Planning a Desert Odyssey (CA, AZ & NV)

[mrhenniger]

Thanks Walt. I'll keep that in mind. Even a poor photo is better than no photo, however, it time is tight that day I may skip it.

Mike

[jdvoss]

To interject a bit of variety to your trip I might suggest that you check some of the many WWII era abandoned training airfields in AZ. There's lots of them in the area.
see http://www.airfields-freeman.com Also if you find yourself near Chandler AZ and are in the need of food check this restaurant http://www.heartattackgrill.com

John

[Ryan Keough]

To interject a bit of variety to your trip I might suggest that you check some of the many WWII era abandoned training airfields in AZ. There's lots of them in the area.
see http://www.airfields-freeman.com Also if you find yourself near Chandler AZ and are in the need of food check this restaurant http://www.heartattackgrill.com

John

Heart Attack Grill closed due to some problems between the owner and the shopping complex they are in... it wasn't really that great in the last year anyhow.

Mike - Most of the stuff at Coolidge is pretty accessible to the general public... the C-130's and the DC-7B are on the ramp and there is usually not much going on during the weekdays. You might want to email Charlie Recker at Coolidge Aviation ( http://www.coolidgeaviation.com/ )to see if he might be able to help you with connecting with some of the warbird owners in the condo hangars. The main hangar is really quite cool... original WWII vintage as is most of the airport. It's a tough airport to find as it feels you're going further into the middle of nowhere before you actually come across it.

Chandler Memorial is pretty much a no-go these days... Tribal Police regularly linger in the area and they will intercept you if you try to go in... it's about a mile drive down a very rugged and dusty dirt (more like powdered dirt) road. You can see cars coming in from half way across the valley... and there's only the four C-54s, the DC-6, and the Howard 500 out there. Nothing much has changed since the last photos I took two years back.

There is the highly modified, ex-Garrett AiResearch A-26 on static display at South Mountain High School in South Phoenix. The only remote chance of seeing it is during the week if the aviation tech teachers are in... the campus is locked up tight on weekends. I could see what I can do about getting access to it for you... I haven't even had the chance to see it and I only work a few miles away from it. I'll email you as I really hope I am in town when you come through the area!

Thanks,
Ryan

[Matt Gunsch]

I live 2 miles south of the Mohawks, and work across the ramp from the DC-7. When you enter the Goodyear airport, the 2 large hangars are from WWII, and the red brick buildings to the right are also from WWII. They are used to house the students from Oxford Aviation Academy.

Oh and Hans has nothing to do with the MiGs at Glendale. I saw the photos of his planes at Buckeye and the condition of them was appalling, I am glad I no longer have anything to do with them.

[mrhenniger]

To interject a bit of variety to your trip I might suggest that you check some of the many WWII era abandoned training airfields in AZ. There's lots of them in the area.
see http://www.airfields-freeman.com

I’ll keep that site in mind as a reference. However, as it looks now, I will be busy going from dawn to dusk for about a weeking hunting airplanes. I won’t have much spare time for a change of pace.

Also if you find yourself near Chandler AZ and are in the need of food check this restaurant http://www.heartattackgrill.com

Heart Attack Grill closed due to some problems between the owner and the shopping complex they are in... it wasn't really that great in the last year anyhow.

Too bad. Likely for the better. The last thing I want is to be making a visit to an emergency room.

Most of the stuff at Coolidge is pretty accessible to the general public... the C-130's and the DC-7B are on the ramp and there is usually not much going on during the weekdays. You might want to email Charlie Recker at Coolidge Aviation ( http://www.coolidgeaviation.com/ )to see if he might be able to help you with connecting with some of the warbird owners in the condo hangars. The main hangar is really quite cool... original WWII vintage as is most of the airport. It's a tough airport to find as it feels you're going further into the middle of nowhere before you actually come across it.

I will be coming equipped with a GPS for sure. I’ll keep Mr. Recker in mind. I just may send him a note.

Chandler Memorial is pretty much a no-go these days... Tribal Police regularly linger in the area and they will intercept you if you try to go in... it's about a mile drive down a very rugged and dusty dirt (more like powdered dirt) road. You can see cars coming in from half way across the valley... and there's only the four C-54s, the DC-6, and the Howard 500 out there. Nothing much has changed since the last photos I took two years back.

That is good to know. I think I will demote the site from an objective to visit to a point of interest. There are other sites I would like to visit.

There is the highly modified, ex-Garrett AiResearch A-26 on static display at South Mountain High School in South Phoenix. The only remote chance of seeing it is during the week if the aviation tech teachers are in... the campus is locked up tight on weekends. I could see what I can do about getting access to it for you... I haven't even had the chance to see it and I only work a few miles away from it.

That is one I would like to visit. I like the Invaders. I didn’t add it to the list as an objective since it appear to be locked up tight well away from the eyes of the public. I’ll reply to your email tonight Ryan.

I live 2 miles south of the Mohawks, and work across the ramp from the DC-7. When you enter the Goodyear airport, the 2 large hangars are from WWII, and the red brick buildings to the right are also from WWII. They are used to house the students from Oxford Aviation Academy.

