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

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:14 pm

I couldn’t sleep in this day. I was on the road at the crack of down since it was going to take an hour to get to my first stop for the day...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Gila Bend Municipal Airport, Gila Bend, Arizona, United States - F-101 x2
...The sun was still low by the time I got there, but I managed to get a few decent shots.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - RF-101C-75-MC Voodoo, s/n 56-0130 USAF, c/n 385

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - RF-101C-70-MC Voodoo, s/n 56-0112 USAF, c/n 352

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:14 pm

From Gila Bend I headed east to Eloy on the hunt for a Lodestar which I managed to find at the airport...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Eloy Municipal Airport, Eloy, Arizona, United States - 10 airframes
...but unfortunately I could only get one angle to shoot it.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - R5O-5 Lodestar, s/n 12474 USN, c/n 2404, c/r N631LS

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:14 pm

From Eloy I headed southeast along the I-10 to Marana. Marana is THE place for interesting A-4 Skyhawk stuff, starting with Fighting Classics...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Fighting Classics - 20 airframes

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4B Skyhawk, s/n 3A0104 MASDC, c/n 11766

[url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=54554]

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4C Skyhawk, s/n 3A319 MASDC, c/n 12783[/url]

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4L Skyhawk, s/n 3A441 MASDC, c/n 12439

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4L Skyhawk, s/n 3A0412 MASDC, c/n 12827, c/r N219AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - CH-21B Work Horse [42], s/n 52-8693 USAF, c/n B.55

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-8D Crusader, s/n 147070 USN

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-8D Crusader, s/n 148689 USN

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4 Skyhawk
I AM LOOKING FOR ID INFO FOR THIS SKYHAWK. CAN YOU HELP?

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Photo - A-4 Skyhawk
I AM LOOKING FOR ID INFO FOR THIS SKYHAWK. CAN YOU HELP?

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:15 pm

The next stop was just north of Fighting Classics on the same side of the airport. I didn’t know there was a jump school there...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Jump School - An-2
...and I was surprised to see an An-2 parked on the ramp. I was trying to get a few shots through the fence when an attendant offered to let me on the ramp so I could get a better shot. I couldn’t say no! :-)

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - An-2, c/n 1G22331, c/r N87AN

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:16 pm

The next stop was simply next-door. The gent from the jump school took me on a tour along the ramp to view a number of aircraft in storage. It is my understanding they are stored with an organization called Central Air Service...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Central Air Service - 8 airframes
...although I didn’t see an office or any hangars. This stop was one of the highlights of my trip as the aircraft parked there are very interesting and photographed very well. Think about it... How many places in the world can you see two Lockheed Connies parked together? Dayton maybe? Marana is one of them. It was suggested to me that these airframes may not be kept there much longer. Apparently there is pressure to clear out the “old planes”. I have a good idea what that means. :-(

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - VC-121A Super Constellation, s/n 48-0610 USAAF, c/n 749-2602, c/r N9463

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-54Q Skymaster, s/n 56548 USN, c/n 22202, c/r N67034

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-54S Skymaster, s/n 56489 USN, c/n 10592, c/r N96451

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - P2V-7S Neptune, s/n PA0016 MASDC, c/n 726-7198, c/r N80232

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-54R Skymaster, s/n 90412 USN, c/n 27368, c/r N96361

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-45H Expeditor [D18S], s/n 52-10850 USAF, c/n AF-780, c/r N9370Z

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SNB-5P Expeditor, s/n 23793 USN, c/n 5887, c/r N5646

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-121G-LO Super Constellation, s/n 54-4062 USAF, c/n 1049B-4137, c/r N105CF

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - VC-54N Skymaster, s/n 90392 USN, c/n 27232, c/r N67040

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:16 pm

So after photographing the old transports all I had to do was turn around a photograph a number of A-4s parked on the ATW Aviation ramp...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - ATW Aviation / Bill Muzsala - 10 airframes
...They were working on the ramp so I didn’t think it would be wise to walk around. I photographed what I could from where I could.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4C Skyhawk, s/n 3A323 AMARC, c/n 12310, c/r N128AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4L Skyhawk, s/n 3A460 AMARC, c/n 12433, c/r N135AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4L Skyhawk, s/n 3A474 AMARC, c/n 12435, c/r N142AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4L Skyhawk, s/n 3A456 MASDC, c/n 12880, c/r N225AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4C Skyhawk, s/n 3A395 AMARC, c/n 12695, c/r N203AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4C Skyhawk, s/n 3A332 AMARC, c/n 12766, c/r N205AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4L Skyhawk, s/n 3A464 MASDC, c/n 12825, c/r N218AT

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - HU-16E Albatross [G-111], s/n 10019 TBP, c/n G-092/40B, c/r N10019

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - T-28B Trojan, s/n 138213 USN, c/n 200-284, c/r N312AS

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:17 pm

The next step was to visit the sites around Tucson. First stop was a legion post in Corona de Tucson...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - American Legion Post 109 - F-4
...where they have Phantom displayed.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - NF-4E Phantom II, s/n 66-0294 RCAF, c/n 2389

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:17 pm

The next stop was Ryan Field near Valencia West...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - ARDCO - C-54
...where a C-54 has been parked for a while.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-54D-15-DC Skymaster, s/n 43-17228 USAAF, c/n 22178, c/r N9015Q

This C-54 has been recently reregistered in Florida, so I expect it will be moving soon. If anyone hears of this one heading out please let me know.

