The Desert Odyssey in Photos – All Good Things...

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:14 pm

It didn’t take me long to get from Tehachapi to California City...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - California City Municipal Airport, California City, California, United States - 10 airframes
...which is just north of Edwards AFB. I was expecting to see the C-131 and DC-3, but there were a few bonus airframes on the ramp including a highly polished C-60. It looked fantastic.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - HC-131A Samaritan, s/n 430022 MASDC, c/r NX54215

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - CM-170R Magister, s/n 355 ALA, c/n 355, c/r NX355F

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - MH-1521M, c/n 23, c/r NX315XB

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - CM-170R Magister, s/n 197 ALA, c/n 197, c/r NX315VB

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - R4D-1 Skytrain [DC-3], s/n 01977 USN, c/n 4433, c/r N193DP

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-60A-5-LO Lodestar, s/n 42-56036 USAAF, c/n 18-2509, c/r N1940S

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:18 pm

From California City it was only about a ½ hour drive south to the North Gate of Edwards AFB...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Edwards AFB - North Gate, Palmdale, California, United States - B-52
...I had stopped here in 2009, but the whole area was under construction and stopping to get a picture was not an option. This time I was able to take advantage of a parking lot so I could get a few shots. I am posting one here.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - NB-52B Stratofortress, s/n 008 NASA

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:19 pm

I next drove due west of Edwards AFB to get to Mojave. The first thing I was able to spot were a “new” batch of F-4s parked on the BAE ramp...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - BAE Systems Inc. - 10 airframes
You can’t see any part of this ramp from the airport grounds, so I stopped along side the highway rolled the window down on the passenger side and snapped a few shots. These were very long distance pictures and the results were not good. Here is one that turned out...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - RF-4C-35-MC Phantom II, s/n FP0676 AMARC

There were three others on the ramp for those of you who keep up on F-4 serials...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - RF-4C-37-MC Phantom II, s/n FP0884 AMARC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - RF-4C-38-MC Phantom II, s/n FP0877 AMARC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - RF-4C-53-MC Phantom II, s/n FP0882 AMARC

On the airport grounds the National Test Pilot school...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - National Test Pilot School - 30 airframes
... has a compound with some stored airframes...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - MB-326, s/n 462 SAAF, c/n 105/6335, c/r N174TP

Nearby in another compound is a C-130 fuselage...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - JC-130A Hercules, s/n 54-1639 USAF, c/n 182-3026

There are also some interesting airframes parked on the ramp...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - An-2R, c/n 1G17816, c/r N91292

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Lim-2, s/n 2266 Polish AF, c/n 242266, c/r N41125

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - RF35 Draken, s/n AR-119 AR-119 RDAF, c/n 35-1119, c/r NX119XD

You can see the smoke from the Tehachapi fire in the sky in the background in this last shot.

There were other interesting things to see at Mojave, but I photographed all of them during my visit in 2009, so I continued on.

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:20 pm

I headed south of Mojave towards Lancaster. My next stop was a residential community west of Lancaster in the desert, known as Antelope Acres. One of the residents has a number of interesting things parked in his yard...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Antelope Acres, Palmdale, California, United States - Prince, T-33, TS-11

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Prince 2A [P-50], c/n P50/10, c/r N206UP

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - TS-11 Iskra, s/n 515 Polish AF, c/n 1H-0515

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - T-33B Shooting Star, s/n JE-017 FAM, c/n 580-5223, c/r NX651

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:20 pm

Now at this point it was getting to be fairly late in the day. The sun was getting ready to set, but I figured I had time to at least check out Fox Field...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier – Fox Field
... I was thinking I might be able to see a CM-170 parked on the ramp. The smoke plume from the Tehachapi fire was huge. Earlier in the day I noticed there were no S-2s on the ramp at Porterville. You might think I would put it together before now, but no. I found the CDF Trackers, and the Neptunes operating out of Fox Field for drops on the nearby mountain! I had some fantastic opportunities for pictures I have never had before. This was the first time I saw a Neptune fly, and one flew over me at one point. Very cool!

