Electra L-188A coming to Air Spray soon!!

[zorro7]

L-188 Folls:

Pictured below is the latest addition to the AirSpray Folks inventory of L-188s.

An X AA N6106A now registered as C-GNPB has been under heavy maintenace at Toncontin, Honduras since Sept-2011. All the Allisons are cranking/warming up for the ferry trip N of the border. There were some taxi runs/turns yesterday in preparation for the ferry trip to Canada.

It may use S. Fla or Houston Area for a re-fueling stop. We ask the spotters in those areas to keep an eye for this fine bird since it has been on outside storage for the last 13 yrs. Good Job AirSpray!... & blue skies up north with your fine flying machine!! Photo G/Air Oct 2011.




Video link:------> http://www.pista01.com/index.php?option ... mitstart=6

Last edited by zorro7 on Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:14 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[Tanker 336]

Thanks for the info. I've always liked the Electra ever since I had my first ride back in 1978 with Pacific Western Airlines. It seems Buffalo Airways and Airspray are two companies that are really relying on these old birds. I guess it's an upgrade from DC-3s/DC-4s and A-26 Invaders. I believe Buffalo Joe has four Electras now and I can't remember how many Airspray has (six or eight?) It's great to see these old 1957 birds still being put to good use. However, when companies keep restoring the current aircraft inventory, it's just another reason why it's cost prohibitive for companies to design and build new ones. Even Viking Air knew enough to build new old design aircraft (DHC-6 Twin Otter) rather than risking a new design.

While not a warbird (probably belongs in "Vintage Aviation" sub forum), the Lockheed L-188A Electra II is a cool aircraft and it nice to see one of these continue to work and fly.

[Invader26]

The Electra is a warbird. Used by Argentina Navy during Falklands campaign for maritime patrol and ELINT.


users:
Military operators
Argentina
Argentine Naval Aviation
Bolivia
Bolivian Air Force
Ecuador
TAME
Honduras
Honduran Air Force - one 188A from 1979
Mexico
Mexican Air Force - one 188A from 1978 to 1987.
Panama
Panamanian Air Force - One 188C from 1973 to 1984.

[Speedy]

Yup, I agree. The Electra is definitely a 'warbird' because of it's use by various militaries around the second and third world countries....the 'distant relative' to the Mighty Orion.

[andyman64]

is it possible that our fore fathers did such a great job designing the aircraft of the past that they can,t be improved upon? i don,t think the acountants would allow the aircraft to be built as hearty as they were in the 40,s 50,s and 60,s

[jaldo]

It wasn't mentioned in the original post that this aircraft was sold by the Honduras Air Force (FAH-555),and as shown in the picure,it still has the military colors and will be flown north with such.

[Invader26]

[*]the 'distant relative' to the Mighty Orion.

It is the father [or mother] of the Orion...

[Tanker 336]

Here's another picture of FAH-555 I found on the net.

The Electra is a warbird. Used by Argentina Navy during Falklands campaign for maritime patrol and ELINT.

Okay, I apologize and stand corrected. I agree that any aircraft that has flown in any military service anywhere (whether in a shooting war or not) is a warbird.

The only distinction I would make is that if an aircraft was built for civilian service (such as a Convair 340 built and only used as an airliner or civilian cargo aircraft, etc.) is not a warbird, while a Convair 340 built as a C-131 is a warbird.

The Electra is one of those types where I don't know if any of them were actually originally built as military transports or special purpose aircraft, but were later adopted by some foreign military services (again I will stand corrected if wrong). So I would say in the case of the Electra some are warbirds and some are not - I am not sure if everyone agrees with this distinction.

[Invader26]

Sort of agree. However, for example the RAAF operated CV440's, Viscounts, BAC 1-11 and Falcon [Mystere] 20's, BBJ's, B707's....

Many King Air 200/350 are operated by militaries vs. US C-12 types. Metro's are C-26 plus Merlin's in Belgium/Argentine AF etc etc...

The Thai operate one of everything....

[WallyB]

All Electras were built for the civilian market, the military airframes all being second-hand acquisitions.

Warbird or not, it's one of my favorite types and I'll discuss it whatever forum it ends up in.
Don't you just love smoky airplanes ?

Here's all the current Canadian ones (with registration dates):

1 C-FBAQ Lockheed 188A 1039 Buffalo Airways Ltd 2007-07-03
2 C-FIJV Lockheed 188C 1140 Buffalo Airways Ltd 2011-05-27
3 C-FIJX Lockheed 188C 2010 Buffalo Airways Ltd 2010-08-05
4 C-FLJO Lockheed 188C 1103 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2006-11-07
5 C-FLXT Lockheed 188C 1130 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2006-12-14
6 C-FVFH Lockheed 188A 1006 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 1995-06-19
7 C-FVFI Lockheed 188C 1082 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 1995-08-03
8 C-FYYJ Lockheed 188A 1143 Conair Group Inc. 2010-03-16
9 C-FZCS Lockheed 188A 1060 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2000-03-14
10 C-GFQA Lockheed 188A 1040 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 1999-11-30
11 C-GHZI Lockheed 188C 2007 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2001-06-12
12 C-GJTZ Lockheed 188C 1133 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2010-12-13
13 C-GKIL Lockheed 188A 1038 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2011-02-02
14 C-GLBA Lockheed 188A 1145 Buffalo Airways Ltd 2007-07-03
15 C-GNPB Lockheed 188A 1028 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2011-10-25
16 C-GYCG Lockheed 188C 1138 Conair Group Inc. 2010-10-08
17 C-GYVI Lockheed 188C 1112 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2003-09-18
18 C-GZCF Lockheed 188C 1091 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2003-05-30
19 C-GZVM Lockheed 188A 1036 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2003-03-26
20 C-GZYH Lockheed 188A 1124 Air Spray (1967) Ltd 2002-10-25

There are also a couple more in Canada which have yet to be registered (spares use only ?).

[Tanker 336]

I believe Buffalo Joe has four Electras now and I can't remember how many Airspray has (six or eight?)

Thanks for the info. I stand corrected, Buffalo has 4 but Airspray has 14 (wow!) I knew they got several from Africa but didn't realize they had that many. They could start their own Air Force...lol

[Tanker 336]

For those who are interested I attached a couple of You Tube videos of Airspray's Electras in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxEChbaB ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYTPLpMfgjc

[Speedy]

For those who are interested I attached a couple of You Tube videos of Airspray's Electras in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxEChbaB ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYTPLpMfgjc

Sumthin funny about that thar P-3!