Could you take a look at this map...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Goodyear Field / Litchfield Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, United States - DC-7
...and let me know if Site A is the best place to view the DC-7? Perhaps I should try to take a long distance picture of it from the end of W Central Ave on the south-east side of the airport? I suppose what is really comes down to is sun position and the time of the day.


I have moved the revised list to below. As usual you guys have been a great help. Thanks in advance for any further assistance.

Mike



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

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Matt Gunsch]

The DC-7 is located on the North end of the airport, you should be able to get some shots of it from Yuma Rd/Western Ave, between Litchfield and Bullard Rd. Where I am is the hangar located at the 7s 1 o clock, across the runway. All the buildings located north of Central are part of the company I work for, as is all the ramp space at the north end of the airport.

[airnutz]

Did Quartzsite, Ariz. fit in with any of your plans Mike? Hadn't noticed it in the itenerary. Drone on a tracked vehicle, F9F photo bird, coupla F-4 recon prototypes on public display(IIRC). F9F, drone, WASPmuseum(.com) contact at Desert Gardens Mobile Home and Classic cars....

[mrhenniger]

Did Quartzsite, Ariz. fit in with any of your plans Mike? Hadn't noticed it in the itenerary.

Actually the list I keep posting here isn't actually the itenerary, but rather a list of gaps and questions about some of the places I could visit. Some include places I am planning to visit, but I am looking to see if I should drop them in favor of stopping at another location.

Drone on a tracked vehicle, F9F photo bird, coupla F-4 recon prototypes on public display(IIRC). F9F, drone, WASPmuseum(.com) contact at Desert Gardens Mobile Home and Classic cars....

I am most certainly aware of Quartzsite...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Quartzsite, Arizona, United States - F-4, F-4
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - WASP Museum - AT-11, F-9, H-25, U-8
...but the problem is Quartzsite is on the I-10 and I will be headed east on the I-8. It looks like the driving time between Yuma and Quartzsite is about 2 hours. It looks like the only way I could do it is if I am WAAAAAYYYYYY ahead of schedule on my leg into AZ from San Diego. I would really like to visit the place though. It is worth it just for the F9F. There are not too many of those displayed compared the F-4s.

Mike

[airnutz]

I would really like to visit the place though. It is worth it just for the F9F.

Thanks Mike. Maybe so, dunno, I haven't seen any fresh photos of the F9F since he won his legal fight with the Navy and the Panther was returned. I've never seen photos of the WASP museum aircraft or the contents of the museum being discussed. Their website is not well kept and has some holes in it these days so I dunno. Your consololation prize for as far out of your way you'd be may be some neat rockhound schtufff and 110+ degree baking.

A current photo of the drone and track, 2/3'ds of the way down. Note strap over top which wasn't there 10 or so years ago which led to the damage seen from its last flight during high wind conditions....
http://garrettero.blogspot.com/2011/03/ ... zsite.html

[C VEICH]

I'd double check Quartzite before making any plans to go there. I have been through there several times in the last couple of years and have not seen the F9F. It is either gone completely or has been moved to a point where it is not easily spotted from the freeway.

My old high school in Avondale, AZ (Agua Fria Union) used to have a T-33 on display in the ROTC compound. However, a quick look around with Google Earth did not spot it on the premises any longer. Anybody (Matt?) know where it might have gone too? It was there relatively recently, say in the last five years or so. Hope it didn't get scrapped!

[airnutz]

I'd double check Quartzite before making any plans to go there. I have been through there several times in the last couple of years and have not seen the F9F. It is either gone completely or has been moved to a point where it is not easily spotted from the freeway.

Yep, at one time it was south of I-10 but as you see by Mikes google earth link it's north now and I presume at the museum. Anywho, if he contacts Mr. Richard Oldham at http://www.desertgardenscars.com or look up the phone#(contact link didn't work for me) on the web for the sales lot he can get the skinny for his records or interest.(Mike had a few "MAYS" in his data for WASP museum page.)

[mrhenniger]

Thanks Gents. I'll keep this good info in mind.

Mike

[airnutz]

Your consololation prize for as far out of your way you'd be may be some neat rockhound schtufff and 110+ degree baking.

Oh yeah, forget to mention the rare book store owned by this eccentric chap....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euXbjdDp ... ed=related

[mrhenniger]

Your consololation prize for as far out of your way you'd be may be some neat rockhound schtufff and 110+ degree baking.

Oh yeah, forget to mention the rare book store owned by this eccentric chap....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euXbjdDp ... ed=related

I am speachless. I may need therapy after watching that.


This post is really just a shameless bump back to the top. I leave for the west coast next week, and the tour will start early in the following week. I was hoping, although it may be a long shot, that a few of you could answer some of my remaining questions (see below). I will likely start printing off my route and maps today so I am ready for my road trip.

Regards,

Mike



Note: The order of the questions does not indicate the order in which I am planning to visit locations, or even if I am planning to visit.