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker, s/n 1S0241 MASDC, c/n 123C, c/r N437DF

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker, s/n 2S0338 MASDC, c/n 187C, c/r N444DF {2}

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - S-2G Tracker, s/n N12-152337 RAAN, c/n 224C, c/r N436DF {4}

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker, s/n 1S0569 MASDC, c/n 232C, c/r NR445DF {2}

You might remember I spotted this one at Hollister in the fog of the early morning that day...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker, s/n 1S0558 MASDC, c/n 329C, c/r NR435DF

This Neptune was actually static while I was there...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SP-2E Neptune, s/n 131459 USN, c/n 5340, c/r NR96278

This Neptune was most definitely not static...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SP-2H Neptune, s/n 145906 USN, c/n 726-7168, c/r N443NA

So that was it for the day. I thought of looking for the Skyrocket at the College, but there just would not be enough light anyway. I called it a day. The next day there would be a few more pictures in the greater Mojave area then off to Los Angeles.

I am working on Day 2 pictures now. I’ll be posting again, likely in the next week or so.

JohnB · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:49 pm

Nice photos, looks like youn had a great trip. but allow me a correction.
The "H-12" in the first photos is a UH-12...that's the official Hiller model number. Unlike a military designation, the "U" has to be there.
It's military designation was H-23...or post-1963, specifically a OH-23 with the "Observation" prefix.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:33 pm

That 'pushmepullyou' 337 (N2283X) is ROBERTSON STOL modified (leading edge cuff, stall fences. booms to verticals upper and lower fairings) and appears to have had a gear pump issue as normally the gear doors close @ the end of the gear cycle and only stayed opened if you had to run the gear down on Norwegian steam (hand pump lever).
I hated modding them as they were labor intensive with many opportunities to lay open your forearms on the jagged edged access cutouts in the wing and rear spar, and because of the relative height of the wings every work step in the wings was either not quite two but a bit more than one step up a short ladder, or as we'd say 'another excellent design feature from CESSNAS ergonomics design studios'
It would be interesting to find out if it was done in Renton or by us in Noo Awlunz. :roll:

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:01 pm

Thanks for the trip posting Mike, nice to see what's still around down south, having not been through those areas in a few years. Looking forward to your next posting.

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:39 pm

Baugher via Aircraft Serial Number Search has this description of the T-33:

"(50-)370 (c/n 580-5223) to Netherlands as M-49. Now at Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, CA with civil
registration N651"

Location needs to be updated, of course - you have it listed as JE-017 FAM (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, right?) So I guess it went from the USA to Holland to Mexico and back here. Anyone know when it last flew?

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:31 am

JohnB wrote:

Nice photos, looks like you had a great trip. but allow me a correction.
The "H-12" in the first photos is a UH-12...that's the official Hiller model number. Unlike a military designation, the "U" has to be there.
It's military designation was H-23...or post-1963, specifically a OH-23 with the "Observation" prefix.

I corrected the text. Thanks for correcting me!

Chris Brame wrote:

Baugher via Aircraft Serial Number Search has this description of the T-33:
"(50-)370 (c/n 580-5223) to Netherlands as M-49. Now at Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, CA with civil
registration N651"
Location needs to be updated, of course - you have it listed as JE-017 FAM (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, right?) So I guess it went from the USA to Holland to Mexico and back here.

Actually, I provided a link into the airframe dossier for this one just above the pictures. Reposting here and if you click on it...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Antelope Acres, Palmdale, California, United States - Prince, T-33, TS-11
...you will see in the notes it returned to the USA circa 1972. I assume it went to Mexico shortly after. I likely got a picture of it at the Museum of Flying when I visited there in the 1997. I’ll check and upload a picture from then if I have one.

Roger Cain wrote:

Thanks for the trip posting Mike, nice to see what's still around down south, having not been through those areas in a few years.

You are welcome sir!

Roger Cain wrote:

Looking forward to your next posting.

Ask for and you shall receive! :-)

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:33 am

The journey continues! To view my route for this day go to...

