Looking for info on PBY abandoned in Stuart Florida in 70's

[mu5tanggt]

Here is a pic of a PBY that was abandoned on the Stuart Florida/Jensen Beach causeway to Hutchison Island in the early 70's. We played on it whenever we visited my grandparents, finally disappeared after about 2 years. As best I can read the N number looks like NF454C. Pic taken about April 1972. It flew in and was abandoned for unknown reasons, went downhill really fast. Just looking for curiosity sake, wondering if she was recovered or scrapped. I found a lot registered to "Aircraft Instrument Corp" in Miami with similar N-numbers. The other planes in the picture are a TBM in a scrapyard in Willow Grove, PA(July 1971). My Dad and I were on a recovery mission for the NEAM (then Bradley Air Museum),I'm in the cockpit. The other is a PT-17 crash at Twin Pines airport, Pennington, NJ., crashed while trying to pick up a banner, and also damaged the T-6(which was scrapped) Oct 1966, no one killed. Thank You.

[David Legg]

Great picture and info. on the Catalina. This is PBY-6A N6454C which had been operated by Sonora Flying Service of Columbia, Ca. The last owner was Wynnes Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla. in the very early-70s but I do not know its ultimate fate. It is certainly not extant now, at least not as a whole aircraft. I would be really interested to know what happened to it post-4/1972. Thanks for posting.

[ArtS]

Great shots! Do you have any more picturesof Twin Pines? Especially the Sikorsky?

Thanks,

Art S.

[mu5tanggt]

Lived next door to Twin Pines till 1972 and still visited regularly till it closed. I've got a few pictures but my Dad has tons, he had his license and we rented Weasner's Citabria regularly and later flew in and out all the time in Cherokee areo club planes. Played in that Sikorsky all the time. I'll see what i can dig up. I flew in the Red Baron a few times and my dad used to get rides in the camo SNJ that was based there.

[Craig59]

Played in that Sikorsky all the time.

Sikorsky perked my ears up. What type?

[mu5tanggt]

I believe it was an S-51. Here is a picture of it.
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/eaa17 ... easner.jpg

[ArtS]

Man, I wish I saw that stuff fly. All of Weasners Wonders looked quite grounded by the time I showed up. I look forward to seeing more of your photos!

I remember the camo T-6. It and the Beavers departed early. Do you know what happened to it or the rest of the cool stuff?


The Sikorsky was an S-51 derivative called an H-5H, it was made for the USAF and it's number was 49-1999. I played on it a a kid too. In an attempt to try to save it, I told Harry Doan about it and he took it to FL. After Harry's death, it went to CA then to the pacific north west. Unfortunately, it was recently destroyed in the Evergreen turkey barn fire.

Regards,

Art S.