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:18 pm

The last Tucson periphery stop was the VFW in Three Points...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10254 - AH-1
...where an AH-1 is displayed. Unfortunately the gate at the road was closed, and I really didn’t feel like trespassing so I got what shots I could from the road.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - AH-1F Cobra [209], s/n 68-17104 US Army

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:18 pm

I had been looking forward to touring the scrap yards at DM for years. My first stop was ARM...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aircraft Restoration and Marketing - 90 airframes
...I didn’t have permission to tour the facility, so I just photographed what I could through the fence and open gate.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - KC-97L Stratotanker, s/n CH610 AMARC, c/n 16635, c/r N97GX

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - KC-97L Stratotanker, s/n 53-3816 USAF, c/n 17149

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-47B-45-DK [DC-3], s/n CB398 AMARC, c/n 16897, c/r N374AS

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-117D [DC-3], s/n 17194 USN, c/n 13005, c/r N107BF

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-117A Skytrooper [DC-3]
IF ANYONE HAS ANY ID INFORMATION FOR THIS C-117 PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HAVE GOOGLED EVERYTHING I CAN BUT HAVE COME UP WITH NOTHING.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-123K Provider, s/n MC0002 AMARC, c/n 20108, c/r N123KJ

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-130A Hercules, s/n 56-0523 USAF, c/n 182-3131, c/r NR125TG

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-130E Hercules, s/n 62-1821 USAF, c/n 382-3784

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - EC-130Q Hercules, s/n 2G009 AMARC, c/n 382-4277

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Photo - P-3B Orion, s/n 152728 USN, c/n 185-5168

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - P-3 Orion
IF ANYONE HAS ANY ID INFORMATION FOR THIS ORION PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH P-3 THIS IS.

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:19 pm

You may remember from another thread back in August the H-34s at Jack’s Government Surplus...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Jacks Government Surplus Storage Site
...were being scrapped. The remaining debris was shipped off to Taiwan for recycling. I missed viewing the collection of a hundred plus H-34s by a few weeks. Only four were held back from scrapping and I was able to photograph two of them from outside the fence.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - H-34 Choctaw

IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION FOR THE REMAINING FOUR H-34s PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:19 pm

The next yard I visited was National...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - National / Southwest Alloys - 40 airframes
...I have been told this scrap yard is in the process of closing. There isn’t much left there, at least nothing of interest to warbird enthusiasts. It was nearly impossible to get any pictures of the C-119s. I had to use my point and shoot to get a shot from a distance. The results are not good, but at least they are something.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-119F Flying Boxcar, s/n 4C015 AMARC, c/n 10900

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-119G Flying Boxcar, s/n 53-8071 USAF, c/n 174

While leaving the place I noticed two F-86 fuselage sections. It was not convenient to turn around at the time, so I returned first thing the next morning. There was someone at the gate this time, and they allowed me into get up close to the Sabre remains...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-86H-1-NA Sabre [NA-187], s/n 52-2017 USAF, c/n 187-43

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-86H-10-NH Sabre [NA-203], s/n 53-1512 USAF, c/n 203-284

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:19 pm

While planning this trip I was told there was nothing stored at K-Tech...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - K-Tech Aviation (formerly) - H-34
...but while passing by I spotted this H-34.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - UH-34D Choctaw, s/n 3H0215 MASDC, c/n 58-1401

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:20 pm

Continuing down South Wilmot road from K-Tech is the next contractor yard, Western International...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Western International - 50 airframes
...where I was able to get a number of photos from outside the fence.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-27A Spartan [G-222], s/n AACC0008 AMARC, c/n 4102

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - T-43A [737-253], s/n TH0001 AMARC, c/n 20688, c/r N146JS

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-131D-CO Samaritan, s/n CS085 AMARC, c/n 226, c/r N1037S

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - DHC-4A Caribou, c/n 217, c/r N91NC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-118B Liftmaster [DC-6], s/n 8C034 AMARC, c/n 43693, c/r N851CE

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-118B Liftmaster [DC-6], s/n CG103 AMARC, c/n 43704, c/r N651CE

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - EC-118A Liftmaster [DC-6], s/n 53-3245 USAF, c/n 44616, c/r N9059J

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - HU-16E Albatross [G-111], s/n 42030 MASDC, c/n G-323/43C, c/r N330LL

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - HU-16 Albatross [G-111]
I HAVE NO ID INFO FOR THIS ALBATROSS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHICH HU-16 THIS ONE IS!

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - TS-2A Tracker, s/n 1S714 AMARC, c/n G-89-635, c/r N428DF {1}

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - EC-130Q Hercules, s/n 161496 USN, c/n 382-4904

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SP-2H Neptune, s/n 1P273 AMARC, c/n 726-7039, c/r N9AU

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SP-2H Neptune, s/n 147959 USN, c/n 726-7209, c/r N717AU

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SP-2H Neptune, s/n PA0012 AMARC, c/n 726-7284, c/r N719AU

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - U-8D Seminole
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHICH U-8 THIS ONE IS?

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:21 pm

Further up the road is United...

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - United Aeronautical Corporation - 140 airframes
...This is a large yard with many airframes. I photographed what I could, but most had to be taken with my point-and-shoot. I will only post a selection here, but if you would like to see them all you can view the slideshow here...

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Gallery

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - E-1B Tracer, s/n 1E0030 MASDC, c/n G-117-87

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - US-2D Tracker, s/n 1S0415 MASDC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - US-2D Tracker, s/n 1S389 AMARC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - US-2D Tracker, s/n 1S0381 MASDC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - US-2D Tracker, s/n 1S0646 AMARC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - US-2D Tracker, s/n 1S0372 MASDC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - US-2D Tracker, s/n 147891 USN

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - US-2D Tracker, s/n 1S0651 MASDC

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - DC-130A Hercules, s/n 2G0003 AMARC, c/n 182-3048

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Photo - S-2G Tracker, s/n 1S567 AMARC, c/n 279C

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - TF-1 Trader [G-96], s/n 7C0004 MASDC, c/n G-96-16, c/r N61932