Aerial Visuals – Trip Tool – Desert Odyssey, Mojave to Los Angeles

If you would just like to kick back and relax you can watch a slideshow of the pictures I took that day here...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Gallery Slide Show - Desert Odyssey, Mojave to Los Angeles

I slept in the on Day 2 of the Odyssey. I got up and on the road at 6 AM (after day 1 6 AM is sleeping in late). I found a gas station and filled up the car. It was then I noticed the fires had progressed well down the south side of the mountain and were nearly to the desert floor. The Tehachapi fire had become the Mojave fire. I hoped no-one had lost their home, but the fire had covered much ground. I figured if I didn’t waste any time I could make a few stops for photos and go back to Fox Field for some more air tanker action once the sun was fully up. Back on the road then!

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:33 am

My first stop was just outside of Lake Los Angeles. To get there you go to Palmdale then head due east. You go well out into the desert, and just when you think you have gone far enough into the middle of no where go a bit further. I was looking for a cockpit section. I found it stored in a yard here...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Lake Los Angeles, California, United States - Avro 707

I have no idea what airframe this nose section once belonged to. It might be from a 707, or perhaps a 727...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - 707

...it is marked 5896 on the port side, but I can’t tell if this part of any relevant manufacturer construction number or military serial number. Can anyone here tell me more about this artefact?

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:34 am

I continued a bit further east into the middle of no where to get to El Mirage. Actually this place really can’t be classified as the middle of no where as it is home to a General Atomics Airfield! I had no idea until I got to this place...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aviation Warehouse - 140 airframes
...which is just outside the General Atomics main gate. The Aviation Warehouse is a cool place. It appears they specialize in used parts, but may also supply aircraft sections for movie work. There were a few sections in Pan Am markings. I would have asked to take a tour of the place, but it was 7 AM on Labour Day morning, so I didn’t bother to knock on any doors. I was able to get a number of pictures, so here they are...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - 25B Learjet, c/n 202, c/r N343CA

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - 18

If anyone knows which Beech 18 this one is please let me know! I have asked Bob Parmerter, the Beech 18 guru and even he does not know. It may be one of these, a list I got from Andy Marden’s book...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SNB-5 Expeditor, s/n 23804 USN

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SNB-5 Expeditor, s/n 39768 USN, c/r N90232

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - JRB-6 Expeditor [18], s/n 39957 USN, c/r N86497

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - HH-3F Sea King, s/n 440022 AMARC, c/n 61-665

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - KC-97G-21-BO Stratotanker, s/n CH0608 MASDC, c/n 16527, c/r N4547W

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - AH-64A Apache

If anyone can tell me anything more about this piece please let me know!

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-4 Phantom II

If anyone can tell me anything more about this Phantom please let me know! I am assuming it was a movie prop and the marking “409” has nothing to do with the true ID.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Mi-24V, s/n yellow 03 VVS, c/n 3532424810853

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-130 Hercules

I doubt the sections of this C-130 came from the same airframe, but if anyone can ID the nose section that would be fantastic. Joe Baugher’s lists seem to indicate to me it is C-130H-LM
73-1597, but I would like to confirm.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Pembroke C.51 [P-66], s/n RM11 FABCA, c/n P.66/32, c/r N51970

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:34 am

I stopped here...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42 - 10 airframes
...I had visited here in 2009 and took a number of pictures through the fence. This time I only bothered to photographed what appeared new to the collection or perhaps had received new paint since my last visit.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - B-52F-105-BO Stratofortress, s/n 57-0038 USAF, c/n 17432

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-46D-15-CU Commando, s/n 44-78019 USAAF, c/n 33415

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-14D-170-GR Tomcat, s/n 164350 USN, c/n 625/D-30

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-104C Starfighter, s/n 57-0915 USAF, c/n 383-1232

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - L-1329, s/n 814 NASA, c/n 5003, c/r N814NA

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-4D-28-MC Phantom II, s/n 65-0696 USAF, c/n 1735, c/r N402AV

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-5E Tiger II, s/n 741529 USN, c/n R.1187

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - T-38A-50-NO Talon, s/n 63-8182 USAF, c/n N.5529