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

[mrhenniger]

Question about the DC-7 photo posted above. The N-number listed in the post belonged to a DC-7C of T&G Aviation, in Chandler , AZ, which was broken up in 2008. Also the old Delta Air Lines markings would make this a DC-7 or a DC-7B. Delta did not operate the DC-7C. Did you get your info off the airframe, or from another source?

Walt you are correct - the DC-7 pictured above is DC-7B N4887C
N90804 is a DC-7C and is named African Queen - that should still be there, but only as a nose

It looks like you gentlemen got it sorted out. It was my error. I uploaded the right photo to the wrong dossier, and did not look too closely when posting here. The DC-7 at Coolidge is this one...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - DC-7B, c/n 45351, c/r N4887C
...it appears to be in very good condition (from a distance at least) although I have no idea when it last flew.

The African Queen...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - DC-7C Seven Seas, c/n 45116, c/r N90804
...was also mentioned. It was scrapped at Coolidge. The nose section is no longer at Coolidge, but I did spot it at Falcon Field. I will be posting my pictures of my visit there by the end of the week. I got a shot of A.Q. when I stopped by there.

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mrhenniger]

This day was mainly a tour of Phoenix then making a run north to Flagstaff. If you would like to view my route go to...
Aerial Visuals – Trip Tool – Desert Odyssey, Tempe to Flagstaff

If you would just like to kick back and relax you can watch a slideshow of the pictures I took on Day 7 go here...
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Gallery Slide Show - Desert Odyssey, Tempe to Flagstaff

[mrhenniger]

This day had the potential to be a very long day, so I didn’t waste any time getting on the road. At sunrise I was making my way across Phoenix to the Pheonix Mesa Gateway Airport…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport (Williams AFB), Phoenix, Arizona, United States - T-38
…my first stop had be taking pictures of a gate guard.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - QT-38A Talon, s/n 59-1600 USN, c/n N.5113

[mrhenniger]

When ever on the road and passing by an airport you need to keep your eyes open for the unexpected. I had heard the local community college had some planes in the inventory…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Chandler-Gilbert Community College Aviation Center - F-104, Lear 23, T-1, T-39
…but until this point I had no idea where at the airport or even if they were in view. So there I was just driving along and I spotted their F-104. Of course I had to stop to snap a picture or two. The T2V was very cool as well. Other than the example at Pima, I don’t think I had ever seen one before!

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - CF-104D Mk 1 Starfighter, s/n 4633 RNoAF, c/n 583A-5303, c/r N104


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - T2V-1 Sea Star [L-245], s/n 144735 USN, c/n 580-1121, c/r NX447TV

[mrhenniger]

It was Advanced Training Systems that was my main reason for stopping by the airport…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Advanced Training Systems International - 10 airframes
…this company operates A-4s for military contracts. They often can be spotted on the ramp. One of those was a former Israeli A-4!

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - TA-4J Skyhawk, s/n 251 IDF, c/n 13566, c/r N251WL



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4N Skyhawk, s/n 159051 USN, c/n 14379, c/r N267WL

I have seen some A-4s with these exhaust extensions. Are they hush kits?

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4N Skyhawk, s/n 159534 USN, c/n 14454, c/r N266WL


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-4N Skyhawk, s/n 159536 USN, c/n 14456, c/r N269WL

[mrhenniger]

So after I was done at the former Williams AFB I continue by journey north to another Phoenix suburb, Apache Junction…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Apache Junction, Phoenix, Arizona, United States - H-34, H-34
…where I was looking for a H-34 displayed at a storage yard.
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - UH-34D Choctaw, s/n 150557 USN, c/n 58-1684, c/r N42171

[mrhenniger]

Staying in Apache Junction for my next stop I traveled back across 60 to the north side to find the local legion post…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - American Legion Post 27 - TV
…where there is a TV display, a naval T-33.

Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - American Legion Post 27 - TV

[mrhenniger]

In leaving Apache Junction I got back on route 60 and shortly after I turned north onto route 202. My destination was Falcon Field…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Falcon Field, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
…I had been looking forward to visiting here for a long time. I actually have a number of location in the Locator database for Falcon Field. The one I am noting in this post is really just for covering the “leftovers”. I thought I would start here first before making the rounds of the other locations.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-47A-20-DK [DC-3], s/n 42-93186 USAAF, c/n 13070, c/r N844TH


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Canberra TT.18, s/n WJ614 RAF, c/n HP/HI/181B, c/r N76765

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mrhenniger]

I have been unable to identify who is storing these two Harpoons at the airport…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Falcon Field, Phoenix, Arizona, United States - PV x2
…So if anyone can tell me who the “owner” is, I would appreciate it. Anyway despite being in plain view close to the street, it was VERY difficult to get good pictures of these airframes because of the chain link fence. I had to use my little point-and-shoot, so please forgive the poor quality.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - PV-2T Harpoon, s/n 37633 USN, c/n 15-1599, c/r N7454C



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - PV-2 Harpoon [L-15], s/n 37507 USN, c/n 15-1473, c/r N86492

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:13 am, edited 2 times in total.

