B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:39 am
Was at a small airport 60-70 miles west of Phoenix Arizona about 10 years ago. There was a B26 Invader sitting in a field next to the airport. Asked about it, a local said it was grounded with a broken main spar and now a big paper weight. Anyone have any knowledge about it?
Re: B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:21 am
Not quite 60-70 miles west but there is an Invader at Buckeye airport that has been there for a very long time. Never heard that it had a busted main spar but I suppose that could be the case. A quick search around these forums will yield more info as the airplane has been discussed on multiple ocassions.
Re: B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:44 pm
Speaking of Phoenix Invaders...what ever happened to the test bed (Garrett? Honeywell?) aircraft you could see at Sky Harbor?
Re: B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:01 pm
There are 2 Invaders sitting out there at Buckeye. The one by the road has more than a broken spar and I've spoken with people there and they said they were going to leave it sit as a "gate guard". There are parts missing from it that people have stolen or have been sold for other Invaders. The 2nd Invader sitting there has parts missing as well, it did last time I saw it. 
Re: B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:11 pm
JohnB wrote:Speaking of Phoenix Invaders...what ever happened to the test bed (Garrett? Honeywell?) aircraft you could see at Sky Harbor?
It was donated to a high school in south Phoenix so it will never fly again, much like Arco's DC-3 that rots at Santa Monica.
Chris...
Re: B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:09 pm
Ok Guys, here ya go. Hans Lauridsen has the one he purchased at the H&P auction parked in the shaded area at the north end of the field. It has been there since the auction and is undergoing a long term restoration to bomber configuration as far as I can tell. I'm sure the one you are asking about is owned by Don Underwood and has been parked out there for at least twenty five years. It has a six gun nose and still has the side armor. Someone put stol leading edges on it at some time. I'm not sure about the validity of the busted spar story but it did have a nose gear collapse at some point, not uncommon for the A-26. I'll edit this post with some pics as I think I have some in photobucket somewhere.
Re: B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:33 am
Re: B 26 Invader west of Phoenix
Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:40 am
cwmc wrote:JohnB wrote:Speaking of Phoenix Invaders...what ever happened to the test bed (Garrett? Honeywell?) aircraft you could see at Sky Harbor?
It was donated to a high school in south Phoenix so it will never fly again, much like Arco's DC-3 that rots at Santa Monica.
Chris...
It is here now...
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - South Mountain High School - A-26If you would like to view it I recommend making arrangements ahead of time. When I stopped by it was too late in the day and it is clear from the security fences you just can't roam around the campus on your own.
Mike