Gillespie Field, El Cajon, CA

[Tulio]

Went today to Gillespie Field, in El Cajon, CA
to pick the PT-19 engine mount that I bought from Fritz Mehrer.

Fritz, it was nice meeting you!

Fritz owns:

PT-17 42-17188; he says he built this himself, from parts. Looks GREAT!!

An AT-6D serial unknown (I forgot to ask !!) under restoration
An AT-6C project that he has for sale.

Three PT-17 fuselages.

Also at the field,

I saw a Cessna O-1 / L-19 taking off.

There was also a CM-170 Fouga, in
Patrouille de France colors, but too
far for me to get a decent photo.

Sikorsky S-58
N58KK
Blackhawk Heavy Lift Helicopters

At the C.A.F.'s Group One hangar and ramp:

Nose section of KC-97L
53-200

N.A.A. SNJ-5-NT
no data; again forgot to write it down.

Stinson OY-1
N59AF
76-137
This airplane is undergoing extensive repairs.

Douglas A-26 Invader
N119DR "434313"

*****
Elsewhere in the field:

N.A.A. T-28C Trojan
in USS Lexington markings
NX243DM
140662

******

San Diego Aerospace Museum - Gillespie Field:

Convair F-102A
61268
"FC-268"

N.A.A. F-86F
11958
FU-958
"Heavens Above" / "The Paper Tiger"

Ryan Firebee drone

Atlas Rocket

MiG-21bis
Red 9099

Grumman F-14A
159631

A-6 Intruder
162195
USMC
VX-5

LTV A-7B
154554
USS Ranger


F-8E Crusader
150297
VF-162
USS Ticonderoga

Hanging from the rafters there is what appears to be a real Boeing F4B-4
"9026"

Saludos!


Tulio

[Tulio]

Kernel:

I have planned a visit to Balboa for next week; there is a lot of stuff that I need to go read there.

You can call basically any time.

Saludos,


Tulio

Dollar Fifty-Seven . . . sheeeshh!!

[airnutz]

Hey Tulio, We were discussing that Fouga N28JV, about the time you were
in New Mexico. The most recent photos I've seen are almost 2years old.

You didn't happen to see a Republic Seabee there did you? It's said to be
in complete condition, although a bit weathered due to being stored
outside for many years.If it's the same one another webbee wz discussing
it has been for sale for many years as well. N6248K, '47 model, ser#455.

Sounds like your having alot of fun on your trip...is Chino in the cards?

[Tulio]

Howdy!

No, I did not see a Seabee. I drove around the periphery of the airfield at least twice, and when I met with Fritz, I went in the East side hangar area; I walked in order to photograph the A-26, the KC-97 and the Sikorsky Helo, but did not see the Seabee.

As for the Fouga, no, I could not get in on the West side of the field to photograph it.

Chino is a definitive maybe. : )

As we speak, the nightly flight of three CH-53s has just flown overhead . . .

Saludos,


Tulio

[airnutz]

Ahhh..that's a shame, as she appears to be tied-down at the periphery of
the field facing a street behind a wrought iron fence...next to what
appears is 'bout a '64-ish Rambler American station-wagon. Very intact
appearance with early Robertson-style STOL wingtips.
www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=237597
Saludos Senor...Good Luck on your definite maybe.

[Tulio]

If it is still there, I missed it.

Not to worry though, because I will go back to San Diego in a few days, and Gillespie (now that I know where it is . . .) is not far from I-8; I will make a good effort to find the Seabee, and see if I can photograph the Fouga.

By the way, and since you seem to like Seabees; have you seen the one in Warrensburgh, MO?

I also have, somewhere, photos of one that used to be based in Houston, at the now defunct Andrau airpark (Off of Westheimer in West Houston).


Saludos,


Tulio

[Yak 11 Fan]

I spent March 04 at Gillespie learning to fly, I remember seeing the Seebee there at that time. It was by the road intersection to the South of the field.

[T J Johansen]

I spent March 04 at Gillespie learning to fly, I remember seeing the Seebee there at that time. It was by the road intersection to the South of the field.

Since you've spent some time at Gillespie, would you happen to know of any oldtimers down there who were at the airport in the mid-60s?

T J

[airnutz]

If it is still there, I missed it.

Not to worry though, because I will go back to San Diego in a few days, and Gillespie (now that I know where it is . . .) is not far from I-8; I will make a good effort to find the Seabee, and see if I can photograph the Fouga.

By the way, and since you seem to like Seabees; have you seen the one in Warrensburgh, MO?

I also have, somewhere, photos of one that used to be based in Houston, at the now defunct Andrau airpark (Off of Westheimer in West Houston).


Saludos,


Tulio

Howdybackatcha Tulio! Well that would be too kind of you to stop on the
way back, but would be much appreciated. If time doesn't allow it, no
problem. Your earlier suggestion to make inquiries via Fritz could still be
an option.

I'm mainly interested in the Fouga Dataplate to satisfy a curiousity I have
in the difference in some records. But current photos would be nice.