In and around San Francisco...
#3: Can anything interesting be seen at the Lampson Airport in Lakeport, CA?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Airpower Inc, Lakeport, CA - 6 airframes

#8: Are any of the airframes at the College of Alameda Aviation Maintenance Facility in view from a public vantage point?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - College of Alameda - Aviation Maintenance Facility - E-14, H-13, Saeta, T-33, TS-11

San Francisco to Mojave leg...
#5: I hope to return to Fresno to get pictures of the displayed aircraft there...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - California ANG - 144th Fighter Wing, Fresno, California, United States - 7 airframes
Last year it appeared they were building a new parking lot in front of the aircraft. Is construction complete yet? Do they allow visitors to take photos of the displayed aircraft?

Mojave to LA leg...
#10: Century Circle at Edwards...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Century Circle - 7 airframes
The last time I was there they had the following on display: F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, F-105, F-106 and a C-15. Has anything been added since then?

#11: There is lots of stuff to see at Mojave...
Aerial Visuals Locator Search - Mojave
...am I missing anything? I will of course cruise around to see what can be seen, but if anyone can forewarn me so I make sure I don't overlook something that would be great.

#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?

#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?

#14: There may be some A-4s stored in North Hollywood...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States - A-4, A-4, A-4, A-7, TA-4 (forward fuselage)
...Has anyone seen them?

LA to San Diego leg...
#15: Has anyone visited Los Alamitos AAF...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Los Alamitos AAF, Long Beach, California, United States - AH-1, AH-1, UH-1, UH-1
Do they allow photography of the helos displayed at the gate?

#16: At Long Beach...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Catalina Flying Boats - DC-3, DC-3, HU-16
...is there anything still parked on the ramp here of any interest?

#17: I can't tell from Google Street View... At the American Military Museum in El Monte is it possible to see the UH-1 from outside the fence when the museum is closed? The reason I ask
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - American Military Museum - UH-1

#18: Is this DC-3...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-47B-40-DK [DC-3], s/n 44-77237 USAAF, c/n 33569, c/r N103NA
...regularly parked at the Flabob Airport here?...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Flabob Airport, Riverside, California, United States - DC-3

#19: Is it possible to spot Heliflite aircraft at Riverside MAP?...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Heli-Flite - H-34, H-34, S-58

San Diego to Yuma leg...
#20: I am having problems getting to the website of the Warbirds West Air Musuem...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Warbirds West Air Museum - AD-1H, L-17, L-29C, MiG-21, O-2A, T-28C, T-34A
Has anyone visited this museum before? Do they exist? Do I have the marker in the correct location? What are their operating hours?

#21: Is there a public accessible museum at El Centro NAF or near-by?

Yuma to Tucson leg...
#22: Is there still a Lodestar at the airport in Eloy?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Eloy Municipal Airport, Eloy, Arizona, United States - 9 airframes

#23: Are there still tankers or amphibs parked at the Pinal Air Park?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Chalks - 6 airframes

Tucson to Casa Grande leg...
#24: Are there any F-105s stored near this location in Tucson?...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Davis-Monthan AFB (West Side), Tucson, Arizona, United States - F-105 x3

#25: Does anyone have any tips for viewing aircraft/hulks in the yards of contractors near DM?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aircraft Restoration and Marketing - 100 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Jacks Government Surplus Storage Site - 110 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - K-Tech Aviation (formerly) - H-34
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Western International - 40 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - United Aeronautical Corporation - 120 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Specialized Aircraft Maintenance - 10 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Minden Corp. - 7 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - National / Southwest Alloys - 40 airframes

Casa Grande to Prescott leg...
#29: Is there still an A-26 parked out front at Buckeye?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Buckeye Municipal Airport, Buckeye, Arizona, United States - A-26

Prescott to Reno leg...
#31: I could use some help locating an A-7 near Indian Springs...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Indian Springs, Nevada, United States - A-7

#32: Does anyone know if there is a F-111, F-117 and/or F-16 displayed near Tonopah?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Tonopah, Nevada, United States - F-111, F-117, F-16

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[jamesintucson]

Tucson to Casa Grande leg...
#24: Are there any F-105s stored near this location in Tucson?...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Davis-Monthan AFB (West Side), Tucson, Arizona, United States - F-105 x3

#25: Does anyone have any tips for viewing aircraft/hulks in the yards of contractors near DM?
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aircraft Restoration and Marketing - 100 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Jacks Government Surplus Storage Site - 110 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - K-Tech Aviation (formerly) - H-34
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Western International - 40 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - United Aeronautical Corporation - 120 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Specialized Aircraft Maintenance - 10 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Minden Corp. - 7 airframes
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - National / Southwest Alloys - 40 airframes

#24 -- There are no F-105s at that location. Never have been any as far as I know.

#25 -- Don't bother with National. They are going out of business and all the airframes have been scrapped other than part of a C-119 they haven't finished off yet. Also there are no aircraft at K-Tech just cars. The scrap yards usually don't welcome visitors who aren't buying. Stay outside the fences and don't hang around for more than a few minutes and you may be OK but don't be surprised if you are told to go away.

James