget the Blackbird Park and Joe Davies Airpark, located at AF Plant 42 in Palmdale. I visited there last Friday and they have a really nice display of almost 20 aircraft. The Blackbird Park has a very rare D-21 drone on display, along with an SR-71, A-12, U-2 and an F-117A.

The adjoining Davies Airpark has the only B52F on display.

Here is the URL for the Davies Airpark: http://www.cityofpalmdale.org/airpark/

[mrhenniger]

You might want to look into the old George AFB in Victorville off I-15. Mostly soon to be beer cans L-1011's, DC8 freighters, and other old retired commercial stuff, but you never know.

Yep, ex-George AFB is in the Locator. I stopped by there in 2009. There wasn’t much I could see, except for a F-4 parked on the ramp. I was able to get a long-distance picture of it. It appeared to be a former display airframe. Can any of the other stuff be seen from public vantage points?

You'll have a tougher time @ Plant 42, still lots of military stuff goes on there, both U.S. and MAPS stuff and all the buildings are a fair distance off of the streets so you can't just drive up and nose around you're liable to meet a contractor or military security guards.

That is what I figured. I don’t think I will bother stopping by that day.

Give Fox Field in Lancaster a look on your way to or from Mojave since it's just off Hwy 14.

Already plan to. It is currently location #8 to visit that day.

Since you seem to be familiar with the greater Mojave area, I added another item to the list...

#33: There appears to be an interesting place near El Mirage...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aviation Warehouse - 120 airframes
...is it worth going out of my way to visit?

This place appears to be in the middle of no where south-east of Edwards. Can anything be seen from the road? The reason I ask is that Google Street View is not available in that area (no surprise).

Nothing left to see at Memorial outside of Chandler, and you'd have to know how to get there on the unmarked roads anyway.

There some PV-2's and a Howard 500 there.

I think I will assume for now there is still something there to see. I don’t go too far out of my way to visit the place, so not much to lose if I come up empty handed.

The bus tours from Pima are weekday only, running on Air Force time with security hoops to jump through. If time is remotely an issue you should probably pass.

That is what I figured, I just wanted someone more familiar to say so.

I just joined the group and I hope I am not too late to post to this thread.

Welcome to WIX! I am honoured your first post is in the thread I started.

Don't forget the Blackbird Park and Joe Davies Airpark, located at AF Plant 42 in Palmdale. I visited there last Friday and they have a really nice display of almost 20 aircraft. The Blackbird Park has a very rare D-21 drone on display, along with an SR-71, A-12, U-2 and an F-117A. The adjoining Davies Airpark has the only B52F on display.

Yep, I am very well aware of these two locations. Unfortunately they will not be open when I visit (only open on Fridays and the weekend if I remember correctly). I will have to setting for getting my pictures through the fence. If I remember correctly that is not too hard to do. Since you are new around here you may not have seen me post about the Locator. You may wish to check it out...
Aerial Visuals - Locator



I have revised my list of questions and moved it to this post (see below). As usual you guys have been a great help. Thanks in advance for any further assistance.

Mike



EDIT: The latest version of the list has been moved to a more recent post.

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

[shrike]

Memorial is at 33.24 North / 111.91 West right next to the Intel plant. The last of the DC-6's have been moved and/or scrapped (the nose of the African Queen is sitting at Falcon in Mesa.) It never was the easiest to get to, or tourist friendliest place. One of my last trips out there (on legitimate business I might add) led to the FBI being called. Granted being slightly swarthy, and at the time unshaven, probably had something to do with it.

On the northbound leg out of Tucson, you might want to add Marana to your list. Should still be an A-26, a pile of A-4's for future Op-For training, and all of the Beech Starships there are. Oh - but don't get the apple pie at the diner. Pie crust and tortillas share a lot of ingredients, but are NOT interchangeable.

[ZRX61]

#12: Somebody had/has some interesting stuff parked in a back yard out an Antelope Acres (Lancaster)...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Antelope Acres, Palmdale, California, United States - Prince, T-33, TS-11
...I saw a a TS-11 and a Percival Prince when I was there in May 2009. Anything new since then?