[mrhenniger]

The next stop was on the east side of the airport, Marsh Aviation…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Marsh Aviation Company - 30 airframes
…which is the company responsible for the conversion of the Grumman S-2 Trackers into turbo-prop fire bombers. See posts earlier in this thread for pictures of those S-2 in operation. I unfortunately arrived here on a Saturday so the place was closed up tight. There is a wall around the facility so it is nearly impossible to see anything except for the tip of a tail of an Albatross sticking up above the wall. I was able to see one S-2 through a gap in the fence which I could get a picture with my point and shoot.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-1A Trader
IF ANYONE HAS ANY ID INFO FOR THIS S-2 PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mrhenniger]

Just a few buildings down the street I found the Heliponents ramp…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Heliponents -
…where I expected to find a C-54 parked on the ramp. I was not disappointed, but again I had to use my point-and-shoot to get a picture through the fence.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-54P Skymaster, s/n 50865 USN, c/n 10520, c/r N67019

It looked like it was actively being worked on and I suspect it will be departing soon for Alaska.

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:18 am, edited 2 times in total.

[mrhenniger]

Continuing down the street to the opposite side I found my way to the Air Response storage yard…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Air Response / Billy Packard - 8 airframes
…There is a high wall around this place as well. However by holding my camera high and walking the perimeter I was able to find some vantage points and get some shots.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SNB-5 Expeditor
IF ANYONE HAS ANY ID INFOR THIS THIS ONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - PV-2 Harpoon [L-15], s/n 37129 USN, c/n 15-1095, c/r N7268C

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mrhenniger]

Continuing down the street I stopped in front of Heliservices…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Heliservices - C-45, H-19
…and here I found a few hulks stored in a compound. Not great shots, but they are better than nothing.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - UC-45J Expeditor, s/n 51031 USN, c/n 3821, c/r N86416


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - H-19D Chickasaw [S-55], s/n XB065 AMARC, c/n 55-913

[mrhenniger]

My next stop was right next door…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Aerojet - 7 airframes
…where a few Hueys can be viewed through the fence.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - UH-1H-BF Iroquois [205], s/n 68-15683 USAF, c/n 10613, c/r N204BM


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - UH-1H Iroquois


DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ID INFO FOR THIS ONE? IF SO PLEASE SHARE!

[mrhenniger]

At this point I had taken all my pictures prior to the opening of the CAF museum on the field. I found a subway and stopped for a quick breakfast then off to the museum…
Aerial Visuals - Location Dossier - Commemorative Air Force - Arizona Wing - 20 airframes
…there is no point in writing about my visit, I will just let you go through the pictures.

Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Expeditor 3NM [D18S], c/n A-0235, c/r N145AZ



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - AT-17B Bobcat, s/n 42-38875 USAAF, c/n 3084, c/r N59188



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - A-26C-40-DT Invader, s/n 44-35601 USAAF, c/n 28880, c/r NL202R




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - FM-2 Wildcat, s/n 86819 USN, c/n 5877, c/r N5833



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - OH-6A Cayuse [369A], s/n 68-17357 US Army, c/n 119-1317


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - F-4N Phantom II, s/n 153016 USN, c/n 1496



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - MiG-21PF NATO Fishbed D [Type 76], s/n 507



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Mustang IV, s/n 9261 RCAF, c/n 122-41353, c/r N151BW




Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SE-5a (3/4 replica), c/r N589D


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - TG-3A, s/n 42-52938 USAAF


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - N2S-4 Kaydet [A75N1], s/n 55657 USN, c/n 75-04894, c/r N52558


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - PT-13D Kaydet [E75], c/n 75-06451, c/r N802RB {2}



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SR-10G Reliant, c/r N2330


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - MiG-15bis Fagot (NATO), s/n 1411 PLAN, c/n 1411, c/r N15MG


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SNJ-5 Texan, s/n 90725 USN, c/n 88-17873, c/r N3246G



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - UH-19D Chickasaw [S-55], s/n 54-1416 US Army, c/r NR6735


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - SBLim-2, s/n 012 SPRP, c/n 1A-09012, c/r N9012


Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Canberra TT.18, s/n WK142 RAF, c/n EEP13535, c/r N76764



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - DC-7C Seven Seas, c/n 45116, c/r N90804



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - AF-2S Guardian, s/n 126731 USN, c/n 242, c/r N9993Z



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - C-47A-20-DL [DC-3], s/n 42-23518 USAAF, c/n 9380, c/r N53ST



Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - VC-54N Skymaster, s/n 39122 USN, c/n 10438, c/r N67017