Nope, haven't seen the Warrensburg Seabee other than registry records.
My favorite Seabee site, www.seabee.info/seabee.htm listed the bird,
N6490K...but lacked a photo of it, as well as N6248K at KSEE. I'll bet
the Norwegian Seabee webmaster would appreciate photos of
both machines. Roger Cain has provided some great photos to the same
website. When you get the time on your return, maybe you could start a
Seabee thread over in vintage? Although technically, they do qualify for
warbug status. At one time in history..1947-8..an RC-3 was a passenger-
carrying leap over the Piper Cubs of the fledgling Israeli Air Force.
It was probably the last time that a Franklin-powered Seabee leapt over
anything! They also served in some militaries in Latin America and some
info of being pressed into service in French Indochina and SE Asia.

The Dago Seabee looks like it's had one of the engine upgrades, as well
as the reversible pitch prop. I'd be curious which engine upgrade. Yep,
I like the possibilities a Seabee represents as an amphibian. Not pretty,
but very handy with the "walkout" front door and a roomy cabin. They
have quite a cult following...and I reckon I'm one of 'em....

Thanks Tulio!


Really(IMO) Best Republic Seabee site, to Steinar Saevdal..
www.seabee.info/seabee.htm


Another very good Seabee site,International Republic Seabee Owner Club
www.republicseabee.com

More Power for Seabee..Corvettes anyone
www.v8seabee.com

Last edited by airnutz on Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

[airnutz]

I spent March 04 at Gillespie learning to fly, I remember seeing the Seebee there at that time. It was by the road intersection to the South of the field.

Thanks for the directions Yak!

[Tulio]

Airnutz,

I went back to Gillespie yesterday (Saturday) very early in the morning, and alas, the Seabee was right where I wasn't looking the first time (Johnson Drive).

So, I asked for permission and was granted access, and here are a few of the photos that I shot:










I had thought about posting the Seabee photos elsewhere, but I remembered that the Seabee is a bonafide warbird, so it belongs here in the Hangar:

The Paraguayan Naval Aviation operated three of these, acquired via an Uruguayan businessman in December 1949:

Naval 101, c/n 1005, ex-NC6722K
Naval 102, c/n 1037, ex-NC6749K
Naval 103, c/n 1003, ex-NC6720K *

101 and 102 were used during the 1950s and scrapped in the early 1960s.

103, the c/n has been "guessed" by aviation historian Antonio L. Sapienza (Paraguay) and his guess is a very well educated one, based on his extensive research on the theme.

This particular airplane was lost though a fatal crash, in Ypacarai Lake, 03 July 1957, with the pilot Lt PAN Raul Viera Cazal perishing in the accident.

The Paraguayan Seabees were based at the Sajonia NAS in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Color was overall metal, with the excepcion of the lower hull, in black, as well also de lower portion of the EDO floats.

The red, white and blue colors of the Paraguayan flag were painted on the rudder, a yellow star appeared on the white stripe, and black anchors were painted in four wing positions, while serial numbers were painted in Black on both sides of the front fuselage.

These Seabees were to be replaced in service by the Grumman JRF-5 Goose in 1958, but the two remaining Seabees flew for at least an additional two years.

The above data comes from a report published by Antonio Luis Sapienza Fracchia, SAFCH #1160, LAAHS-Paraguay, on the October 2005 issue of the Small Air Forces Observer.

Saludos,


Tulio

[Paul281]

Tulio, next time you are at Gillespie, look up Bill Allen's Allen Airways hanger. He has a Fairey Firefly, Ryan PT-22, Ryan STM and Steve McQueens former Stearman. He also has hundreds of original photos, posters and other memorabilia, including a small movie theater. He hosted our Ryan Reunion last year along with the Waco and TravelAir Type Clubs. We had 15 Ryans, 11 of which made a "Missing Man" formation fly-by. Worth a look see. It is not open to the public so you have to catch him there. Regards,

Paul Bretanus
President
International Ryan Club
Ryan PT-22 N56026

[Tulio]

Paul,

Thank you for the info!

That by itself, justifies another trip to Gillespie! : )

Will hit you via PM, for any contact information that you may have for this gentleman.

Saludos,


Tulio

[airnutz]

Thanks Tulio for an update on the Seabee and the Paraguay history. I've
been trying to do some digging at the LAAHS site for the Paraguay history
as well as the Dominican Republic stuff, but have been having registration
troubles blocking my search efforts. Thanks for leads..

Doesn't look like N2648K has had any movement since the last photos. Did
she have a Lycoming or a Continental? Any apparent corrosion issues?
I very much appreciate your efforts!

[Tulio]

Airnutz:

Contact Mario Overall (moverall@laahs.com) or Jose Rosa (Jrosa@laahs.com) with any problems you are having registering at LAAHS, and they will for sure, help you out.

Other contacts for your Paraguayan research are as follows:

Antonio Luis Sapienza Fracchia (Tony Sapienza): asapienza*@*ccpa.edu.py

Dr. Gary Kuhn: ggkuhn*@*earthlink.net

Mr. John Davis: dav1229*@*attglobal.net

[Remove the " * " ]

Saludos,

Tulio