That's Franks place, all round good guy & local FAA DME etc. Can't find his dang phone #....

[mrhenniger]

On the northbound leg out of Tucson, you might want to add Marana to your list. Should still be an A-26, a pile of A-4's for future Op-For training, and all of the Beech Starships there are.

Actually I will be stopping by there on the inbound leg. Is is easy for the average joe to see anything?

Oh - but don't get the apple pie at the diner. Pie crust and tortillas share a lot of ingredients, but are NOT interchangeable.

All right then... avoid apple pie........ noted.

Mike

[C VEICH]

The Invader is still at Buckeye and, in fact, has been joined by most of fleet belonging to Hand Lauridsen which includes:

-Another Invader
-B-25 (Old Grey Mare)
-DC-3
-Grumman Trader
-C-119 Boxcar
-Trojan
-Texan
-Avenger

There could be others I'm forgetting. The first 5 on that list are outdoors and should be viewable any time. The others spend time in hangars and may or may not be viewable. Hans also has a PBY, Mig-15, and Mig-21 at Glendale airport which are all outside and easy to locate. Not too far down the road from Buckeye is Goodyear airport where you can see a DC-7C in storage amongst many other, more modern, airliners. I have been told this is the last remaining -7C retaining its original passenger interior. Of course, you won't get close enough to see said interior but it's supposedly in there! I can also direct you to a number of OV-1 Mohawk airframes in storage on a piece of private property near 91st Avenue and Glendale Road, just a hop, skip, and a jump down the street from Glendale airport.

[mrhenniger]

The Invader is still at Buckeye and, in fact, has been joined by most of fleet belonging to Hand Lauridsen which includes:

-Another Invader
-B-25 (Old Grey Mare)
-DC-3
-Grumman Trader
-C-119 Boxcar
-Trojan
-Texan
-Avenger

There could be others I'm forgetting. The first 5 on that list are outdoors and should be viewable any time. The others spend time in hangars and may or may not be viewable. Hans also has a PBY, Mig-15, and Mig-21 at Glendale airport which are all outside and easy to locate.

Good to hear. I am really looking forward to stopping by Buckeye.

Not too far down the road from Buckeye is Goodyear airport where you can see a DC-7C in storage amongst many other, more modern, airliners.

I am glad you mentioned this one. I have it in the Locator but for some reason I left it off the list of places to visit. I have taken care of that now!

can also direct you to a number of OV-1 Mohawk airframes in storage on a piece of private property near 91st Avenue and Glendale Road, just a hop, skip, and a jump down the street from Glendale airport.

Please tell me more! Can you give me some lat and lons? You could use this map...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/LocationDos ... 638#TheMap
...to pan and zoom to the location. Then just right click on the site to get the coordinates.

Thanks!

Mike

P.S. Does anyone know if El Centro NAF has a public museum yet? I thought I heard they were putting a collection together.

[C VEICH]

can also direct you to a number of OV-1 Mohawk airframes in storage on a piece of private property near 91st Avenue and Glendale Road, just a hop, skip, and a jump down the street from Glendale airport.

Please tell me more! Can you give me some lat and lons? You could use this map...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/LocationDos ... 638#TheMap
...to pan and zoom to the location. Then just right click on the site to get the coordinates.

33 30 52.39 N 112 15 19.93 W

[mrhenniger]

33 30 52.39 N 112 15 19.93 W

OK, I know the location now. I already have it on my radar. I hope to be able to stop by.

Mike

[RareBear]

Mike,

The DC-7C at Goodyear used to be on the ramp at the NE corner of the field, easily visible from the road. However, they have moved it out into the scrub on the west side of the field, and I can't see any way to get to it without going on airport property. If you can find somepone to take you out to it that would be great - otherwise it appears too far from any access points to get a photo, even with a long lens.

(Just noticed the Locator has it marked correctly. It's a good ways from any access point)

Walt